Sharing is good.
I am of the opinion that the keeper does indeed change polarity as it
passes from one side of the neutral line to the other. To show this more
clearly I performed a simple experiment with a bar magnet and a strip of
iron. Lay the strip of iron against the side of the bar magnet, with its
end protruding a little beyond the pole face of the magnet, and the iron
with act as an extension of the magnet ie: if the magnet north pole is used
then a north pole will be induced on the end of the iron strip. If you then
increase the distance if the iron strip from the side of the magnet, to the
point where the strip acts as a flux return path for the magnet field you
will have induced a south pole on the iron strip at the magnet north pole
end. These two positions of the iron strip indicate a real change in
polarity. Dan Davidson also performed quite a few measurements on the
polarity change of the keeper and agreed that the keeper does indeed change
polarity as Gary states.
Just using the flux re-routing capabilities of the keeper, to augment the
field geometry of the magnet, will not solve our problem, IMO. I believe
that the polarity change in the keeper is vital to the potential
functioning of this device.
The method I would use to balance the system is relatively simple, although
there are many variables at play and I expect it to take some trial and
error. Gary probably worked by 'feel' after gaining understanding of the
effect from long hours of fiddling. Set the system up so that all the
variables are separately adjustable. Assuming that the keeper iron has been
matched to the magnet, fix the keeper on the neutral line. The self working
mechanism relies on the keeper being in one of two positions ie: above the
neutral line or below it. When above the neutral line the pivoting magnet
is attracted up to the fixed magnet, and visa-versa. with the keeper on the
neutral line it is logical to expect that the pivoting magnet should
experience a balanced force and therefore should not move. Distance between
the two magnets is important as is the angle at which the pivoting magnet
rotates in relation to the fixed magnet. With the keeper fixed at the
neutral line the task will be to secure the correct position and distance
of the pivoting magnet so that it will experience no net force across the
full sweep of its movement. Assuming this can be done, one would expect
that any change in polarity of the keeper will imbalance the system an
cause the pivoting magnet to move. A very fine balancing act, but one that
I believe is possible - if Gary did it, so can we.
Regards, Bill.
At 16:16 7/08/98 -0400, Edward Kauffmann wrote:
>Hi Bill,
>
>I'd like to hear your ideas about solving the balancing act. By the way,
>did you ever confirm the changing pole effect? You know, when the iron is
>above the neutral line? With what I've done so far, I don't need this
>change in polarity, but it would be nice to know if it was true as well and
>how to get it.
>
>Why don't we share all our ideas? That way we might be able to incorporate
>them and come up with something.
>
>What do you think?
>
>Regards,
>
>Ed