I live in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, and I work at a community college. A student who was born in Scotland but was raised in the USA let me borrow his book about The Falkirk Wheel. I enjoyed watching this video very much! Thank you for posting it on UA-cam:)
This is a beautiful bit of engineering! I'm amazed, and highly happy it got past the drawing board stage. Appreciate this simple video explaining how it works.
I don't think the gondolas/caissons would tip over even without the gearing mechanism. They have their center of mass well below the rotation axis for the individual caissons so they are intrinsically stable. But the friction in the rollers would probably make them tilt a couple of degrees if they were only self leveling by gravity. The gears help them stay perfectly level even with some friction in the rollers.
what is the maximum size of the boat which can transit through this wheel? Is there a reason why this principle will NOT work on huge ocean liners e.g. to replace locks of Panama Canal?
I think the wheel can be scaled up, but a tall cliff would be required. Falkirk has a nice sudden level difference. Panama canal level drop is also quite sudden, the locks are only slightly spread out because of the incremental level difference. On the Pacific side two smaller wheels would be needed. The depth of gondolas would have to accommodate large, tall ships, but the radius of wheels would be smaller than gondola alone. Two large ships would not fit in a small wheel, even on the Atlantic side. The total level difference is 26m, ships alone are taller than that (tallest ships permitted there are about 50m). Perhaps instead of a wheel just a giant playground lever. It would save water, but I guess that locks are cheaper. Another thing is the tides (severe at Pacific side), at least one set of locks at both oceans would be needed anyway to control the water level for the wheel or lever.
I think it is meant to provide a splashless smooth immersion and withdrawal of the axis in/from the canal below. A blunt shape would jerk the flow and will require additional system and energy to mitigate.
In belgium this principle was used in 1917 see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boat_Lifts_on_the_Canal_du_Centre No energie involved just more water in the higest lock....
I served my apprenticeship with Butterley in the late 70’s. I was still employed with them when the celebrated their bi-centenary in 1990. Butterley were also responsible for several other major engineering projects. They constructed the iron arches of St Pancras station - each arc has a plaque at its base to confirm this. Unfortunately Butterley Engineering ceased trading a few years ago and the site is now derelict. A sad end for such a great company.
that IELTS passage was a nightmare, even after reading it multiple times, only after seeing this wheel in action that I was able to get it amazing design and beauty.
This guy takes so many long breaks between sentences. It took 20 seconds after a sentence to start talking again. Slowwww and boringggggg. Add music -_-
Not everything in the world is designed for your fucking entertainment. Grow up you fucking child. It's an amazing piece of engineering, just respect it and move on, or just shut the fuck up.
Adele, You can play whatever music you want while watching this video. Eh??? (on another tab, it would have taken you less than 20 seconds to set up) You have the internet and a keyboard in front of you and you are bored. ???
Thank you for not having background music, makes it easier for me as a non-native English speaker (listener!)
I live in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, and I work at a community college. A student who was born in Scotland but was raised in the USA let me borrow his book about The Falkirk Wheel. I enjoyed watching this video very much! Thank you for posting it on UA-cam:)
This is a beautiful bit of engineering! I'm amazed, and highly happy it got past the drawing board stage. Appreciate this simple video explaining how it works.
Very smart design.
Absolutely brilliant! A great example of what engineering can do. Outstanding innovation - well done.
Who looked at it because of the IELTS text?
guzforce me :)
😀✌🏻
Same question I wanted to ask!! 🤣
🤣🤣🤣🤣me...hi..
Me
I especially like the ingenious system for sealing the gates so no water leaks out.
Awesome video, thanks.
Saw this on “Impossible Fixes” Amusement Parks episode. Thought this was an Amusement Ride. Lol. Not sure why on that episode.
I don't think the gondolas/caissons would tip over even without the gearing mechanism. They have their center of mass well below the rotation axis for the individual caissons so they are intrinsically stable. But the friction in the rollers would probably make them tilt a couple of degrees if they were only self leveling by gravity. The gears help them stay perfectly level even with some friction in the rollers.
Amazing, elegant design and engineering! It reminded me of the Panama canal I visited some years ago, although a different mechanism.
IELTS 11 Test 1 PASSAGE 2
+Martian 李华阳 I just have done the test 1 today and being curious about how the "locks" function to lift the boat.
confirmed. 95% same in words. That's so good to be illustrated
Raise my hand 😂😂😂
what is the maximum size of the boat which can transit through this wheel? Is there a reason why this principle will NOT work on huge ocean liners e.g. to replace locks of Panama Canal?
I think the wheel can be scaled up, but a tall cliff would be required. Falkirk has a nice sudden level difference. Panama canal level drop is also quite sudden, the locks are only slightly spread out because of the incremental level difference. On the Pacific side two smaller wheels would be needed. The depth of gondolas would have to accommodate large, tall ships, but the radius of wheels would be smaller than gondola alone. Two large ships would not fit in a small wheel, even on the Atlantic side. The total level difference is 26m, ships alone are taller than that (tallest ships permitted there are about 50m). Perhaps instead of a wheel just a giant playground lever. It would save water, but I guess that locks are cheaper. Another thing is the tides (severe at Pacific side), at least one set of locks at both oceans would be needed anyway to control the water level for the wheel or lever.
Interesting concept, it would be one hell of an engineering project.
@@michaeljohnson-li5nn The funny thing is the original Panama Canal was hell of engineering project then too!
@@12vgs8606 absolutely true!
You didn't explain this 2 spikes in of the pendulum's shape? It's not just design, is it?
what a wonderful bit of engineering very impressed by it
We visited this today and its mesmerising to watch. It did creek and groan when it was approaching the top 😳
By making the water level higher in the upper lock than the lower, this could have been made self-acting.
Was this idea taken into consideration?
I agree, and my answer--- apparently not.
Very interesting.Engineering in practice.Learned in theory.
What's with the pointy bits on the sides?
+greggv8 I wondered that too. According to Wikipedia it is supposed to represent a double headed Celtic Axe. So purely cosmetic, it would seem.
I think it is meant to provide a splashless smooth immersion and withdrawal of the axis in/from the canal below. A blunt shape would jerk the flow and will require additional system and energy to mitigate.
@@suyashshandilya9891 ahhh... but it turns in both directions to equalize wear...
@@suyashshandilya9891 those parts don't enter any water. They are purely aesthetics to look like a Celtic axe.
@@rickdworsky6457 Then I'm lost. Must beforpure aesthetics
Please may I use your video to explain the working model I have on my n gauge model railway, see UA-cam - Ranoak The Layout?
In belgium this principle was used in 1917 see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boat_Lifts_on_the_Canal_du_Centre
No energie involved just more water in the higest lock....
Thanks for your explanation
I want to model it on SolidWorks,, Please Help !! and how can I reach the supervising engineers of this amazing project??
Unfortunately, Butterley Engineering ceased trading a few years ago. A sad end to a great company.
i want to make a model of falkirk wheel
PLZ help
+Prabhjot Singh did you model it??
yes
Do it yourself
Marvelous application of engineering skills.
My real src of inspiration.
Well done
i want to make model of it ..
plz help
+Nishi Vishwakarma did you model it??
Unfortunately, Butterley Engineering ceased trading a few years ago. A sad end to a great company.
Derbyshire Engineering at its best made by the Butterley Company founded 1790.
I served my apprenticeship with Butterley in the late 70’s. I was still employed with them when the celebrated their bi-centenary in 1990. Butterley were also responsible for several other major engineering projects. They constructed the iron arches of St Pancras station - each arc has a plaque at its base to confirm this. Unfortunately Butterley Engineering ceased trading a few years ago and the site is now derelict. A sad end for such a great company.
that IELTS passage was a nightmare, even after reading it multiple times, only after seeing this wheel in action that I was able to get it amazing design and beauty.
yeah it was difficult for non-technical people..... but i found it easy
so smart
Great !
Mi familia vive. En. Esta. Población. De Escocia
VENICE : HOLD MY BEER.
Surely this could have been put together with a moderate level of focus.
Today I practiced this one! same script
Hello Class !!! :)
hello little bitch
Hi guys
hello samson
This is one of those "why" that you can answer with "Because we can". A demo of human ingenuity
Absolutely bloody f|_|ckin genius!!!
pwr pozdrawia
Who will get to drive past it every day on the way to school in 4 months
Coming here due to IELTS Reading
Engineering!
1.5kwh/ damn
C'est complètement le Zzga
Scoția
what a mechanical project
There's nothing a smart engineer cannot do
This guy takes so many long breaks between sentences. It took 20 seconds after a sentence to start talking again. Slowwww and boringggggg. Add music -_-
Not everything in the world is designed for your fucking entertainment. Grow up you fucking child. It's an amazing piece of engineering, just respect it and move on, or just shut the fuck up.
Adele, You can play whatever music you want while watching this video. Eh???
(on another tab, it would have taken you less than 20 seconds to set up)
You have the internet and a keyboard in front of you and you are bored. ???
8 kettles!!??!!! Shout out to Tony Kettle for the design!!
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Kettle