Whirligig #54, front view, largest diameter 24″ (61cm)
Whirligig #54, rear view
Whirligig #54, detail
WIRLIGIG #54 has three sets of blades, each set bigger that the one in front. After having finished the drawings, I decided to increase the number of blades from six per set to 10 per set.
Whirligig #53 (front), 26″ x 20″ x 16″(66cm x 51cm x 41cm), aluminum, brass, steel washers, African mahogany, assorted hardware, sign paint
Whirligig #53 (back)
Whirligig #53 (detail)
Whirligig #53
Four Sets of Rotating Arms
Eight Industrial Bearings
Zephyr Rated*
movement in 3 mph air
Spur Gear for a Whirligig, large 12 tooth gear 4 1/4″ dia. (10.9cm), small 6 tooth gear 2 3/8″ dia. (6.1cm), .032″ 5052H32 aluminum sheet
Detail of meshing teeth
I have spent several weeks studying gears about which I knew nothing. I have succeeded in simplifying fashioning the gear so that it is easy and quick to make and reliable. In coming weeks I’ll provide information about how to make the gears. (Interestingly enough, my father and his father spent nearly all of their working lives, a total of about 80 years or more, employed in some way making gears at the axle division of Eaton Yale and Towne in Cleveland, Ohio. The plant made heavy-duty truck axles among other things. At the time of this photo, 1966, my father, acting plant manager, probably knew the man at the machine.)
THE past few weeks I have been dealing with the mystery and melancholy of meshing gears, in particular, spur gears, which are sexy and complex. Wow, those involute curves make me breathless. Maybe it’s mechanical engineers, blond or otherwise, who have more fun. Any way, a conquest is in sight.
Preliminary assembly of Whirligig #53
Whirligig #53, rotation diameter 20″ (51cm), front view
Whirligig #53, rotation diameter 20″ (51cm), rear view
See links at top of side bar for free whirligig plans at Whirligig Design & Development and to see videos of previous whirligigs.
27 1/2″ x 23″ x 12 1/2″(70cm x 58cm x 32cm), aluminum, African mahogany, assorted metal parts, sign paint.
detail
Spectacular Action
in even the lightest air
industrial bearings
free whirligig plans
at
Whirligig #52 Ready to be Painted
Whirligig #49, 25.5″ x 25.5″ x12.5″ (65cm x 65cm x 32cm), aluminum, brass, African Mahogany, assorted hardware, sign paint
*movement in 3 mph breeze
Whirligig #48, 22″ x 22″ 9.5″ (56cm x 56cm x 24cm), aluminum, brass, African mahogany, assorted hardware
Whirligig #48 detail
*movement in 3 mph breeze
