Rolamite

Rolamite

Rolamite is a technology for very low friction bearings developed by Sandia National Laboratories in the 1960s. Invented by Sandia engineer Donald F. Wilkes and patented by him on June 24, 1969 [cite web|last=Wilkes|first=Donald F.|title=US Patent #3,452,175: Roller-Band Devices|date=June 24, 1969|publisher=Rex Research|url=http://www.rexresearch.com/wilkes/1wilkes.htm#usp|accessdate=2007-12-11] these devices use a stressed metal band and counter rotating rollers to create a bearing device that loses very little energy to friction. One source claims it is the only basic mechanical invention of the 20th century [cite news | first = Carlisle | last = Norman | author = Norman Carlisle | title = The Amazing Rolamite – It Opens the Door for 1000 Inventions | work = Popular Mechanics | date = February 1968] . Tests by Sandia indicated that Rolamite mechanisms demonstrated friction coefficients as low as .0005, an order of magnitude better than ball bearings at the time.

(U.S. patent #5,462,363)Sandia Atomic Labs tried for years to make a rotary version because most all mechanics is rotary. In the 1990s the "Rolamite Principle" finally displayed "Continuous Rotary Motion" with friction so low that it needs no lubrication. This successfully completes the task begun in 1968 by Sandia Atomic Labs with the first mechanical principle to emerge in 300 years (since the clutch)....

When Sandia National Labs made the linear version they used Copper Berylium (Beryl) for their bands. The Rotary Rolamite shown has 4 identical wheels rotating within a wheel. When it rolls, although the 4 wheels turn, the ScrollerWheel itself does not turn. It seems very strange but there is no slipping, sliding or rubbing so for the first time in history, it provides virtually frictionless rotary motion.

ee also

*scrollerwheel

References

LINEAR

* cite web|last=Nelson|first=Robert A.|title=Rolamite|publisher= [http://www.rexresearch.com/1index.htm Rex Research]
url=http://www.rexresearch.com/wilkes/1wilkes.htm|accessdate=2007-12-11

ROTARY

*

External links

LINEAR
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-1Drlfuoi4 Video of a homemade rolamite]

ROTARY
* [http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=5,462,363.PN.&OS=PN/5,462,363&RS=PN/5,462,363 U.S. Patent #5,462,363]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-BK_iEJ7Go Rotary rolamite video]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • rolamite — ☆ rolamite [rō′lə mīt΄ ] n. 〚arbitrary coinage based on ROLL〛 an almost frictionless bearing consisting of two or more rollers on a flexible metal band, that serves as a suspension system in various devices, as switches, valves, pumps, etc. * * * …   Universalium

  • rolamite — ☆ rolamite [rō′lə mīt΄ ] n. [arbitrary coinage based on ROLL] an almost frictionless bearing consisting of two or more rollers on a flexible metal band, that serves as a suspension system in various devices, as switches, valves, pumps, etc …   English World dictionary

  • rolamite — ro·la·mite …   English syllables

  • rolamite — rol•a•mite [[t]ˈroʊ ləˌmaɪt[/t]] n. mac a nearly frictionless device used as a bearing, consisting of a flexible band looped around two or more rollers • Etymology: 1967; rol(l) or rol(ler)1+ amite, of undetermined orig …   From formal English to slang

  • rolamite — ˈrōləˌmīt noun ( s) Etymology: roll + amite, of unknown origin : a nearly frictionless elementary mechanism consisting of two or more rollers inserted in the loops of a flexible metal or plastic band with the band acting to turn the rollers whose …   Useful english dictionary

  • Airbag — An airbag is part of a vehicle s safety restraint system, a flexible envelope designed for rapid inflation in an automobile collision, to prevent vehicle occupants from striking hard interior objects such as steering wheels. It is considered a… …   Wikipedia

  • Scrollerwheel — A scrollerwheel is the rotary version of Sandia Atomic Lab s linear Rolamite. It is a mechanical device composed of a number of rollers (four or more) and connective bands under tension, which wrap around and weave between the rollers forming a… …   Wikipedia

  • Bearing (mechanical) — A bearing is a device to allow constrained relative motion between two or more parts, typically rotation or linear movement. Bearings may be classified broadly according to the motions they allow and according to their principle of operation as… …   Wikipedia

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