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From the Top, 3 Notes.

From the top of the Falkirk Wheel with the Ochil Hills as a backdrop!

The wheel resembles a giant double-headed axe or Celtic-inspired structure and rotates like a seesaw. Here's the clever mechanism:Two large gondolas (caissons) sit opposite each other on the wheel's arms, each filled with water and capable of holding boats.
Boats enter a gondola at the bottom (Forth & Clyde level) or top (via an aqueduct leading to the Union Canal).
As the wheel rotates 180 degrees (taking about 5 minutes for a full cycle), one gondola rises while the other descends.
The system stays perfectly balanced thanks to Archimedes' principle: A boat displaces its own weight in water, so the gondolas remain equal in weight regardless of the vessels inside.
Sophisticated gears (including a fixed "sun" gear and rotating "planet" gears) keep the gondolas level at all times, preventing the water and boats from tipping out.
Power required is minimal — roughly 1.5 kWh per rotation, equivalent to boiling about 8 kettles — thanks to hydraulic motors overcoming mainly friction.

HFF and a good weekend to all, A large view for detail please!

A short time lapse video available here. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucg1O-5jsnM
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71 comments

Fred Fouarge said:

HFF Roger(Grisly)
6 days ago ( translate )

Annemarie said:

HFF Roger
6 days ago ( translate )

David G Johnson said:

Good information and good work too thanks Roger on this brilliant work of engineering,.. a pal of mine was up there recently.. well worth a visit for sure,..// Cheers and a ''HFF'' to you from Dj,.
6 days ago

Roger (Grisly) replied to David G Johnson:

Nice comments David thank you, we have visited a few times and still find it an amazing construction!
6 days ago

Mikus said:

Eine technisch sehr interessante Anlage. Prima gezeigt und mit einer ausführlichen Info sehr verständlich beschrieben. Eine prima Aufnahme. HFF, Roger.
6 days ago ( translate )

Christa1004 said:

What a construction! And very interesting information. HFF Roger.
6 days ago

William Sutherland said:

Awesome shot!

Admired in: www.ipernity.com/group/tolerance
6 days ago

jyryk58 said:

Amazing engineering... :-)
6 days ago

David Slater (Spodde… said:

Always great to see Roger. HFF and happy weekend.
6 days ago

Jaap van 't Veen said:

Interesting image and note.
hFF
6 days ago

Nicole Merdrignac said:

Excellent . Merci pour les explications . HFF. Bon week-end.
6 days ago ( translate )

Diana Australis said:

I am besotted by the Falkirk Wheel…a highlight of northern rambling for me. So very clever!
Thanks for the memory, Rog. Happy weekend to you!
6 days ago

TOZ said:

It's a great bit of engineering Roger.
HFF have a great day.
TOZ
6 days ago

Dida From Augsburg said:

Wow, what a fantastic piece of technology! Thanks for the interesting information and the video – I couldn't have imagined how it works!

HFF and a great weekend, Roger!
6 days ago

Stephan Fey said:

Ingenious construction. HFF, Roger!
6 days ago