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Has any inventor or developer or manufacturer ever tried using magnetic force as a replacement for a bikes drivetrain? Would such a thing be possible?
I know nothing about physics, but I was playing with a couple of magnets, and the forces they exert seem pretty significant.
So then I watched this video, and I got to thinking...
Can't see the attraction myself.
Riding past cars / street signs / anything magnetic could be 'interesting'...
Has any inventor or developer or manufacturer ever tried using magnetic force as a replacement for a bikes drivetrain?
That's essentially what electric motors do.
Can any physicists be coaxed into commenting? Mad scientists? Inventors?
I think someone makes a free hub which uses opposing magnets, instead of springs, to engage it.
I suppose in theory you could use a dynamo at the cranks to power a motor on the wheel? I can't imagine it being very effective in practice.
Not sure how you'd transfer power from pedals to wheel entirely with magnets?
kelron - MemberNot sure how you'd transfer power from pedals to wheel entirely with magnets?
Easy:
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OP - when you say 'bike' and 'drivetrain' what do you mean here?
To me that means either
1. bicycle and chains/cranks etc - or
2. two-wheeled self-propelled vehicle and motor/gears gubbins.
You could run a generator and wire it to a motor, but it would be fairly inefficient, possibly quite heavy, and I would imagine a bit weird to ride.
I'd be interested in magnetised freewheel pawls, who makes them?
OP - when you say 'bike' and 'drivetrain' what do you mean here?
I was originally wondering about replacing a crankset and chain with magnets. So, for example, would spinning a cylindrical magnet act upon a magnetised wheel?
[That may sound ridiculous; I have no idea!]
But I guess now I'm also just curious as to the power of magnets and their potential to power a two-wheeled vehicle in any way at all.
how do you spin the cylindrical magnet? Perhaps you could link it to pedals with a chain? 😉So, for example, would spinning a cylindrical magnet act upon a magnetised wheel?
You could arrange lots of triangular magnets around the perimeter of a circle attached to the cranks...
Unfortunately no one really knows how magnets work, so it will remain a mystery.
You mean like these magnetic gearboxes ->
http://www.magnomatics.com/pages/technology/innovation.htm
The thing is though that chain drive is hugely efficient ... something like 95% ... way higher than magnet motors.
What I had wondered about is whether you could create induction braking to scrub speed without friction.
Absolute black do some kind magnetic freehub and spank and DT Swiss were supposedly looking into them.