Rolamite
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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[1] these devices use a stressed metal band and counter rotating rollers within an enclosure to create a linear bearing device that loses very little energy to friction. One source claims it is the only basic mechanical invention of the 20th century.[2] Tests by Sandia indicated that Rolamite mechanisms demonstrated friction coefficients as low as 0.0005, an order of magnitude better than ball bearings at the time.
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[edit] References
[edit] Linear
- ^ Wilkes, Donald F. (June 24, 1969). "US Patent #3,452,175: Roller-Band Devices". Rex Research. http://www.rexresearch.com/wilkes/1wilkes.htm#usp. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
- ^ Norman, Carlisle (February 1968). "The Amazing Rolamite – It Opens the Door for 1000 Inventions". Popular Mechanics.
- Nelson, Robert A.. "Rolamite". Rex Research. http://www.rexresearch.com/wilkes/1wilkes.htm. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
- Bishop,James E., (11/27/1973). "Remember the Rolamite? World's 27th-and Newest-'Elementary Mechanism' Still Works, but It Hasn't Revolutionized Technology" The Wall Street Journal Page 46.
[edit] Rotary
- Brinkman, Erik. "ScrollerWheel Rotary Rolamite". Erik Brinkman. http://erikbrinkman.com/Scroller/Home.html. Retrieved 2008-07-12.
[edit] External links
[edit] Linear
[edit] Rotary
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