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Counterweight

 

 
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Counterweight
 
 
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A counterweight is an equivalent counterbalancing weight that balances a load.

Uses
A counterweight is often used in traction lifts
Elevator

An elevator or lift is a vertical transport vehicle that efficiently moves people or goods between floors of a building. They are generally powered by electric motors that either drive traction cables and counterweight systems, or pump hydraulic fluid to raise a cylindrical piston....
 (elevators), crane
Crane (machine)

A crane is a lifting machine equipped with a winder , wire ropes or chains and Sheave that can be used both to lift and lower materials and to move them horizontally....
s and funfair
Funfair

The word fair comes from the Latin word ?feria?, meaning a holiday.A funfair or simply fair is a small to medium sized traveling exhibition primarily composed of stalls and other amusement ride....
 rides. In these applications, the expected load multiplied by the distance that load will be spaced from the central support (called the "tipping point") must be equal to the counterweight's mass times its distance from the tipping point in order to prevent over-balancing either side.






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Simple Crane Diagram
A counterweight is an equivalent counterbalancing weight that balances a load.

Uses


A counterweight is often used in traction lifts
Elevator

An elevator or lift is a vertical transport vehicle that efficiently moves people or goods between floors of a building. They are generally powered by electric motors that either drive traction cables and counterweight systems, or pump hydraulic fluid to raise a cylindrical piston....
 (elevators), crane
Crane (machine)

A crane is a lifting machine equipped with a winder , wire ropes or chains and Sheave that can be used both to lift and lower materials and to move them horizontally....
s and funfair
Funfair

The word fair comes from the Latin word ?feria?, meaning a holiday.A funfair or simply fair is a small to medium sized traveling exhibition primarily composed of stalls and other amusement ride....
 rides. In these applications, the expected load multiplied by the distance that load will be spaced from the central support (called the "tipping point") must be equal to the counterweight's mass times its distance from the tipping point in order to prevent over-balancing either side. This distance times mass is called the load moment
Moment (physics)

In physics, the term "moment" can refer to many different concepts:*Moment of force is a synonym for torque, an important basic concept in physics, civil engineering, and mechanical engineering....
.

Counterweights in action


Trebuchet


There are five major components of a trebuchet: beam, counterweight, frame, guide chute, and sling. After the counterweight drops from a platform on the frame, gravity pulls the counterweight and pivots the beam. Without the counterweight, the beam could not complete the arc that allows the sling to accurately release the projectile.

Crankshaft


A counterweight is also used in many rotating systems to reduce vibrations due to imbalances in the rotating assembly. A typical example is counterweights on crankshaft
Crankshaft

The crankshaft, sometimes casually abbreviated to crank , is the part of an engine which translates reciprocation linear piston motion into rotation....
s in piston engines.

Desk lamp

Some balanced arm lamps
Balanced arm lamps

A balanced-arm lamp is a lamp with an adjustable folding arm which is constructed so that the force due to gravity is always counteracted, regardless of the position of the arms of the lamp....
 work with a counterweight to keep the arm and lamp in the desired position.

Elevator

In traction (non-hydraulic) elevators, a heavy counterweight counterbalances the load of the elevator car, so the motor
Electric motor

An electric motor uses electrical energy to produce mechanical energy, nearly always by the interaction of magnetic fields and current-carrying conductors....
 only has to lift the difference between the car load and the counterweight load. The counterweight also increases the ascending acceleration force and decreases the descending acceleration force to reduce the amount of power needed by the motor. The elevator car and the counterweights both have rollers attached to them to prevent irregular movement and provide a smoother ride for the passengers.

Metronome


A wind-up mechanical metronome has an adjustable weight and spring mechanism that allows the speed to be adjusted by placement of the weight on the spindle. The tempo speed is decreased by moving the weight to a higher spindle marking or increased by moving it to a lower marking.

Tower Cranes


The tower crane (see picture) is a modern form of balance crane that is fixed to the ground. A horizontal boom is balanced asymmetrically across the top of the tower. The long arm carries the lifting gear. The short arm is called the machinery arm; this holds the motors and electronics to operate the crane, as well as the concrete counterweights.

Vertical lift bridge


Drawbridge


Bascule bridge