Hensley Arrow: How does it REALLY work?

Ron Gratz wrote:

bettered wrote:
The front link translates when the TV is turned. As long as the TT/TV combination is generally straight AND THE TT WHEELS ARE ON THE GROUND, no realistic side force imparted to the TT can be great enough to translate the rear link of the HA.

Ed, if the TT tires are rolling, then the necessary side force on the TT might be much less than you think. Following is a response I posted earlier:

"There is a difference between tire static friction (when the tire is not rolling) and the lateral force generated by a tire when it is rolling. A rolling tire does not generate lateral force unless is has some degree of "slip angle" relative to the direction of travel. This is why a moving TT swings when subjected to a lateral force. The TT must develop enough yaw angle to generate sufficient side force to counteract the imposed lateral load. The side force is proportional to the tire's cornering stiffness, the load on the tire, and the amount of yaw."

Ron

I remembered that Ron, and I am mindful of it. As you pointed out, the forces on both the TT tires and the TV are greatly reduced by the static forces acting through the HA, and I fully appreciated what you were saying at that time. (It ain't to late for this particular old dog to learn a trick or two.) But it's my opinion that there's a significant difference between some lateral force resisting sideways movement of the TT through the tires, and no resistance at all.

Because the sine and tangent for small angles are nearly identical, I'm of the opinion that a sideways movement at the tires (on dollies - i.e. no resisting force at all) would initially translate the rear link of the HA and thus get our rotational / translational sequence started. Now I am being very careful here to say that this is my opinion, it is not a fact - yet. But if we were to do it, a lot of the conjecture could be laid to rest.