Hensley Arrow: How does it REALLY work?

tluxon wrote:

TeryT wrote:
Who will build a model?

What do you want the model to show? What parts of a real system would it include and which parts should be excluded?

Tim

Well, I think now, Tim, we need a model that illustrates what we were talking about before, comparing it to a swingset. Something, that illustrates that when a Hensley has tension/'pulling' on it, the trailer is in essence practically locked from pivoting, because it has to move forward and overcome the pulling force on the Hensley, in order to swing either direction.

I think this is the only point, where there is some disagreement - Ron just will not accept, that this effect the Hensley has, actually exists.

I mentioned several posts ago, a model that would illustrate this perfectly (although it would be a lot of work to build). It goes something like this:

We'd need to find a way to mount/fix a Hensley Stinger and hitch vertically, to something very solid, with the Stinger and Hensley pointing down. Then, we'd need to fashion a make-shift A frame, perhaps with a few pieces of 2x4s. We would attach the make-shift A frame to the Hensley, similar to the way a Hensley attaches to a trailer's A frame (using the struts). Then, we'd need to attach a heavy weight of some kind to the 2x4 A-frame (I had suggested an anvil..LOL), to simulate the pulling/tension on a Hensley.

Once we have all this in place (hahahaha!), all we'd have to do is try to push the A frame/weight side to side. You would find, that if it is a real heavy weight, it would be very difficult to pivot the A frame back and forth, because you'd have to overcome all the weight/gravity pulling down, since the Hensley's pivoting arc/path would make you in essence lift up the weight in order to pivot it either direction.

This is the point Ron refuses to believe - he thinks the pulling force on the Hensley makes no difference, and the force required to swing such, would be no different than what you'd experience on a conventional pendulum arrangement. It is NOT the same as a conventional pendulum arrangement, because the Hensley forces the trailer to be pulled closer to it, in order for it to swing either way. It would be like a pendulum arrangement, where the pendulum arm has linkage/mechanism in it, that makes the arm 'reel in'/get shorter, when swinging to either side.

Hensley's videos do not really illustrate/prove this, because they have the Hensley set up horizontally, without any tension/pulling between the simulated tow vehicle and trailer.

Tim, I believe you understand and accept the concept we're talking about. Can you think of another way to prove such to Ron? That seems to be the challenge here. :)

Will