"Square-Wheeled" Bike

"Square-Wheeled" Bike MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT Miscellaneous 22-3-5 A "square-wheeled" bike was recently taken for a ride by a Minnesota math professor. Prof. Stan Wagon of Macalester College, St. Paul, Minn.,demonstrated his eye-catching bike to students and media. The square wheels are designed to run on a special wooden track with arches spaced 12 in. apart. The arches allow the bike's two 15-in. sq. plywood front wheels to ride smoothly along just like a round wheel on the ground. The edges of the wood wheels are covered with glued-on tire treads. The frame of the bike remains level as the wheels go over the arches, Wagon notes. The principal behind the rolling square wheels was discovered about 40 years ago. Wagon took on the challenge of actually demonstrating the theory as a project for one of his math classes. "It was simply a lot more interesting than looking at a book full of mathematical equations," he explains. There may be some practical applications for the phenomenon. For example, Wagon says a number of years ago an inventor used the square wheel principal to build a hand drill that would make square holes. "I saw a pamplet on it many years ago but I don't know if it's still on the market." One thing's for sure: This first-of-its-kind bike will never be stopped by a flat tire. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Stan Wagon, Mathematics Department, Macalester College, St. Paul, Minn. 55105 (ph 612 696-6057).

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.