Falkirk Wheel

The building is designed for vertical transport ofboats and other vessels between the Forth and Clyde Canal and Union Canal. The difference in level between the two panes of water is 24meters, which is the same as the height of an eight storey building.


Originally channels were connected by a series ofeleven locks, which, however, many years agohave fallen into disuse. Only the MillenniumCommission has decided to renew canals linkingGlasgow and Edinburgh. On 22 May 2002 Queen Elizabeth II, during the Golden Jubileecelebrations, opened the Falkirk Wheel.


Falkirk Wheel has a diameter of 35 meters. The mechanism for the transfer of vessels consists of two arms located opposite whose shape is inspired by Celtic-blade ax - labrysem. Between the arms of distant by 25 meters were placedgondolas. Each of them has a capacity of 360 liters and is equipped with a watertight door forinfluence inside the ship.


Gondolas are so fixed that their bottom is always parallel to the surface of water channel,regardless of current rotation arms. This was achieved through a mechanism of gears andtransmissions, gondolas that move with the sameangular velocity as the wheel, but in the oppositedirection.


Weight of both the gondola is always the sameregardless of whether in the middle of the vessel.This follows directly from the law of Archimedes -flowing into the center of the ship displaces as much water as its weight. This allows the wheelwere so balanced that rotate 180 degrees takes5.5 minutes, and the driving wheel electric motoruses very little energy.