Means to Control the Motion of a Double-Cone on Tilting Divergent-Convergent Straight Rails

In this work, the motion control of a double-cone on tilting divergent-convergent straight rails is investigated. Concretely, rails are fixed on the hull of a ship, which is excited to roll along its longitudinal axis, by using a pendulum. Movies of the double-cone moving on the rails were shot, and the total travelling time was determined through the slow motion processing of the films, for various values of the maximal inclination angle of the hull, start positions of the double-cone on the rails, and energies introduced into the system by the pendulum. In order to maximize the kinetic energy of translation of the double-cone, the optimal geometry of the rails was settled. Dynamical properties of the double-cone mechanism, i.e., the apparent spring constants and damping ratios were identified, under the free movement and forced excitation. Results obtained are discussed from an applicative standpoint.