WHEEL AND AXLE 



WHEELER 



WHEEL AND AXLE, a mechanical device 

 consisting of a wheel or a crank immovably 

 joined to an axle and used for raising heavy 

 weights. The wheel and axle is one of the sim- 

 ple mechanical powers and is regarded as a per- 



THE WHEEL AND AXLE 

 Explanation of the figures appears in the text. 



petual lever (see LEVEE), the center of the axle 

 corresponding to the fulcrum, the radius of 

 the axle to the weight arm and the radius of 

 the wheel to the power arm. The law of equi- 

 librium is as follows: The power multiplied by 

 the radius of the wheel equals the weight mul- 

 tiplied by the radius oj the axle. The formula 



W R 

 is written thus: PXR=WXr or ^-= 



The most common uses of the wheel and 

 axle are shown in the illustration. Fig. 1 illus- 

 trates the principle on which the device works. 

 Fig. 2 is the ordinary axle and crank for rais- 

 in u' water from a well. The hand applied to 

 the crank is the power, and the bucket of 

 water the weight. Fig. 3 shows a similar de- 

 vice with a wheel and rope in place of the 

 crank. Fig. 4 is a capstan used in raising an 

 anchor. The power is applied to the hand- 

 spikes, which radiate from the capstan like 

 spokes from the hub of a wheel. Fig. 5 repre- 

 sents the windlass often employed in moving 

 buildings. 



In the derrick a double wheel and axle is 

 generally used. The effort of the workmen is 

 applied to cranks which are attached to an 

 axle with a small gear that meshes into the 

 cogs of a large wheel on another axle. 



WHEEL'ER, BENJAMIN IDE (1854- ), an 

 American educator and university presid 

 born at Randolph, Mass., and educated at 

 Brown University and the University of Hei- 

 delberg. From 1879 to 1881 he was instructor 

 in Greek at Brown University, and in 1885- 

 1886 instructor in German at Harvard ; in 1887 



he removed to Cornell University, where he was 

 professor of Greek and comparative philology 

 for the ensuing twelve years. From 1899 to 

 1919 he served as president of the University of 

 California. 



Meanwhile, from 1895 to 1896, he had served 

 as professor of Greek literature in the Ameri- 

 can School of Classical Studies at Athens, and 

 in 1898 as lecturer in the Harvard Divinity 

 School. In 1909-1910 he was Roosevelt pro- 

 fessor at the University of Berlin. He has 

 written much on philological and educational 

 topics, and among other works has published 

 Analogy in Language, Introduction to the His- 

 tory of Language, Organization of Higher Edu- 

 cation in the United States and a Life of 

 Alexander the Great. 



WHEELER, JOSEPH (1836-1906), an Ameri- 

 can soldier who fought with distinction on the 

 Confederate side in the War of Secession, and 

 was also prominent in the Spanish-American 

 War. He was born in Augusta, Ga. After 

 graduating from the United States Military 

 Academy in 1859, he served against the Indians 

 in Kansas and New Mexico, resigning in 1861 

 to become a lieutenant of artillery in the Con- 

 federate service. He distinguished himself at 

 Shiloh and became head of the cavalry of 

 Bragg's army, which he led in almost every 

 advance. He was advanced to the rank of 

 major-general in 1863, was Rosecrans* most 

 formidable opponent, and impeded, although 

 he could not stop, Sherman's march to the sea. 

 At the end of the war General Wheeler prac- 

 ticed law until he was sent to Congress as 

 Representative. In the Spanish-American War 

 he was commissioned major-general of volun- 

 teers, and he commanded the American forces 

 at the Battle of Las Guasimas. He was sta- 

 tioned at Long Island and in the Philippines 

 after the war, retiring in 1900. In 1899 he wrote 

 The Santiago Campaign. 



WHEELER, Wit.UAM ALMON (1819-1887), 

 an Ainrnr.m Congressman and a Vice-Presi- 

 dcnt of the United States. He was born m 

 Malone, N. Y., studied at the i \ of 



:>nt. :nnl began the study of law in his 

 native town. In 1845 he was admitted to the 

 bar, but in 1851 abandoned his law prac 

 owiim to :i throat affection, and engaged in 

 banking. For twelve years he was manager of 

 th Northern Now York Railroad. He was a 

 member of the state legislature for two terms, 

 and in 1860 was elected to Congress as a 

 MKMM During his Congressional term 

 Wheeler was chairman of important commit- 



