Quote:
Originally Posted by cyberia
As near as I can figure is they picked it up, dropped it on the wire, and continued to repeat step one as necessary.
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OK, I see it now!
At the top of the "engine" is a cam that rotates possibly from the shaft extending down and to the right of the "engine" (that may just be a support rod). The cam attached at the top under the frame, turns counter clockwise and lifts the frame a "little bit" maybe a foot or so off the ground (half the diameter of the cam). As the cam rotates it begins to lift the frame at a 3 o'clock position to a maxium height at "12 o'clock" and then the frame moves forward and is lowered down at the 9 o'clock position a couple feet in front of where it started (the diameter of the cam). This is how it could "walk" over the battle ground.
The engine is feeble so the frame above it needs to be light. Hence the rickety nature of the thing. As the cam rotates to the 6 o' clock position, the frame flexes at the joints and becomes flatter. Once the frame gets in position it acts as a bridge where the troops can scrambled over it. That why the slope in the back is less then the front. The front will be stuffed in a trench and the back will be on the level ground.
Good one Cyberia! I've never seen such a contraption (for good reason) and you're making me think. More detailed photos would be required to confirm my "theory of motion".
