Trebuchets

The Hurl Wiki » Trebuchets

A trebuchet is a device powered by a force (often gravity) acting on one end of a lever (arm) causing the other end to throw the projectile, usually with a sling. The most common (and simplest) types are the medieval designs, the Fixed Counterweight Trebuchet and the Hinged Counterweight Trebuchet. Since then, many more modern design have been invented, especially recently. There is a long list of most of the trebuchet types below.

Video

Several trebuchets of various types (and the small onager, Onagenator2) at the Burlington Pumpkin Pitch in 2008.

Trebuchet Specific Pages

Trebuchet Frames

Trebuchets

Types of Trebuchets

BAKA

This design is similar to a regular King Arthur, but the long arm is bent 90 degrees forward. the long arm is about three times the axle height, and both the short arm and the CW hangar are about...

Fixed Counterweight (FCW)

Counterweight powered trebuchet where the counterweight is directly attached to the short arm. Simplest of all trebuchet designs mechanically. Machines Power Source Gravity Advantages Easy to...

Floating Arm Trebuchet (FAT)

A fixed counterweight trebuchet where the Counterweight is forced to fall straight down by a counterweight guide. The axle is allowed to roll forwards and backwards on a rail. Please see An...

Floating Axle King Arthur (FAKA)

The FAKA is a trebuchet design invented in late 2006 by Craig Macomber. It stands for Floating Axle King Arthur. It combines the efficiency of a Floating Arm Trebuchet (FAT) with the increased...

Floating Axle Trebuchet 2000 (F2k)

A Floating Axle Trebuchet where the wheeled axle is lifted above the track for the first part of the throw allowing more counterweight drop. Machines Power Source Gravity or Springs Advantages...

Floating Axle Trebuchets (F-Series)

The axle of these trebuchets is wheeled and is allowed to roll along a rail or track. The first one built was a Floating Arm Trebuchet, made by Ron Toms. Power Source Usually gravity or...

Floating Everything Trebuchet (FET)

A Floating Axle Trebuchet with no counterweight guide. The arm, counterweight and axle are free to move forwards and backwards. Machines Power Source Gravity or Springs Advantages over...

Hinged Counterweight (HCW)

Counterweight powered trebuchet where the counterweight is attached to the short arm through a hanger allowed to pivot at the attachment to the short arm (hanger axle). Machines Power...

King Arthur (KA)

Super propped trebuchet where the arm is locked to the hanger when cocked with the arm pointing almost straight down, and the hanger almost straight up. The hanger is released first and when it...

Merlin

Invented and first built by Chris Gerow. The original "Magic of Merlin" was entered in World Championship Pumpkin Chuck in 2007 and 2008 (and will likely be in the future) and is the towering 50...

Spring Trebuchet

Trebuchet powered by the downward pull of springs attached to the short arm. Machines Power Source Springs Advantages Light weight High speed (can be faster than gravity) Disadvantages Springs...

Traction Trebuchet

Trebuchet powered by the downward pull of the operators via ropes attached to the short arm. Machines Power Source Human Advantages Easy to transport No counterweight Disadvantages Limited...

Variable Leverage Remote Drop

(VLR) A trebuchet powered by a rope pulled from a remote location where the effective mass ratio is changed over time by having the counterweight pull down the middle of a span in the...

Wheel Trebuchet

Counterweight attached to a rope wrapped around a wheel or pulley like part if the arm around the axle. The wheel can be well under a full circle, and can be very irregularly shaped to change the...

Whipper

A hinged counterweight trebuchet there the counterweight hanger is placed on top of the arm and the arm is pointed in the forward throwing direction when cocked. Machines Power...