Eddie's Mind
  • Home
  • Sculptures
    • Monumental Sculptures >
      • Waterball Wonder
      • BMW Kugelbahn
      • Swirly Speed and Squiggle
      • Creature Kenetics
    • Large Sculptures >
      • Education in Motion
      • Bush's Bean Adventure
      • A Storied Path
      • The Emulator
      • Island Exploration
      • Trajectory Demonstrator
      • Flight of the Bubble Bee
      • The Mechanical Demonstrator
    • Medium- Sized Sculptures >
      • Wave Rider
      • Wave and Wonder
      • Kinematic Playplace
      • Let's Play Outside
    • Small- Scale Sculptures >
      • The Extreme Water Cycle
      • Cascade
      • Two Track Mind
    • Immersive Sculptures >
      • Yo Yo's Kid Castle
  • Design Details
    • Basic Lifting Mechanisms
    • Complex Lifting Mechanisms
  • Commission
  • About
  • Contact

Waterball Wonder

Children's Hospital
Omaha, NE 2010
Picture
This amazing rolling ball sculpture is designed to entertain and distract children with fun motion from one end of the case to the other.  There are three ball lifts for two different sized balls.  One of the balls is a water-filled rubber ball that has colored glitter, confetti, or ribbons inside.  The unique nature of the water balls makes them appear to roll like no other ball can; almost sliding along the track and not rolling.  Yet, the ball can still bounce and jump through the air like other balls.  Intertwined with the large ball’s track is a smaller ball track that fills the space up with fun and exciting motion.  One track sends the smaller balls into a loop-the loop with multiple inversions at high speeds.

  • Free-standing sculpture  84” tall, 36” deep, and 13’-0” long on a curve with a 33’ radius.
  • The custom display case is enclosed in curved, tempered glass. 
  • The display features four hinged access doors and interior lighting.
  • The sculpture has three ball lifts driven by a single motor.  
  • Have two separate, but intertwining tracks.  One for a 4” diameter water-ball, and one for a 1-3/8” plastic ball.  The unique collection system can sort out which ball is which.
  • 6 exciting track elements for the 4” ball.
  • The large-ball track has two lifts, one switch, two paths, and linkage-based mechanical ball-release mechanisms.
  • The small-ball track has one lift, two track switches and three different paths
  • The sculpture runs continuously during normal business hours.
Water Ball Wonder Rolling Ball Sculpture In Omaha, Nebraska
The Water Ball Wonder Rolling Ball Sculpture in Children's Hospital, Omaha features a curved case and exciting interior motion.
Water Ball Wonder fits perfectly with the curved architecture
Water Ball Wonder follows the curves of the building's architecture.
The curved display case is designed to flow perfectly with the architecture of the space.  To achieve this look, the case features curved tempered glass and a laminated wood pedestal built on a curved steel structure.  The whole display had to be built in smaller sections and reassembled on-site; the limiting factor being the size of the elevator and door openings.
Water Ball Wonder view of interior track
An interior view of the jump ramp for Water Ball Wonder.
View of the Small-Ball chain lift for Water Ball Wonder
Water Ball Wonder has two different sized balls. This is a view of the small ball chain lift.
The Friction disk lifting mechanism of Water Ball Wonder
The Friction Disk Lift moves two water balls up the curved tracks.

Back To Top
Picture
Follow Eddie's Mind!



Copyright © Eddie's Mind, Inc. All Rights Reserved
HOME
SCULPTURES
DESIGN DETAILS

COMMISSIONS
ABOUT
CONTACT
Eddie's Mind, Inc.
1000 Stockton St.
Radford, VA 24141
540-731-9304