# It's not a wheel, it's a ...

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-not-a-wheel-its-a/479635>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 2, 2009, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-not-a-wheel-its-a/479635 "2009-01-02T21:32:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Cuckoorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cuckoorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cuckoorex)\
**Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-not-a-wheel-its-a/479635/21 "2009-01-03T01:35:21Z")

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> [@mangeorge](#):
>
> Length, I’d guess. Don’t ask me for specs, though.

That’s what she said.

I like sansaxle, personally, but I think that should somehow apply to what looks like a traditional four (or more) wheel vehicle configuration that doesn’t use axles as we currently define them. If you really don’t like “roller” then maybe “Roll-O-Matic” works.

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**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\
**Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-not-a-wheel-its-a/479635/22 "2009-01-03T01:44:45Z")

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> [@Sapo](#):
>
> A roller can have an axle? What sets it apart from a wheel then?

It’s axis of rotation is longer than it’s diameter I’d have to say.

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**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\
**Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-not-a-wheel-its-a/479635/23 "2009-01-03T02:06:49Z")

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> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#):
>
> It’s axis of rotation is longer than it’s diameter I’d have to say.

Well said, **HD**. See #20.

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**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\
**Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-not-a-wheel-its-a/479635/24 "2009-01-03T03:29:36Z")

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> [@Cuckoorex](#):
>
> [SIZE=“1”]  
> I like sansaxle, personally, but I think that should somehow apply to what looks like a traditional four (or more) wheel vehicle configuration that doesn’t use axles as we currently define them. If you really don’t like “roller” then maybe “Roll-O-Matic” works.

Roll-O-Matic sounds like Ron Popeil should be selling it on TV!

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**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\
**Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-not-a-wheel-its-a/479635/25 "2009-01-03T03:32:18Z")

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How about just “cylinder”?

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**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\
**Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-not-a-wheel-its-a/479635/26 "2009-01-03T04:08:27Z")

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[A shape that is not circular, but which can still be used smoothly as a roller.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reuleaux_triangle)

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