The 5 - 10 - 15 are lighter top-only 'abacus slider type of weights'
that are moved to the other side sometimes, during flight to assure stability.
The weights also help balance the basket,
during the person(or cartoons) move ~up~ to the other higher piston.
The heat action is similar to touch as a steel railroad
and oppositional wheel brakes, but not that drastic.
More typical of the shoe-shine wheel action,
with a metal whir wheel on metal surface instead.
Oddly no fresnel
"heated sand or heated bone ceramic* within a hotbox"
(under the basket: <=| basket |=> ) is required,
nor a sunlight solar gain participant,
as I was looking more for a cloud workable version.
*(2000 degrees+ capable.)