Alt-BEAM Archive

Message #13684



To: beam@sgiblab.sgi.com
From: Meabadboy@aol.com
Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2000 16:35:27 EDT
Subject: Re: efficient launcher?



In a message dated 4/19/2000 12:57:52 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
phillip@ryals.com writes:

<< But what about a launcher? I
really don't think there's an efficient way to do it with a solenoid or
motor... >>


Have you thought of something along the lines of the old "Potato gun" idea ??

you could use a combustion chamber that is fueled by a main tank and ignited
by a charge ~ something like a starter on a gas grill.

(see attached sketch)

You could fill a small chamber with a modest amount of fluid ~ like lighter
fluid ~ from a main tank ~ the grapple could be pulled into place by the
winch and mechanically slid into the chamber ~ then launched ~ and then
retrieved by the winch ~ to be launched again and again until the fuel supply
is gone ~ but that too could be refueled by the bot by when it indicates a
low level it could return to a fueling station.

Just a thought

Steve


13685 Wed, 19 Apr 2000 13:40:23 -0700 Best solar panel supplier? "Gabriel DeVault" Are there any places that regularly have good deals on solar panels???

Gabe



13686 Wed, 19 Apr 2000 16:13:11 -0700 Re: efficient launcher? beam@sgiblab.sgi.com owner-beam@sgiblab.sgi.com [mailto:owner-beam@sgiblab.sgi.com]On
In a message dated 4/19/2000 12:57:52 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
phillip@ryals.com writes:

<< But what about a launcher? I
really don't think there's an efficient way to do it with a solenoid or
motor... >>


Have you thought of something along the lines of the old "Potato gun" idea
??

you could use a combustion chamber that is fueled by a main tank and ignited
by a charge ~ something like a starter on a gas grill.

(see attached sketch)

You could fill a small chamber with a modest amount of fluid ~ like lighter
fluid ~ from a main tank ~ the grapple could be pulled into place by the
winch and mechanically slid into the chamber ~ then launched ~ and then
retrieved by the winch ~ to be launched again and again until the fuel
supply
is gone ~ but that too could be refueled by the bot by when it indicates a
low level it could return to a fueling station.

Just a thought

Steve

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