h a l f b a k e r y
Fewer ducks than estimates indicate.
idea:
add, search, annotate, link, view, overview, recent, by name, best, random
meta:
news, help, about, links, report a problem
account:
Browse anonymously,
or get an account
and write.
Login
Create account.
|
|
|
Hydraulic lifts have been around for years, but none of them ever used custard as hydraulic fluid. The unique properties of custard make it ideal:
Pumpable
Incompressible
Dilatant
It's the third property which interests us here. If the lift hydraulics should accidentally spring
a leak and the elevator begin to plummet then the custard solidifies instantly, preventing the elevator falling any further. As the custard liquifies again the elevator begins to fall uncontrollably and the process repeats itself.
The leaking custard will not persist in the environment and cause the sort of drastic damage we see as a result of leaking petrochemical hydraulic fluids.
[link]
|
| |
Good. Maybe it could go all the way to the moon. If the shaft swivels, we don't have to worry about the moon's rotation. OK, I'll stop now. |
|
| |
This is cool. Why isn't there a whole category yet for new custard applications? |
|
| |
I'm intrigued by the pumping question--any mechanism like a rapidly moving impellor which excites the dilatant response during the pumping would of course clog or sieze up. Perhaps a gentle peristaltic pump of some sort would be effective. On another note, a vanilla-lemon flavored custard might waft pleasant odors up the elevator shaft and throughout the building. Thumbs up--this is an important milestone in Custard R&D. |
|
| |
Dog Ed - in these internet chat room and SMS text message friendly times I think it's only a matter of time before R&D with custard becomes known as "Custa R&D". |
|
| |
Ok here's a scenario. Supertanker loaded with custard bound for some custard haven runs aground and breaks up on rocks. Millions of gallons of custard spill into the seas and wash up on shorelines. The wildlife, far from being wiped out are feeding like kings for about 6 months. UB I'm voting for your nomination for a Nobel prize. |
|
| |
Was that sweet light crude custard, Ivy? |
|
| |
Dog ED, you can pump dilatant chemicals with an Archimedes screw pump without any trouble. You don't need a fast impeller. |
|
| |
When was the last time you heard of someone falling to their death because a hydraulic elevator system sprung a leak? It would have to be a remarkably fast leak to drain the system so quickly, and *all* the other safety mechanisms every elevator uses would have to fail. In such an event, I don't think putting custard in the pipes would help. |
|
| |
Proper custard is made from eggs, so has sufficient research benn done to compare the hydraulic performances of [a] custard made with ranch-produced eggs [b] custard made with battery-produced eggs [c] custard made with cornstarch and no eggs at all. [d] custard made with rejected eggs so that it's full of bad yolks like this one. |
|
| |
UB If it's crude, then surely it won't be light (or LITE).
I should imagine that the stuff would be in transit for refining into lighter products as we currently do with crude oil. Re: The Nobel. The office of the Tony Blair says that the Prime Minister would, in principle, be keen to support the award, but then again we are on the run up to a general election, so don't hold your breath! |
|
| |
UnaBubba, in re Mr. A's screw: Yes, but for hydraulics you need pressure, and Archimedes' just lifts. Oh, here you go: lift the custard to a rooftop reservoir and use the head pressure for operations. Waste custard returns to a sump and is lifted once again. But would that be enough force--if your hydraulic shaft is say 1 meter in diameter then will custard at roof-level provide enough force to lift a 1-ton elevator car to the top floor? I still think we need the pump invented by that other Greek, Peristalsis. |
|
| |
But it would only be a matter of time before someone used the wrong custard (powder instead of liquid) and bang, lawsuit on your hands... |
|
| |
the third property is actualy a negative thing. Custard like other fluids has a high viscosity value and it does not obey the laws of newtonian fluids (having a constant), the pumps would not move smothly and evenly, it would feel like you are being lifted 1 ft and then stop another foot and stop agian, just like the way it would feel if you continuously slam the brakes on in your car. And actually Custard is compressable, and even more so it is highly sensitive to temprature. I don't know for a fact but I am guessing it also has a very high absolute prsure. The greatest fluid to use in hydrolic lifts is mercury, you can do all sorts of cool stuff with mercury, it practicly defies every law of physics. Unfortunatly mercury is also dangerous and it is very rare. So I suggest we stick with water.
| wood2coal,
Sep 30 2001, last modified Oct 01 2001 |
|
|
| |
//So I suggest we stick with water.// |
|
| |
Why not hydraulic fluid (which won't rust out steel pipes, cylinders, etc.) |
|
| |
Want to watch out for that UnaBubba. He's just fooling most of the time. |
|
| |
Hydraulic Elevators can't fall at a pace that could kill anybody. plus food in the machines would spoil and cause a problem. Why not use Vegetable oil instead (no environmental issues, no spoiling). MKay |
|
| |
We joke about the corn from back home growing faster than our hydraulic elevator at school can make it to the basement. I think a foot by foot elevator would be a welcomed inprovement. But being an engineer, the archimedies raised custard would have to be raised several times the height of the elevator in order to create enough pressure. Hows about just lifting it to the top of the building and adding custard to the counterweight. Maybe even a dispenser in the elevator for a snack. |
|
| |