Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
h a l f b a k e r y
Compound disinterest.

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.

User:
Pass:
Login
Create account.


        Please log in.
If you're not logged in, you can see what this page looks like, but you will not be able to add anything.

Self winding clock spring
Self winding clock that winds itself using heat (and a Nitonol spring)
 
(0) 		  [vote for,
against]


Replace the mainspring of a watch or clock with Nitonol (memory metal) so that as it heats up - it winds itelf up.

If the barrel containing the mainspring was made bigger and painted black the sun could be used to heat up the spring so that it coiled up and wound the clock.

This could also be used to power all sorts of devices such as garden gadgets etc.

Lunartick, Mar 12 2004


Short name, e.g., Bob's Coffee

Destination URL. E.g., http://www.coffee.com/

Description (displayed with the short name and URL.)







       Maybe [FarmerJohn] might be interested in the power take off feature of this watch, but the Brits would need a portable sunlamp which kind of defeats the objective.
But I like the Nitinol idea. It could be used to wind the mainspring up. How would the Nitinol be re-stretched?
Ling, Mar 12 2004
   

       I don't see how this would work. A spring tries to move to a flattened out shape. But you want to use a Nitinol spring that will try to move to a tightly-wound shape?   

       Or to put it another way, you can't get energy from a clockwork motor while you're winding it.
kropotkin, Mar 12 2004
   


 
back: main index
 business 
 computer 
 culture 
 fashion 
 food 
 halfbakery 
 home 
 other 
 product 
 public 
 science 
 sport 
 vehicle