A friend of mine has really bad nerve problems and he has limited use of his hands, but it didn't stop him for making one of the coolest wheelie bar I've seen. I had to buy it from him.

Yep, 6061-T6 1/8" and 1/4" aluminum, to be exact. It's a chassis and motor/spur gear mount (direct drive, no tranny) for my rock crawler.

Some of you guys have had been roughed up pretty bad, it sounds like! Somehow I always manage to only come out with scrapes and minor cuts. I mean, today I went skiing and did my first double diamond run ever (6 times total) and even as the snow became slush from the 60 deg. weather I was lucky enough to not get hurt. Same thing when my buddy and I tried out some lip-jumps on diamond runs, one time I tried to get too much air, and fell without injury (despite BREAKING a buckle from the ski boot!). Some might call it skill, I simply call it luck!

There is definately a skill involved in crashing. Sometimes though it just isn't enough. Good luck with your hand. I'm sure it will heal up well.

Got a kick in the gut today. Seems my motor idea may (does in almost every aspect) infringe on an exsisting patent... hours of hopes and cad drafting straight into the toilet.

Here's the link... http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-P...nkless+engine"

I'm going to bed. Mabey I'll have a better outlook on this tomarrow :(

I'm not sure if you are aware of this, but I've heard somewhere if your design is 30% different, than it qualifies for a patent. I'm not sure if it's true, but you should look into it.

Man, I am not dumb, but a picture of that would be alot easier to understand than the description.

Your engine idea just made me think of a rotary nitro. Hmmm 100000rpm :lol:.

If every one thought they failed with problems like this we would still be living in dark ages. Every problem has a solution. You had a success in that you found you can not go down that route. So find another. Keep your chin up. Millions know how you feel. We are still rooting for you.:yipi:

YOUR EXACTLY RIGHT. We all know how it feels to have setbacks, but we still have to keep moving forward and overcome whatever obstacles that are thrown in front of us. It is obvious to me DrKnow that you are a pretty savvy guy with some pretty cool skills and resources. We know your hand is a little messed up, but from the looks of things you got pretty lucky. I would be willing to bet that you regain somewhere in the neighborhood of 80% to 90% or better of previous use:yipi:. That is a lot better then it could have been:gasp:.

You will overcome and look back on this moment in time thinking what was I so worried about. Just remember the life train keeps right on moving with or without us. Don't let anything stop you from realizing your goals in life.:party:

No sleep for the weary (3:00 a.m.), I can't get the 30% out of my mind. I'll keep on this and I guess I need to go see a patent attourney (hate layers) and figure out what I can do.

Man you guys rock! What a good bunch of guys. I'm glad I stick around here :)

I'll go ahead and get up a few pic's of the motor idea (yes it's much easier and a little more impressive when you can see it), I'd like to figure out how to make it a video so you can see how it all functions. 100,000rpm would likley grenade the materials I have to make it out of, but most fuels wouldn't burn completley at that rate. Bear in mind it has four cylinders, the equivelant of eight pistons and fires all of them twice in one revolution. I expect to get 60,000rpm out of it. You'll see soon.

The RC shocks are almost done also (was taking a break from them when I found the motor pattent), so they will get posted in the next day or so (another real good application for a video), CAD is just so tedious, especially with one hand more or less.

Again thanks guys. I realy do apreciate the support, realy I do.

I might have some ideas for material(s). I'll make a video and send you a pm for your e-mail address when I get it done. I already tried to break this thing and couldn't do it. I actually broke my hammer trying to break it and there was not even a scratch on this thing. I met a kid who did a project with a bunch of his College buddies and he said it was the only material for bearing that didn't fail. I think with the material, shape of the pistons (If it'll use any) and changing the design of the intake and exhaust, you can make it totally different.

There are some significant differences in the motor design, enough to get th pattent I think. It's just that there will be alot more time spent with the attourney $$$. If you don't have to compete with another (or multiple) pattent the process is way cheaper. I'll just have to pull some resources and mabey pick up an investor <--- less money for me :( If I do pick up a sponsor, I'm going to go with guys I'm already involved with (don't want anyone thinking I'm scamming for dollars :).

The material of choice is a ceramic hybrid (less brittle) the nasa was looking at for heat shields. Ceramic has no friction when rubbed togeather, does not expand when heated, and can do unbelievable temps without changing it's properties. You could do a motor with no rings (tollerances of 1-2 microns), no oil, and let it run as hot as the fuel burns. The heat produces by the engine (some 70% of the energy from the fuel) could be used in a secondary system (read electric hybrid) to get more efficiency.

For now I think the prototype should be aluminum/steel running on two stroke fuel (thats why RC is a good place to start). I just have to work out a cooling system (to compact for air to work) and locate a prototyping shop that can do 5 axis CNC and not ask me for my first born child hahahaha.

Working on pic's today (going to used some generic pic's that relay the idea without completing the full picture). Also have to finish the shock today. Anyone know about animating a cad drawing?

Just ordered AnimationLab for my TurboCAD program, should be here in 3 Days 92nd day air), but I'll get up a sequence of photo's in the interm so you can see a rough idea of the cycles for the motor and shock.

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/c...andairbag1.jpg
Numbers refer to parts related to the pneumatic spring system incorperated into the design.

Letters refer to valving parts of the design.

1)is the adjustable high pressure apply piston, this adjusts the final portion of shock travel spring rate (top 1/3 roughly as this amount is also adjustable) its volume causes a high rate of increase for a given amount of shock travel.

2)is the piston primary travel stop. It controls how much of the shock travel is controlled by #1 versus #5. Screwing this down makes the shock harder sooner.

3)is the low pressure apply piston, this adjusts the first part of the shock travel spring rate and full extended pre load, it also is the rough adjustment for ride height. It controls roughly the bottom 2/3 of the shock travel as this is adjustable.

4) is the secondary fluid piston it has a preloaded pressure as set by #1, and moves as a unit with #5 until either the
pressure on #5 is greater than the preload, or #5 comes n contact with its stop (#2). It is retained by a machined lip at the bottom of #5 and may only be removed by first removing #1

5)is the primary fluid piston and is moved by the first roughly 2/3 of the shock travel. Its volume causes a low rate of increase as to keep a maximum amount of preload for the full extension of the shock (an amount just below the pressure required for ride height, not tapering off much at full extension).

6) is a fine adjustment for ride height (changes the overall volume inside the shock body), and also serves as a bleed/ fill port (in combination with #7) so the shock fluid may be completley changed without the dissassembly of the shock assembly.

7) is the fitting for attaching a fluid line from the shock body to the air spring assembly.

Valving in the next post...

That is very nice. When do you plan on making them? It would be awesome to eliminate springs.

Here is where it gets a bit rough (or rougher hehehe) to follow.

A) is the valve profile, it works in unison with the slots (D) in the valve piston, to define the overall orifface size the shock oil may travel through during shock movement. Notice the profile changes from top to bottom on the inside edge. This profile is designed for easier movement around the ride height (2/3 compressed) and is more restricted at the extents of shock travel. Different profiles will be developed for different applications. It also houses the shaft seal in its bottom face to make rebuilding easier. P.S. the shaft seal will be a high end "microseal" that is lipped and able to take the 120 or so p.s.i. the shock may see...

B) is the butterfly valve (carbonfiber made to flex up at the wide tabs but be rigid along the valve profile (D) grove) It sits atop the shock piston and allows fluid to bypass the valve profile through the (C) oriffaces only in downward (extension) movement. This piece can be manufactured in a number of thicknesses to dictate the pressure at which the bypass occurs. Laymen is, the tires drop faster off a jump.

C) is the bypass oriffaces, these work in unison with (B) to regulate the flow during bypass. A larger orifface allows the shock to extend more rapidly, while a smaller orifface has the opposite effect. Dictated by tire weight, heavier tires= smaller orifface, to keep the car from nose diving.

D) is the grove in the shock piston where the valve profile (A) goes. This works in unison with the valve profile to dictate the overall orriface size.

Got it? LOL do I overthink or what?!?!?! hahaha

There you have it. Adjustable spring rate (any time any where without extra springs to seperate from eachother) I'll get up some travel v.s. pressure graphs and animate them to the video of the shock/air spring motion. Slick thing here is there is good traction (pressure) on the tire even at the very end of shock travel, no coil spring can do that. The air spring is matched to shock length so they will come as a pair. You can have butter or diamonds, all adjustments are made on car without disassembly.

Adjustable "position and direction" sensitive shock dampening. Way more to work with than pistons and oils. Nothing should come close to this for a while to come.

I've got to do a bunch of refining for manufacture, but the idea is solid and your comment/conserns are WAY welcome.

It will be a work of art. I would love to try a set when they are done.

Yah luatch, me too (note my signature). It's gonna cost a small fortune to build these in prototype from aluminum, but some of the harder bits can be plastic and some CF in production. I've got to keep the cost down if I want to sell any and have any chance of making cash on them.

Some plastics have come a long way and I saw a show about some pogo sticks that uses compressed gas and they use plastic :lol:.

You are correct about the ceramic - but remember - there is a good reason ceramic is not widely used in automotive engines. Long term reliability is a significant factor with ceramic. Also, impregnation from oils and fuels can cause degredation over time - especially when combined with heat. And at 60K rpms, there WILL be significant heat.

You didnt perhaps work in the aerospace industry in Seattle for a time did you, Mr Smith? I used to work with a guy by your same name.

Good luck with this development. Regarding the patent, remember, the smallest details can make a huge difference in a patent.

Also, for prototyping, there are companies that offer rapid prototyping. The materials are usually a starch based plastic, some similar to epoxy resins (these are a bit more pricey). Not sure if that will apply to you, but it may be one option. I'd guess a complete shock would run you about 50 bucks to have made, 100 or so if you want to fabricat one that is slightly funtional. I am flying to Orlando in a month to the Rapid Prototyping National Conference - should be interesting.

JThiesses, no aerospace experience here :) >did feel like a cool mistake to have someone make about me though LOL<. I'm familiar with the rapid prototyping and I understand they are using a ceramic type medium nowadays. Would work for the shock but not the motor... Yes, lots of heat involved, thats why I have to wait on the ceramic alloy (amalgum?).

DrKnow65,

Here are some materials to think about:

Sapphire, Sialon, Tungsten Carbide (The material I have a sample of), Tetragonal Zirconia Polycrystal (TZP) (Might be a good choice). You might also want to try and contact a few of the pioneers of super strong Nano Tube technology, I'm sure they would love to create something new.

Lutach, The TZP looks interesting for bearing apps' not sure it would work for my motor yet though, it has a very low thermal conductuvity so it would act like an insulator. The working temp is low enough that the heat buildup in the combustion chamber would start degrading the TZP before long. So not good for high hours, but mabey good for a high power drag motor where you intend on short service intervals. But it does have good potential for a alloy when they start mixing it with the nano tech. Other problem is it's high expantion rate, but you could machine the tollerances into the parts, it would just need to come up to temp before it's efficient (which would take some time as it is an insulator).

Ceramic-like alloys will be the stuff for this motor eventually, combined with the new "thermal diode" technology they are working on now...

I looked into tungsten carbide as a coating for the steel parts of the motor a while back, have to be careful how it's used as it's brittle (at higher temps). But very hard, and a good heat conductor.

Sapphire and sialon, I had not considered. Will look into them.

I never thought of heating my tungsten carbide sample to extreme heat and slamming the hammer on it :lol:. I'll try that in the summer time. I know they use it in some high temp oven or as a lighting element. Sapphire as I know is the second hardest material (Diamond comes first), I guess that's why Breitling went with a 3mm thick Sapphire glass for it's Sea Wolf Avenger watches (I have one and it's tough). Has any submarine been able to dive 10000ft? Have you contacted the folks at MIT?

Hey guy's, thought I'd throw up an up-date.

I've got another three weeks on the pins (man this is getting way old). Then I can get to see what kind of dexterity I'll get back. Hand seems to be healing up real well.

On the job front I'm going to get out of the mechanic's field and find and hourly job with some bennie's. I've got an interview tomarrow with ESC (elecronic systems consultants) it's a high end (super high end) home electronic's company. They do home theaters, sound systems, automation, ect... They do a ton of work for the billionares up here in Aspen, wish me luck.

Spent some more time on the motor and hopefully will have it all drawn up befor my "down time" is over. Will keep you posted.

Lutach, no call to mit yet. I think I'll just try to go with current available materials. That should make prototyping easier as the shop won't have to figure out how to work with the material.

Recoery.
 

Of course we all want to hear good news about your recovery:yipi:. Glad to hear that things seem to be going well at this point:party:. As for the job, that sounds like a pretty cool field to go into at this point as well:yes:. Now we know where to go for all of our electronic needs and questions when putting in the new home theater system:yipi:. Good luck with that interview. There is one problem of cousre. I worked for a millionare a few years a go. They are never satisfied no matter how hard you try or how good your work is:gasp:. It is just never enough:whip:. It can be very frustrating:diablo:.

yah Jerry, unfortunatley I have worker for the wealthy before and know just what you are talking about. The saving grace is that I will not have to collect the bill :na: and the more they want, the more ESC makes off the job :lol:

ESC has been in Aspen doing business for over 20 years so I'm sure they have a handle on dealing with the politics. Besides I think the owners are well off enough to be in the "in crowd" so I wouldn't expect to see the whole "go ahead and sue me, I'm not paying. I can keep this in litigation till you are bankrupt" thing. :diablo:

Thanks for the kind wishes either way :yes:

Update??
 

Hey DrKnow I was just thumbing through my old posts and was wondering how the job search worked out for you and if things are still on the up & up? We hope that you found what you were looking for. How is the recovery going for you? We hope all is well. How about an update for the RCM team.

Thanks for the curiosity Jerry, needed a good reason to spend a few minutes typing and not just reading.

P.S. glad to hear that _Paralized_ is back at it too.

Update! lol, sorry guy's I've been MIA for a few months now... I do pop in to check on things but the time has mostly eluded me.

The job search went VERY well, I scored the integration job (ESCUSA.com if you want to check out how rich people like to spend water- sorry I meant money) The job is going extremely well and I've been putting in some serious hours. Last week was an 80 1/2 hour work week, slept alot on sunday.

I'm doing tech stuff the last two weeks after a stint of pulling wire (grunt work to prove I have good work ethic), the tech stuff is more interesting, since I excell at troubleshooting. I am currently on the "fast track" to client services, basically that means I have to learn every other position short of management inside of a year, but it lands me at the highest paying position short of a desk job.

The RC's are all parked for the time being, had to spend ~$1400 in new low voltage and cordless tools. But it looks like a good thing as lipo's are popping up and prices are falling. Hope they have the MMM issues worked out by the time I have some hard earned play money!

The Habbitat for Humanity house is still behind schedule, but my mom has been up here for a few weeks getting it back on track (wounder woman at 55 years old, she was a cabinet builder for a long time and could never leave the walls in the same place for long at her houses).

Hand is crap, finger is basically there for looks and may be getting a new nuckle when my Ins. kicks in this next few weeks, we'll see. I'm not sure if I can have the down time with the house coming up and all. I'm working around it for now.

Will throw up a few posts now and again as I find time, with the constant stream of raises I should see over the next few months I will be able to cut the work hours back and still make the money we need. Besides once I am an official "tech" I'll have a laptop provided and internet at all the jobs wink wink :)

Oh yah, and the motor got quite a nudge in design completion, with all the down time for the hand, and is not too far from a prototype. I'll find some time somewhere in the next few months to get it going.