AT Aircraft

Reflecting on the Aircraft article created a while ago by Emesee, I was reminded of the one of my earlier ideas that aircraft could be used as a transport vehicle between AT villages. I envisioned simple, inexpensive DIY ultralight aircraft for this. However, seeing the little wing span, I think that this design could be well improved. I was thinking of using a cross-over between the Tokyo Institute of Technology Oxyride manned airplane project, the Solar Challenger and the NASA ARES aircraft. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_Challenger , http://marsairplane.larc.nasa.gov/platform.html (note the tail design), http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-148326743.html By maximizing the wingspan, and by using simple components/design, we can design a more cost/effective aircraft for this purpose. KVDP 16:24, 15 April 2010 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Improvement firebox/steam engine setup

As discussed at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia_talk:WikiProject_Trains#Locomotive_diagram_quality , some improvements can (possibly) be implemented to the firebox/steam engine setup; these primarily involve the implementation of a steam exhaust injector. The purpose of this device was to force water into the boiler against the pressure within; and following its invention saw much greater use than a pump, because it had no moving parts. The power source of an injector may be either live steam (direct from the boiler) or exhaust steam (steam from the cylinders is normally passed to the blastpipe and up the chimney, but a proportion may be diverted to power an exhaust steam injector. I suggest these books:

  • Handbook for Railway Steam Locomotive Enginemen. Hersham: Ian Allan. April 2006 [1957]. pp. 56-69. 0604/A1. ISBN 0 7110 0628 8.
  • Hollingsworth, Brian (1981) [1979]. How to Drive a Steam Locomotive. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books. pp. 20-24. ISBN 0 14 005529 0.
  • Semmens, P.W.B.; Goldfinch, A.J. (2003) [2000]. How Steam Locomotives Really Work. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 94-101. ISBN 0 19 860782 2.
  • "The Railway Data File". It is a 144-page hardback published in the UK in 1999 and includes loads of diagrams -- 30 pages on steam loco components alone.

Not sure about Hollingsworth, but the other two are still in print. The first one has many excellent coloured diagrams; Hollingsworth has black-and-white diagrams and photos, whilst Semmens & Goldfinch has a few b/w photos, just one diagram, and is mainly a textual description. --Redrose64

3D model with EDA data

Not sure whether the EDA-data can be imported into a Google SketchUp model (allows full design + EDA data to be present in a single file, which is more handy). If not possible KiCAD can be used, and I'm also wondering whether http://www.virtualbreadboard.net/VBB/VBBHOME/tabid/166/Default.aspx is useful ? KVDP 08:11, 23 August 2010 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Cookies help us deliver our services. By using our services, you agree to our use of cookies.