Background
The Engineers:
Our goal is to harness human kinetic energy through common gym equipment and convert it with two separate devices into useful applications. One machine will convert to mechanical energy to power devices such as blenders, ice cream makers, or food processors. Our human powered electric generator will be used to charge a battery which in turn will charge small electronic devices such as cell phones, iPods, cameras, or laptops.
The project is an assignment for ENGR 305 (Appropriate Technology) at Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA. We will be in collaboration with The Humboldt Bay Center for Sustainable Living who operates the new Humboldt Bay Eco-Hostel located in Manila, CA.
The plan is to have the both pieces of equipement operational by the end of the semester so that it can be a useful and educational part of the Eco-Hostel. We hope to emphasize that energy is not cheap and that it takes work to make electricity used to power even the smallest electronic devices in our lives.
Literature Review
This is a review of the literature acquired in the beginning stages of our research on Human powered devices and a means to build them.
Human Power Basics
With the utilization of mechanical/electrical devices, human energy can be transferred from the body into almost any small or moderate sized household device. With human power, small kitchen appliances such as blenders, food processors, and juicers are simple and effective for construction, but are not limited to just those ideas. Lawnmowers, sewing machines, and even electricity generation are all possible destinations of the energy that is generated by humans. . [1]
Construction Concerns
A limited knowledge of electricity generation and mechanical construction is our main obstacle. We plan to build of other past accomplishments, learning from their experiences and adding our own to the base of knowledge. Research into basic wiring and electricity will be vital for a successful project.[2] . [3]Other construction concerns involve the design. We want to harness the maximum potential a person can produce. By evaluating arm and hand vs. leg and foot devices we can narrow our design possibilities.[4] Another concern will be in the cost and time to complete the project.
Types of Devices
Most devices are foot pedaled rotary mechanisms, either attached directly to a mechanical device or connected to an electrical generator, which will then operate an electrical motor, or charge a battery bank.
Mechanical Devices
The energy harnessed can be maintained as mechanical energy. This type of device uses belts, chains, or shafts to carry the energy and pulleys or gears can change speed, magnitude, and direction of a force. [5][6] Mechanical force can be applied using a hand crack with such devices as; pencil sharpener, juicer, drill, or ice cream maker. Pedal power have been applied to such devices as blenders[7], pumps, saws, sewing machines, even a dentist's drill.[8]
Electrical Devices
The device could also incorporate a generator and create electricity. The generated electricity can be used immediately to power TVs,[9]or stored to power other devices at another time.[10][11] Bart Orlando built the Human Energy Converter or HEC which connected 14 pedal powered bikes to a battery and generated just over a kilo-Watt to power sound stages at festivals.[12]The power stored can be used to charge small portable electronic devices such as MP3 players, cameras, cell phones, and laptops.[13][14]In a much larger project, human power was used to generate enough power for an entire facility like the one in Hong Kong [15], This is a spectacular design with an outstanding budget, one that we can learn from, but not duplicate.
Designing interpretive materials
According to Sean Armstrong, Director of the the Humboldt Bay Center for Sustainable Living, interpretive materials for the human powered gym should include a way of measuring the amount of energy created and stored in our electrical generating device. The energy created should be compared to energy usage for other common devices such as a computer, light bulb, or hair dryer.
Costs
Our proposed budget will itemize the cost to construct two separate devices. The first is the mechanical device and the second is electrical. At the moment this is a preliminary report. We need more time to find primary components to finish the design and final budget.
Pedal powered Multifunction Kitchen Wizard from Outerspace
This mechanical device will use a stationary exercise bike and flexible drive shaft to transfer power from the rider to mechanical devices such as an ice-cream maker, blender, food processor, etc. Our goal is to make it versatile in that you can hook up different tools to it to do work.
Quantity | Material | Source | Cost ($) | Total ($) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Exercise Bicycle | Thrift Store | 50.00 | 50.00 |
1 | Friction Wheel | Skate Shop | 10.00 | 10.00 |
1 | Set of 8 Axle Bearings | Skate Shop | 20.00 | 20.00 |
1 | Mounting Hardware | Hardware Store | 20.00 | 20.00 |
1 | Framing Material for Friction Wheel and Appliance Mount | Hardware Store | 40.00 | 40.00 |
1 | Analog Speedometer | online | 15.00 | 15.00 |
1 | Cuisinart ICE-21 Frozen Yogurt-Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker | Online | 42.95 | 42.95 |
1 | Dico 541-41540 Pro Flex 40-Inch Shaft 1/4 Drive | Online | 40.46 | 40.46 |
3 | Shipping and Handling | Carrier | 12.00 | 36.00 |
Total Cost | $274.41 |
Humboldt Bay Treadmill-a-Volt
This device will convert kinetic energy into electrical to charge a battery good for charging small electronic devices. The generator was graciously donated by Lonny Grafman. In addition a special thanks to Eco-Groovy Abundance for providing a great deal on the treadmill.
Quantity | Material | Source | Cost ($) | Total ($) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Nordic Trak Walk-Fit 5000 Treadmill | Eco-Groovy Abundance | 30.00 | 30.00 |
1 | Deep Cycle Battery | Sears | 135.00 | 135.00 |
1 | Plastic Electrical Housing Box | Hardware Store | 10.00 | 10.00 |
1 | Plexiglass Window | Hardware Store | 5.00 | 5.00 |
1 | Pulley Wheel Belt | Auto Parts Store | 10.00 | 10.00 |
1 | MORNINGSTAR SUNKEEPER CHARGE CONTROLLER | Online | 64.11 | 64.11 |
1 | Blocking Diode | Online | 30.00 | 30.00 |
1 | Power Meter | Online | 20.00 | 20.00 |
1 | Terminal Block | Online | 5.00 | 5.00 |
1 | Wiring Components | Online | 15.00 | 15.00 |
1 | Inverter | Online | 60.00 | 60.00 |
6 | Shipping and Handling Fees | Carrier | 15.00 | 90.00 |
Total Cost | $384.11 |
Criteria
To help us with the difficult task of making important decisions with our project we have developed a list of criteria that we and our client feel are important. Each criteria has its constraints and a given weight of importance ( 1 being the least important and 10 being the most). The following is for both devices.
Criteria | Constraint | Weight |
---|---|---|
Size | Each device should fit within a 3' x 4' area | 3 |
Functionality | Device should be be useful to hostel guests, accommodating all ages | 10 |
Educational | Hostel guests should experience some educational value | 6 |
Maintainability | Device should not require technical maintenance | 6 |
Aesthetic | Device should look fun and inviting | 7 |
Noise | Operation should not be intolerable to Hostel guests | 3 |
Structural Integrity | 2-3 years of operation should be expected | 8 |
Time to construct | Devices should be fully constructed and operating with 1 semester | 9 |
Number of devices | Devices built should meet all criteria | 1 |
Versatility | Should be able to provide power to multiple smaller devices | 5 |
Cost | Both devices should not exceed $400 | 7 |
Evolution
Follow the steps in construction of each device with this pictorial sequence of events. Click on the image to find out more details.(Currently not functioning)
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Basic Treadmill with non-functional display console. Overall structurally sound and in decent condition.
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Image to Come
References
- ↑ Dean, Tamara.2008. The Human Powered Home, choosing muscle over motors. Gabriola Canada. New Society Publishers.
- ↑ Shelden, J, Linda. 1977. Basic Home Wiring, illustrated. Menlo Park California. Sunset Books and Magazines .
- ↑ Jones, Calvin. 2005. Big Blue Book of bicycle repair. Saint Paul MN. Park Tool Company .
- ↑ Dean, Tamara. The Human-Powered Home; Choosing Muscles Over Motors. New Society Publishers, 2008.
- ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gear
- ↑ Walton, Harry. How and Why of Mechanical Movements. New York, NY: Popular Science Pub. Co., 1968.
- ↑ http://www.appropedia.org/Public_Health_Bike_Blender
- ↑ Dean, Tamara. The Human-Powered Home; Choosing Muscles Over Motors. New Society Publishers, 2008.
- ↑ http://www.appropedia.org/Samoa_Hostel_Pain_in_the_Axle
- ↑ http://www.appropedia.org/WaterPod_Bicycle_Energy_Generator
- ↑ http://www.appropedia.org/WaterPod_Tour_de_Volts
- ↑ Dean, Tamara. The Human-Powered Home; Choosing Muscles Over Motors. New Society Publishers, 2008
- ↑ http://www.los-gatos.ca.us/davidbu/pedgen.html
- ↑ Thad Starner, Joseph A. Paradiso. Human Generated Power for Mobile Electronics. Atlanta: Georgia Tech, 2 13, 2011.
- ↑ Levesque, Tylene. 2007. Human Powered Gyms in Hong Kong. http://inhabitat.com/human-powered-gyms-in-hong-kong/.