Hi,
the washing machine waste filter got clogged up with what turns out later to be a lolipop stick. In order for the filter to be accessible there was the need to pump out all the water. Usually, I have a little tray which I fill time and time again to empty the machine.
However, tired of dumping and spilling most of the water in the process I was thinking about how to create a water pump. The design ended up to be very simple in the end. A 2 liter water bottle with smooth sides got cut in half at the diameter half way up the bottle. The two halves could be pushed into each other with a thin cut of the bottom half to make it slightly smaller in diameter.
Using tape and a sturdy plastic sheet I sealed the bottle as to allow the parts to slide into each other easily. On pulling the bottom part out create a small vaccum that is forced to be filled through the lid as the plastic sheet sticks to the gap and prevents air to enter at the cut seam.
The design allows around 800ml of water to be sucked up before the water needs to be expelled by unscrewing the cap and letting the water out. Also, at this time pushing the bottom back into the top to "reload" the bottle so to speak. Repeat this process until all the water that can be extracted has gone. Then it was a minor spillage to get to the filter and remove the blockage.
I fitted the cap with a thin piece of hose so that I do not have to hold the bottle into the water directly. Also, if the machine is still quite full gravity will help letting the water out. Simply submerge the whole of the hose into water to get all the air out. Then put one end into the machine water and hold the other end near the floor into a bucket of even drain if there is one. The water will then flow down until the hose sucks in air or the water level is too low.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
IDEA: recover energy from waste water
Hi,
it appears to be wasteful that hot or warm water is drained away in sewage pipes without at least recovering some energy from the temperature. To recover the energy different means are possible. Suggestive would be to recover the kinetic energy using some form of wheel or other mechanism. This is only possible for slightly soiled water as the danger of clogging the mechanism is rather great. Technically, the means to recover the kinetic energy is some form of obstacle which will collect slower and heavier substances easily.
To recover the heat energy is easier. By using heat conducting piping for parts of the way a heat transfer can be easily achieved. It suggest itself to use a meandering two metal coating inside the pipe which would in itself convert the heat into a small amount of electricity. Once the sacrifical electrode is used up the pipe will still be intact and therefore would not lead to any impairment or structural weakness of the functionality of the pipe.
it appears to be wasteful that hot or warm water is drained away in sewage pipes without at least recovering some energy from the temperature. To recover the energy different means are possible. Suggestive would be to recover the kinetic energy using some form of wheel or other mechanism. This is only possible for slightly soiled water as the danger of clogging the mechanism is rather great. Technically, the means to recover the kinetic energy is some form of obstacle which will collect slower and heavier substances easily.
To recover the heat energy is easier. By using heat conducting piping for parts of the way a heat transfer can be easily achieved. It suggest itself to use a meandering two metal coating inside the pipe which would in itself convert the heat into a small amount of electricity. Once the sacrifical electrode is used up the pipe will still be intact and therefore would not lead to any impairment or structural weakness of the functionality of the pipe.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
IDEA: USB data stick with index and file listing display
Hi,
with the increasing popularity of USB memory sticks eventually many owner will use several USB sticks for their day-to-day usage. However, with their capacity increasing it will become difficult to remember what data is stored on which stick - or if lost what data is lost.
Hence my idea to put a small display known from budget mp3 players on the stick that will allow to browse the content of the stick. Ideally, there should be a mechanism to mark content so that when pluggin the memory stick into the computer the correct program to read this content is already starting automatically.
Your host computer would keep track of all the other memory sticks you own and will update the inventory on the memory stick automatically when it is attached to the computer.
with the increasing popularity of USB memory sticks eventually many owner will use several USB sticks for their day-to-day usage. However, with their capacity increasing it will become difficult to remember what data is stored on which stick - or if lost what data is lost.
Hence my idea to put a small display known from budget mp3 players on the stick that will allow to browse the content of the stick. Ideally, there should be a mechanism to mark content so that when pluggin the memory stick into the computer the correct program to read this content is already starting automatically.
Your host computer would keep track of all the other memory sticks you own and will update the inventory on the memory stick automatically when it is attached to the computer.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
IDEA: Passive in-door illumination
Hi,
with the fibre optical material coming down in price the concept of directing light from outside to the inside is more affordable. Some interesting concepts and ideas are on the horizon:
Similar to water, sewage and electricity one can consider a lighting infrastructure directing outside natural light to various places within the building and/or appliances. A well placed collection point for light with a wide angle lense or for more luxurious systems a sun tracking mirror will feed the light into the system. Night time and low light compensation could be achieved by a high efficiency light source supplementing the systems feed.
Using a simple plug-in system, light could be fed into appliances such as refriderators or freezers perhaps even with IR light filtering for background illumination. This, of course, can be appreciated best with see-through doors know from the retail fridges. Closets and cabinets with bad lighting could well be supplemented with daytime lighting as needed.
Interesting, given sufficient light, are connecting fibres up to flat-screen TV, flat-screen computer screens and other electronic devices that normally are supplemented with a build in light source. Particular for laptops such a built in lightsource is rather battery draining.
However, for the short term benefits a natural light is quite night for background illumination in living or working areas as there are general ergonomical benefits of natural light.
with the fibre optical material coming down in price the concept of directing light from outside to the inside is more affordable. Some interesting concepts and ideas are on the horizon:
Similar to water, sewage and electricity one can consider a lighting infrastructure directing outside natural light to various places within the building and/or appliances. A well placed collection point for light with a wide angle lense or for more luxurious systems a sun tracking mirror will feed the light into the system. Night time and low light compensation could be achieved by a high efficiency light source supplementing the systems feed.
Using a simple plug-in system, light could be fed into appliances such as refriderators or freezers perhaps even with IR light filtering for background illumination. This, of course, can be appreciated best with see-through doors know from the retail fridges. Closets and cabinets with bad lighting could well be supplemented with daytime lighting as needed.
Interesting, given sufficient light, are connecting fibres up to flat-screen TV, flat-screen computer screens and other electronic devices that normally are supplemented with a build in light source. Particular for laptops such a built in lightsource is rather battery draining.
However, for the short term benefits a natural light is quite night for background illumination in living or working areas as there are general ergonomical benefits of natural light.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
IDEA: Kinetic energy recover for cars
Hi,
last month I have been thinking about the wasted energy decelerating vehicle and regenerative breaking. There are good and viable systems around to recover the energy from cars by means within the car. However, I was and still am intruiged by the notion of recovering energy using the road surface or other means.
At the time I considered traffic lights, intersection and off ramps on motorways to be a good place for implementing such devices. Now I would like to consider the use of regenerative breaking at stop signs. The main advantage of a stop sign is that all cars must break at this place. Every car must come to a full stop. A regenerating road surface, such as a slight ramp that uses the weight of the vehile will not only provide a means of recovering some of the kinetic energy but also improves road safety be delaying quick progress at this point, i.e. running the stop sign.
My favorite mechanism at a stop sign is likely to be a ramp. It normally is in the upper position requiring the vehicle to traffel upwards onto it. Whilst the ramp then sets to its lower position the car must be required to stand before continuing. Once the car has left the ramp sufficient time needs to be given to the following car for the ramp to raise up again. This is dependent on the travel distance of the ramp but should be small. Hence, unlike all other places, the ramp will be actuated for every car.
Considering the ramp for a moment, I envisage a mechanically raised large sheet of metal lifting a total of 2-3 cm up from the road surface either using pneumatically or hydraulic system. The passing car pushes down the ramp and by driving up the ramp transfers some of the energy to the system. It is also store for the lifting action once the car has left the ramp.
For safety reasons the travel distance must be small else to avoid creating a tripping hazzard or possible damage to vehicles reversing for whatever purpose over the ramp. Smaller travel distances mean more force needs to be transferred and thus the mechanism becomes slower.
last month I have been thinking about the wasted energy decelerating vehicle and regenerative breaking. There are good and viable systems around to recover the energy from cars by means within the car. However, I was and still am intruiged by the notion of recovering energy using the road surface or other means.
At the time I considered traffic lights, intersection and off ramps on motorways to be a good place for implementing such devices. Now I would like to consider the use of regenerative breaking at stop signs. The main advantage of a stop sign is that all cars must break at this place. Every car must come to a full stop. A regenerating road surface, such as a slight ramp that uses the weight of the vehile will not only provide a means of recovering some of the kinetic energy but also improves road safety be delaying quick progress at this point, i.e. running the stop sign.
My favorite mechanism at a stop sign is likely to be a ramp. It normally is in the upper position requiring the vehicle to traffel upwards onto it. Whilst the ramp then sets to its lower position the car must be required to stand before continuing. Once the car has left the ramp sufficient time needs to be given to the following car for the ramp to raise up again. This is dependent on the travel distance of the ramp but should be small. Hence, unlike all other places, the ramp will be actuated for every car.
Considering the ramp for a moment, I envisage a mechanically raised large sheet of metal lifting a total of 2-3 cm up from the road surface either using pneumatically or hydraulic system. The passing car pushes down the ramp and by driving up the ramp transfers some of the energy to the system. It is also store for the lifting action once the car has left the ramp.
For safety reasons the travel distance must be small else to avoid creating a tripping hazzard or possible damage to vehicles reversing for whatever purpose over the ramp. Smaller travel distances mean more force needs to be transferred and thus the mechanism becomes slower.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
BUISNESS IDEA: offer a public transport infomertial beacon for bluetooth
Hi,
as public transport (bus, train, underground, taxi, etc) is a rather booring affair there is a great opportunity to offer informertials and advertising embedded in public service announcements. For example a customer could tune / connect to a broadcast beacon on a bus. Using messages or a simple client the beacon on the bus may broadcast the current location, the next stop and its estimated arrival time. Also it may offer some up-to-date weather forecast, traffic news likely encountered, connecting services and their estimated departure time.
Ontop of the information a provider could offer advertising space for local businesses -- possibly tied into the location information. For example the nearest pub, the nearest fast food restaurant and any special offers available. Perhaps the location of the farmers market and when it is held next. What films are in the local cinema and the even offer pre-booking through the service.
As the familiarity of the system grows there could be room for offering advertising space on the go. Someone offering a second hand utility nearby may be interested to sell the item in some form of small ads that can be browsed. Placing an ad could be as simple as sending a SMS message. Or anyone offering tutoring for schooling or any other activity may offer services to passengers.
as public transport (bus, train, underground, taxi, etc) is a rather booring affair there is a great opportunity to offer informertials and advertising embedded in public service announcements. For example a customer could tune / connect to a broadcast beacon on a bus. Using messages or a simple client the beacon on the bus may broadcast the current location, the next stop and its estimated arrival time. Also it may offer some up-to-date weather forecast, traffic news likely encountered, connecting services and their estimated departure time.
Ontop of the information a provider could offer advertising space for local businesses -- possibly tied into the location information. For example the nearest pub, the nearest fast food restaurant and any special offers available. Perhaps the location of the farmers market and when it is held next. What films are in the local cinema and the even offer pre-booking through the service.
As the familiarity of the system grows there could be room for offering advertising space on the go. Someone offering a second hand utility nearby may be interested to sell the item in some form of small ads that can be browsed. Placing an ad could be as simple as sending a SMS message. Or anyone offering tutoring for schooling or any other activity may offer services to passengers.
Monday, February 1, 2010
IDEA: Recycling and Garbage management (3)
Hi,
another quick stab on an almost infinite and relevant modern subject. This post is a sequel, reaffirming the truths that one man's garbage is another man's treasure. The art of recycling is to sort and to specialising. Previously, we dipped into separation, treatment and logistic.
Not unlike any other sales channel, recycling requires a holistic view of the 'customer' starting from the generating point of the garbage (i.e. kitchen) to the endpoint or collector. When looking into recycling in the kitchen a few small tricks and gadgets could go a long way. Depending on the type of disposables there different procedures for handling. Typically there is a cleaning procedure, followed by a compacting step and then followed by the sorted storage.
The cleaning procedure will be subject to a future visit to this subject. This post is considering the options for the sorted storage. Typically, there are at least 5 containers required for glass (separated by colour ?), paper, compostables, recyclables plastics and metal. Other containters may be required for batteries and other WEEE electronics ( recyclable ? ), organic non compostables ( meat products ? ) and others.
Convenience is the recycling friend above all else. Hence, when designing a kitchen great care should be taken to design the "exit stragtegy" and avoid bins dotted in some random location. Some work towards this has been done already. Although one must consider that any chute or tunnel does collect dirt and should be open to clean from within the house. Also, with an non compacted recycling a large amount of space is allocated for very little value. Additionally, a collection strategy is a great deal more efficient when the volume to weight ration of the material is low.
A good design is therefore a compactor with liquid trainage and then a foward the compacted material to the collection container. Compacting glass is a straight forward crushing mechanism which also allows discarding of caps and paper perhaps separate as it does not crack the same way. Giving the option to prepare two grade of glas material could increase the purity of the collected material and thus the value. If an electrical crusher is involved an optional colour detection may be used to separate the glas colour conveniently. Metal itself can be separated and compacted based on the magnetic properties. As different metal elements have specific melting points a separation may not be necessary at the collection site. Paper and paper shredder are fairly commonly used. Given the typical shape of paper that can be recycled it should be possible to create pretty clean separation.
Compostables and plastic require due care by the person recycling the material. Compostables such as garden waste, peelings and others require skillful balance with fillables to prepare a good organic waste. A quality grating of the compost by the receiver -- similar to the grating of any agricultural produce -- is pretty much mandatory to create reusable base material. For plastic it was previously mentioned that heating and melting can allow compaction of plastic. With careful selection of the disposable plastic a good grade of melted material can be achived. However, a mistake on the selection could ruin the whole batch.
another quick stab on an almost infinite and relevant modern subject. This post is a sequel, reaffirming the truths that one man's garbage is another man's treasure. The art of recycling is to sort and to specialising. Previously, we dipped into separation, treatment and logistic.
Not unlike any other sales channel, recycling requires a holistic view of the 'customer' starting from the generating point of the garbage (i.e. kitchen) to the endpoint or collector. When looking into recycling in the kitchen a few small tricks and gadgets could go a long way. Depending on the type of disposables there different procedures for handling. Typically there is a cleaning procedure, followed by a compacting step and then followed by the sorted storage.
The cleaning procedure will be subject to a future visit to this subject. This post is considering the options for the sorted storage. Typically, there are at least 5 containers required for glass (separated by colour ?), paper, compostables, recyclables plastics and metal. Other containters may be required for batteries and other WEEE electronics ( recyclable ? ), organic non compostables ( meat products ? ) and others.
Convenience is the recycling friend above all else. Hence, when designing a kitchen great care should be taken to design the "exit stragtegy" and avoid bins dotted in some random location. Some work towards this has been done already. Although one must consider that any chute or tunnel does collect dirt and should be open to clean from within the house. Also, with an non compacted recycling a large amount of space is allocated for very little value. Additionally, a collection strategy is a great deal more efficient when the volume to weight ration of the material is low.
A good design is therefore a compactor with liquid trainage and then a foward the compacted material to the collection container. Compacting glass is a straight forward crushing mechanism which also allows discarding of caps and paper perhaps separate as it does not crack the same way. Giving the option to prepare two grade of glas material could increase the purity of the collected material and thus the value. If an electrical crusher is involved an optional colour detection may be used to separate the glas colour conveniently. Metal itself can be separated and compacted based on the magnetic properties. As different metal elements have specific melting points a separation may not be necessary at the collection site. Paper and paper shredder are fairly commonly used. Given the typical shape of paper that can be recycled it should be possible to create pretty clean separation.
Compostables and plastic require due care by the person recycling the material. Compostables such as garden waste, peelings and others require skillful balance with fillables to prepare a good organic waste. A quality grating of the compost by the receiver -- similar to the grating of any agricultural produce -- is pretty much mandatory to create reusable base material. For plastic it was previously mentioned that heating and melting can allow compaction of plastic. With careful selection of the disposable plastic a good grade of melted material can be achived. However, a mistake on the selection could ruin the whole batch.
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