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So I was poking about the website looking for ways to make a rain stick (musical sound effect), when I stumbled across a rather good method sent in by Obediah , on making a continuous-sounding version of the instrument. After some quick brainstorming, I made my own prototype, a complicated mess of a tin cookie can and aluminum strips that would make Dorothy run for the hills and hide!
The problem was, it was just too much work for me to try and work the metals using what little tools I had at the time, so I had to put it aside for a while. Later (much later) as I was walking back from work, I found a old bicycle tire lying by the curb. Not being one to let things go to waste, I picked it up and took it with me.
Now, it took a few weeks but I suddenly realized exactly what I could use it for. After prying the the wheel and innertube off the rim, I took one of those 3 inch corrugated aluminum vent tubes, filled it with dried rice, zip-tied it to the rim and had my second prototype. It worked fairly well, only it was much too loud, and the aluminum dented (and in some spots, punctured) way too easily.
Later that week, I was volunteering on the USS Midway, and noticed they were throwing out an old broken vacuum cleaner. Again, ever the re-purposer, I convinced them to let me take the hose. It only took a second after setting it down in my room to pick it back up again and put it to use. I removed the old aluminum tube from that good old bike rim, trimmed down the plastic hose, dropped in some rice, snapped it shut, fitted it to the rim, and behold... it was too quiet! Thinking quickly, I replaced the rice filler with .117 cal. steel BB's, and ended up with my Endless Rain Wheel, version 2.22.
The problem was, it was just too much work for me to try and work the metals using what little tools I had at the time, so I had to put it aside for a while. Later (much later) as I was walking back from work, I found a old bicycle tire lying by the curb. Not being one to let things go to waste, I picked it up and took it with me.
Now, it took a few weeks but I suddenly realized exactly what I could use it for. After prying the the wheel and innertube off the rim, I took one of those 3 inch corrugated aluminum vent tubes, filled it with dried rice, zip-tied it to the rim and had my second prototype. It worked fairly well, only it was much too loud, and the aluminum dented (and in some spots, punctured) way too easily.
Later that week, I was volunteering on the USS Midway, and noticed they were throwing out an old broken vacuum cleaner. Again, ever the re-purposer, I convinced them to let me take the hose. It only took a second after setting it down in my room to pick it back up again and put it to use. I removed the old aluminum tube from that good old bike rim, trimmed down the plastic hose, dropped in some rice, snapped it shut, fitted it to the rim, and behold... it was too quiet! Thinking quickly, I replaced the rice filler with .117 cal. steel BB's, and ended up with my Endless Rain Wheel, version 2.22.
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Signing UpStep 1Tools and Materials
Tools:
-A sharp knife
Materials:
- (1) 22" bicycle rim (size is up to you, this is just what I had on hand)
- (1) 8' long by 2" diameter corrugated plastic vacuum hose
-(~30) .177 caliber steel BB's
Optional:
-(6-10) 12" zip-ties
-A sharp knife
Materials:
- (1) 22" bicycle rim (size is up to you, this is just what I had on hand)
- (1) 8' long by 2" diameter corrugated plastic vacuum hose
-(~30) .177 caliber steel BB's
Optional:
-(6-10) 12" zip-ties
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As for the automation bit, this is intended as a sound effect to be controlled by the performer (in this case, me) but maybe one day I'll make one for purely 'atmospheric' use.
Incorporate the propellar into the spokes and add some sort of swivel mount and a directional tail.
And it is. You do have A good idea, but you should expect some people to be
lead on by your project name "endless" rain wheel. That a flag for many of us who have to endure with the people that post perpetual motion device on so many websites. Again I am sorry for assuming.
if you mean because it’s sharp, then the answer is the same… there are many knives that are able to hold a good edge. the particular brand or model doesn’t matter. just know that if you buy a knife for five bucks, the edge won’t hold very long because the metal is probably very cheap. the best pocket knife for people who don’t know how (or don’t have the time) to sharpen a blade is the kind that has a replaceable utility blade (the kind that goes in a box cutter). inexpensive knife, and when the blade gets dull, flip it over or replace it for pennies. even titanium blades cost less than 75 cents each.
1. Never ending or changing deep caves in perpetual darkness
2. Denoting a position, job, or trophy held for life rather than a limited period, or the person holding it a perpetual secretary of the society
3. (of an investment) Having no fixed maturity date; irredeemable a perpetual bond
4. Occurring repeatedly; so frequent as to seem endless and uninterrupted their perpetual money worries
5. (of a plant) Blooming or fruiting several times in one season he grows perpetual carnations
In this case you took the definition of your choosing, i.e. Never ending or changing. When indeed it is painfully obvious the author was refering to occuring repeatedly. You get a B for effort and an F for comprehension... Did you seriously think our clever author thought this invention would make "rain" until the sun enveloped our little rock called Earth and ended our existance? For that matter why didn't you also tear into him about there not being any actual rain, but rather just the sound of BBs rotating in the wheel? Why? Because you knew what he meant, just as you knew what he meant about the title.
Hmm, with a specialty like that, you just might be the perfect candidate for being my new best friend! =) (uh... you don't happen to live in San Diego do you?)
Thanks again, and welcome back!
The thunder on Swedens oldest and most Royal theater, "Drottningholms-teatern", is coming from a barrel with some stones in it, upstairs in the attic.... and somebody that´s spinning it around when it´s bad weather on the stage!
Could it be like......uh...do you know that you have some relatives over here...or something like that..maybe...??
Ha ha ha
This is a good complement to the experience of making thunder on the theater over here, no doubt about it.
Thanks! J. P.
Man I just LOVE stage sound effects (live, not electronic) and am actually looking for parts and materials to make a wind machine right now, but I'm not about to buy them all new (I'm not cheap, I just know how to save my money!) ;)
It's funny you should mention the whole relatives thing, because (even though all my relatives live in California or Mexico) whenever I listen to the music from "Victory at Sea" or "Medal of Honor", I have 'flashbacks' and 'visions' of WWII in Holland/Sweden/Finland and such.Some people tell me that maybe I fought in the war in a previous life. Haha, maybe I stopped by that theater while I was there eh?
In any case thank you very much for the kind compliment! You know, maybe my aluminum prototype would fit in well at a theater? Thanks again!
being round, the sound should be continuous instead of starting off quiet, getting loud, then decreasing back to quiet.
hence, the title.
Really, perpetual motion need not be infinite in any case, but to be useful should last for a large amount of time which makes the case for a "near" perpetual motion machine extremely plausible, we just have not been clever enough to devise one as of yet. Also consider the fact that an electric charge can be induced in a superconductor and left for a "near" infinity. Just trying to think outside the box!