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pedal powered air compressor

pedal powered air compressor
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replace the electric motor of an air compressor with modified bicycle drivetrain. pedal. keep pedalling...
 
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Step 1Get rid of the motor.


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19 comments
Jan 22, 2011. 11:42 PMbl0rch says:
useless
Jan 17, 2011. 7:29 PMjohnny payphone says:
Dude Wheres My Flywheel
Mar 24, 2010. 7:10 PMsimonkoenig911 says:
 some pictures would really help
Jul 13, 2008. 4:45 AMtaffy1 says:
I want to pump air down a bore hole [FERI Pump http://www.theferipump.com/site/1277654/page/45031] so I don't need the receiver tank, just a steady stream of air to lift water into a above ground tank for distribution thru a reticulation system.
Jul 13, 2008. 4:35 AMtaffy1 says:
MORE PHOTOS WOULD BE A HELP??
May 4, 2008. 8:13 AM2shane2 says:
Great idea for doing small stuff like running an air brush or similar in remote locations..... Could take a long time to say pump enough air to fill a set of truck tyres on a Dubbile BEE.
Dec 6, 2007. 11:51 PMalxram says:
I imagine you could use the compressed air for a variety of remote applications. Thanks for the photos!
Jul 25, 2007. 10:59 PMbmed1 says:
How long does it take to fill a 4 gallon tank? Have you tried it?
Nov 28, 2006. 2:54 PMqolque says:
I think this is awesome. I always feel like just pedaling an exercise bike isn't enough. I should be putting that energy to a useful purpose, besides just burning the holiday calories off. I always thought an exercise bike should be hooked up to a generator or a pump and geared so that the exertion level is the same, and yet some of the energy is converted from biochemical to rotational to electrical or something so it's not wasted. With America's weight/heart disease problem, maybe these should be sold nation wide. Thanks man, for a great idea.
Nov 10, 2006. 7:09 AMnaught101 says:
what's the maximum pressure you have reached with this? does it get hard to pedal?
May 22, 2006. 2:08 AMPrometheus says:
I won't say that this wouldn't work, but it'd be terribly beyond the average human to be able to piower such a compressor to near it's capabilities. The compressor shown requires at least 2HP, which would take no less than 3 very-physicallyt-fit humans to power to capacity. It's a novel idea for when armageddon comes and we are living in the world of Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, , but simply not feasable as far as I can see.
Aug 12, 2006. 10:18 PMwannatundra says:
concerning your peddle powered device. Does the flywheel need to get up to speed first or is the whole thing integrated.
Jun 27, 2006. 5:47 AMFake_Name says:
It requires 2-5 HP to put out it's rated CFM at it's rated PSI. That doesn't mean it cannot reach said PSI with less power, instead it just takes longer. If i cap off the output on a spare compressor head i've got lying arou, and spin it once or twice (takes a lot of effort), it hits ~90 psi.nd
Jun 1, 2006. 4:40 PMmattica says:
Just because it originally had a two horsepower motor doesn't mean that it requires that power input. A slower approach like this is a great idea. Power doesn't conserve, only energy and mass conserve (power just corrupts :-)
Mar 31, 2006. 12:47 PMgn0stik says:
Shouldn't the tank be coconuts, and the frame be made from bamboo? C'mon professor, your slipping.
Dec 25, 2005. 8:00 PMmaxwell says:
Rad! Got any more pictures?

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Author:aaron
I'm interested in dialogue about the process of responsible facilitating inter-cultural and international technology-based development, as a white western trained designer, working on communities in w...
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