Introduction: Vertical Wind Tunnel for Kids' Toys and Balls
I considered the wind tunnel a total success as it kept a herd of 3-6-year-olds occupied, let them play and discover what items would fly, and simultaneously was interesting enough that all the parents wanted to play, too.
I built the project organically with no more of a plan then wanting to have kids play with a stream of fast moving air. If you don't want to follow along to see what I did specifically for my setup, here's the summary:
- Consider cardboard concrete forms for projects that require 12-inch diameter tubes
- Desktop fans that fit inside such a tube can't move enough air to be fun
- Not only can an air pump from a bouncy air move enough air to fly all sorts of things, but it produces a collimated stream of air; a leaf blower would probably work just as well.
Step 1: Fans Inside a Cardboard Tube Vs. Air Pump
I initially tried powering the wind tunnel with two fans, but they didn't move nearly enough air for us to have fun. The air pump for our bouncy house moved plenty of air, plus it has a giant sticker labeling it as "not a toy".
The air pump came with this bouncy house from Amazon. Check here for my other mod to the bouncy house, an additional safety net.
Step 2: The Air Pump Needs to Point in the Direction of the Tunnel
As a first test, I took a 12-inch diameter cardboard concrete form, cut a port to insert items, and cut a port to insert the nozzle of the air pump. In this configuration, the air pump is pumping air into the tube, but the output of the air pump is not in the direction of the tube. Whether the port was open or closed, items tended to spin in the tube rather than fly up and out. This didn't work as I wanted.
Step 3: Build a Base for the Air Pump
To orient the air pump such that its output was directed up, I built a base to hold the pump and a platform for the tunnel on the output of the pump.
When you've got a biscuit joiner, all problems look like they need biscuits. Wood screws would have worked just as well.
Step 4: Large Diameter Tube
"That is a big, big, big cloud!"
"That works!"
Despite Corvidae's pronouncement, I wasn't satisfied with the 12-inch diameter tube. We could only get pieces of newspaper to really fly. Anything heavier, if it would fly at all, would circulate in the tube between the fast moving, collimated air stream in the center and the still air against the inside of the tube.
Step 5: Build Base for Smaller Diameter Tunnel
A smaller diameter tunnel was much more satisfactory. I made an adapter so that I could use a 4-inch diameter tube on top of the air pump's platform. Luckily, I had a section of ABS pipe and a section of acrylic pipe on hand from other projects (most notably my 5-foot-tall Jacob's ladder). The ABS pipe is a nominal 4-inch inner diameter and the acrylic 4-inch outer diameter, so I was actually able to use them together by sliding the acrylic into the ABS.
The adapter holds the ABS tube above the air pump so objects can be loaded directly into the stream of air. I had a fantasy about using the 12-inch cardboard tube as a magazine full of balls to be launched skyward, but wasn't able to solve the issue of balls jamming.
Step 6: Play Bernoulli T-ball
The 4-inch ABS tube made for a perfect setup to play Bernoulli T-ball. With care, we were able to get three balls floating in the stream of air.
Seeing how much fun we were having with the few plastic balls I had on had, I ordered 200 3.125 inch and 6.5 cm pit balls for the party.
Step 7: Paint
I disassembled the bases and connectors and finished them with some bright paint. Corvidae was responsible for the orange section, and boy was it applied thick...
Step 8: Successful Party
You can tell a successful party by the number of toys and balls that end up on the roof!
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13 Comments
9 years ago on Introduction
Awesome fun!
9 years ago on Step 6
i hope yr planning on biulding protection screen 4 the air inlet. soo a little one doesnt get sucked in.
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
There's a screen on the inlet to the air pump, and we didn't set out any small toys or items that could fit through the screen.
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
Hair can be sucked in there. You might want to build a box around that air inlet to make the chance of a kid bending over to pick up a ball next to it impossible for hair to be sucked in. Great project! You might consider adding a 1.5" to 2" PVC coupler to one of the output pipes so that you can dry fit all kinds of T's & 45° & 90° elbows along with various sections of straight PVC pipe to make all kinds air "plumbing". It would need to be closer to the ground though to be fun for this part.
9 years ago on Introduction
brilliant!!!!! water play if fun, but I had not thought of wind play. nice work
9 years ago on Introduction
Thanks!
9 years ago on Introduction
great love it keep up the great job of being a great dad to astral-mage in step 8 photo 3 there is a protection screen built in the fan itself for safe use you have to look close i almost miss it myself lol at me
9 years ago on Introduction
That is fantastic.
9 years ago on Introduction
My little nephew will like
9 years ago on Introduction
That is awesome- my kids would love this!
9 years ago on Step 5
wekll yes u can do it by, using a gated wheel like the ones used in wheel leaf blowers. hooked up to a battery operated drill.
9 years ago on Introduction
hey if it keeps the kids an parents happy. go it . i might be uising the idea my self as well.
9 years ago on Introduction
You are the best dad on the planet.