Re: [GBlist] GRAVITY POWER

["David Peabody" <peabody@laser.net>]

I had to share this!  I think this guy needs a real job!
----- Original Message -----
From: "Eli Fishpaw" <eli.fishpaw@rockbridge.net>
To: <greenbuilding@crest.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 29, 2002 4:07 PM
Subject: [GBlist] GRAVITY POWER


> I have a steep hillside behind my house.  My wife and I have developed a
> simple trail up the wood hillside for quick exercise.  Because the hill is
> fairly steep, walking at a simple pace has the effort required of running.
> I want to use the potential energy I am storing by moving up hill to
> transport me back to the house.  I want to set up a steel zip line from
> large tree near top of hill to large tree near bottom of hill.  What I am
in
> need of is an engineered cable break.  I would like to ride in a harness
> connected to a pulley that would have a brake that can grip the cable.  I
do
> not know of such a device.  However, it may be out there.  I have some
ideas
> for developing a brake.  I would rather buy a well engineered device if I
> can find one.
>
> Beyond simple entertainment (although staying healthy greatly reduces
energy
> use in health care) I can anticipate this device supporting a cart that I
> could load firewood from dead trees.  Gravity would move my wood in the
cart
> down the hill to the wood processing area for final cutting and splitting
to
> then drop on a plywood slide into the wood shed.
>
> Because we have a wooded hillside, leaves collect behind the house as they
> seek to move by gravity to the bottom of the hill.  I am placing a tarp at
> the low point behind the house that can be rolled up to collect the leaves
> for use in the Garden.  Since the Garden is 20 vertical from the back of
the
> house, there is potential to hook it up to a zip line running to the
Garden.
>
> Actually by continually applying the breaks (which is what we do when we
> walk back down) we are coverting a lot of energy to heat. In keeping with
> the concept of storing gravity energy a counter weighted cart of slightly
> less weight could carry mass up the hill for storage.  In some cases, this
> could represent material you want up the hill such as compost for an
> orchard.  In my case, it is more likely to carry materials to service the
> trail.
>
> Another concept of tapping the gravity energy would feature a loop that
> would turn a shaft for a water pump.  If the load on the line could be
> sufficent to slow the cable, riding down off the hill would have the
affect
> of pumping water (building potential energy for future use).  Water up
hill
> is very useful for a lot of things.  Although if you were dependant on
going
> up the hill to pump water, you would probably live a lot longer.  We have
> access to plentiful, though not potable water from a nearby creak.  If
when
> you dropped fire wood or an old body like mine, water could be flowing up
> hill to slow the speed of decension.  The water itself could be a
> counterweight on demand for when you want to carry compost, building
> materails or a lazy body up the hill.
>
> All these are fanciful ideas that are a lot of fun.  However, the main
> barrier to building the simple zip line is finding a break that can grab a
> steel cable.  The line I have surveyed is just over 300' diagonal (cable
> run) which is near 150' vertical and 270' horizontal which is just under
30
> degrees.  The candidate trees can support a platform 20'-30' up to deal
with
> the line sag.  I do not know how much that would be.  The closer to the
> trunk, the more tension can be put on the line.
>
> I am looking for a cable break.  I hope there are expericens in the list
> that can give me ideas for developing this concept.
>
> Eli Fishpaw
> Lexington, VA
> eli.fishpaw@rockbrdige.net
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________________
> This greenbuilding dialogue is sponsored by REPP/CREST, creator of
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> ______________________________________________________________________
>
>
>



______________________________________________________________________
This greenbuilding dialogue is sponsored by REPP/CREST, creator of
Solstice http://www.crest.org, and BuildingGreen, Inc., publisher of
Environmental Building News and GreenSpec http://www.BuildingGreen.com
______________________________________________________________________