Timeline for Solar Powered Trash Compactor (Chicago Big Belly)
Current License: CC BY-SA 3.0
7 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 7, 2012 at 13:49 | comment | added | clabacchio | @DavidKessner: and a current sensor that stops the machine if current is too low -> nothing to compress? | |
| Jun 5, 2012 at 19:14 | comment | added | user3624 | @supercat One thing to keep in mind is the overall reliability. Sensing if the can is full is difficult given the dirty environment. Ultrasonic and light based sensors could quickly foul. A mechanical sensor might not foul, but could get damaged with abuse. This thing would have to work reliably in all weather for years. It's hard to beat the reliability and robustness of absolutely nothing (no sensor). | |
| Jun 5, 2012 at 17:59 | comment | added | supercat | @clabacchio: The notion of compressing without worrying whether the bin is full is perhaps not unreasonable, if the amount of energy required to "compress" empty air is much less than the amount of energy required to compress "stuff"; that in turn would depend upon the mechanical design. Motors waste energy mechanically when driving a very small amount of torque, and electrically when driving a very large one. A variable-ratio transmission could greatly improve efficiency in this sort of application. | |
| Jun 5, 2012 at 14:29 | comment | added | Russell McMahon♦ | For what values of tiny, should and guessing? | |
| Jun 4, 2012 at 8:23 | comment | added | clabacchio | +1 Though you're right, I'd also try to optimize it to compress only when it's reasonably full, to enhance also the usage of the battery. | |
| Jun 4, 2012 at 8:20 | history | edited | clabacchio | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
edited body
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| May 28, 2012 at 1:46 | history | answered | user3624 | CC BY-SA 3.0 |