Chief Delphi - Flat Hose

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- Pneumatics (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=54)

- - Flat Hose (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=82754)

We have tried other things, didn't know you could get polycarb to coil like that. Certainly worth a look.

The students on both teams I am working with are pretty stubborn about trying to make the air filled hose work, but may have to go with an alternative as time is running out.

Eric,
2493 will be in San Diego, 3295 will be in LA. I will be in Phoenix but not the team.

Richard,
I would be interested in knowing some more about this hose. You can PM me with reference if you wish.

I'm not 100% sure the miracle hose exists yet. One of the team members is going to http://www.hose-man.com/sys-tmpl/colton/ to check it out today.

The site allows you to select characteristics of the hose. The on site visit should confirm what they can do for us, how flexible the hose will be, how much it will cost, if 60psi or less can make it stand erect, etc.

As soon as I get details, I will post it.

OK, generally a non-flex hose under pressure is not a desirable effect.

Here is the question as posted on the Q&A

Quote:

We would like to use a discharge hose, inflated using the onboard FRC pneumatics system, to raise a hook and cable to grasp the tower for elevating our robot.

The hose would remain folded or coiled on the robot until it was inflated to lift the hook.

Once the hook is set on the tower, the hose would deflate and a winch system would be used to raise the robot.

We have found a supplier that will supply the hose at any length we want (probably 5-7 ft), less than 2" in diameter (it will be either 1.5 or 2 inches) with caps at either end of the hose, with one cap having a threaded hole that will fit the pneumatic connectors that come with the KOP and screw into the Bimba cylinders. The hose will be rated by the supplier at 150psi. It is a flexible vinyl type of hose. The supplier will build the hose to our specifications so no further modifications will be done other than to attach a hook to one end of the hose and a pneumatic fitting to the other end. The end with the pneumatic fitting will be securely mounted on the robot.

The web site for the supplier is The Hose-Man: http://www.hose-man.com/sys-tmpl/door/

We anticipate filling the hose with no more than 10psi, more likely we will be using 5psi, depending on the amount of weight we are lifting. A pressure regulator will be used to control the amount of pressure in the hose.

o We are not intending to use the hose as an air storage system (<R01>B)(<R72>A)
o We think this should be permitted based on <R27>D as an additional air cylinder. There is no piston, so the stroke is under 24 inches and the diameter will be 2 inches or less.
o The hose will be filled with the onboard FRC Pneumatic system so it does not fall into the category of this previous Q&A posting: http://forums.usfirst.org/showthread.php?t=13703

Would this type of system be legal? If not, which rule would it violate?

Thank you for your time

Now to wait for the answer.....

Richard,
While you are waiting, have you calculated the volume of supply air you would need for such a device?

we did the math with a lighter material and slightly larger diameter and had plenty of air in one Clippard at 60psi.

I'm estimating we can do the same with the new material, 2" rather than 2.5" with one maybe two Clippards.

With the first material we calculated 2psi would do the work we needed. Even if we double or triple that psi, we still have enough Clippards to do the work.

The rookie team is using no other pneumatics, so they have all 4 Clippards available.

2493's available air may be an issue.

So, unless my math or theory is wrong, we should be OK.

The GDC has spoken... denied. On to plan B

Quote:

Re: Using a hose as a pneumatic component for lifting a hook
A hose used as a pneumatic actuator is not one of the devices explicitly permitted by Rule <R72>. Specifically, it is not a pneumatic cylinder, and is not permitted by Rule <R72-D>. Since it is not explicitly permitted by Rule <R72>, it is therefore prohibited by Rule <R71>.

Too bad, it might have been interesting to see.

We may try it at an off-season event. If we do, we will post pictures.