Quote:
Originally Posted by billbo911
Here are some additional details to help explain why it works...
The cylinders are actually only retracted to 2/3 of their total length when the catapult is in the load position. The valve is then opened to allow the accumulators and cylinders to precharge up to 60 psi. The catapult is actually in a below top dead center (TDC) position, thus causing the arms to be forced against the stops and not allowing the arms to move. (There is the secret).
To launch, we just use a small dia. cylinder, or our hands during testing and in the video, to lift the catapult arms into an above TDC position, the rest is history.
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Is the attached sketch a correct representation of what you are describing?
The blue line represents the launcher, the brown block represents the stops in the loaded position. The black circles are the pivot points.
In the loaded position (as shown), the launcher is being pressed against the stops. An upward force at the green arrow will move pivot2 above the line connecting pivot1 and pivot3, and the rest, as you said, is history.