Quote:
Originally Posted by AdamHeard
Poor terminology on my part, I was thinking in terms of controls and meant positions as in different pressures (your system wants 5 positions, 5 different pressures...).
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This is a great way to implement a variable kicker. If you have a cylinder connected to the end of your latex tubing (or other spring kicker spring) then you could get multiple kick force by simply moving your regulator knob to different positions -- in this case "positions" would indeed be the correct word because for every regulator knob position you would get a different psi in your cylinder and that would translate to a different position of your cylinder.
By the way, this could also make your cocking method simpler as well.
Imagine this:
- Spring A moves your kicker toward retract.
- Spring B moves your kicker toward kick and has its "fixed" end attached to a big nasty air cylinder.
- Assume that at PSI_A the two springs are equal.
- Assume that there is a latch that holds the kicker in the cocked position
- Start process assuming kicker has just kicked.
Shooting process:
- output PSI < PSI_A, Spring A overpowers Spring B, therefore, kicker moves toward cocked
- Latch latches
- Output PSI = PSI_Desired_Kick_Energy > PSI_A, cyclinder moves the "fixed" end of Spring B in such a way as to store the appropriate amount of energy in Spring B such that it will be able to overcome Spring A AND have the right level of energy in the kicker to kick ball appropriately -- but it doesn't move because of the latch
- Release Latch
- Spring B overcomes Spring A and imparts energy into Kicker
- Kicker kicks ball
- Repeat
I like it. I like it A LOT! It provides a lot of features for not that many actuators (latch cylinder, Spring B cylinder and regulator motor)
Who's getting the official answer on this one?
Joe J.