Vacuum

[Jnadke]

Originally posted by sanddrag
Isn't there a way to connect a cylinder to a rotating cam powered by a motor and have that act as either a compressor or vacuum pump by use of a one way valve?

Originally posted by Jnadke
My favorite, and probabaly the most effective, would be to use a one-way valve system and hook the suction cup to a cylinder. The air would be extracted from the suction cup (via equilibrium when you pull the piston), and then expelled out of another one-way valve. This would probabaly create the closest to a vacuum out of all three methods. I think I saw one team employing this method last year. I saw a motor driving a cylinder but I'm not sure if they were using a valve system (that would be pretty dumb if they weren't). As above, any COF would be enhanced.

Although we don't get any valves that function with that respect in the kit, I'd imagine they exist. If not, then I'd be surprised. It'd probabaly be some sort of pressure valve. It could easily be created from some sort of rubber or silicone flap. When the pressure is greater the inlet side, the pressure forces the flap open and would equalize. When the pressure on the outlet side is greater, it would force the seal tighter.

There are pressure regulating valves at McMaster with a 0 PSI minimum differential, but I don't know if they are one-way... not to mention they cost $75 each...