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Jones made an interesting comment regarding ceramics in
his post. One of my objectives in studying the various threads in this group is
try to keep current on material sciences as it relates to the wonderful new
quasi metal-ceramic technology emerging. Our industry has so many new products
in theory stage waiting for these promising strange and wondeful new materials.
For example.. an ultra high speed flywheel design awaits
the material that can withstand the rotational forces in excess of 250 thousand
RPM. To be economically feasible a compact flywheel would need to exceed 750
thousand RPM. Shazzaam! an energy storage unit.
I actually enjoy the crabbing back and forth between the
posters because in science there has never been anything quite like the internet
for open and free discussion.. err.. well perhaps a well placed kick to the
shins <grin>.
Way back in the stone age ( 1950's ) we used to sit
around talking about the future, dreaming up great things to build. One
was a suitcase one man heliocopter that could fly nonstop from Houston and back
from San Antonio Texas. The copter we envisioned was powered by a small
flywheel, it was flown by computer ( mind you there were NO computers), the
rotors were opposing rotation driven by a stepless variable speed differential
torque proportioning box consisting of a variation of a ceramic
composite type of air bearing having self lubricating qualities. The rotor
blades would achieve a hardness by centripital forces creating post tension
permitting feathering control. The rotor blade would unfurl like the material of
an old fashion venetian blind. No tail rotor would be required because the
opposite rotation of the rotors would be feathered and proportionally controlled
plus the rotor assembly would tilt for direction control.
Today, 50 years later, the only thing awaiting is
the ceramic-metal materials technology. The Hutchinson Effect website is another
hint toward that possibliity. Interesting that some years later I read Joel
Chptr 2 about an army of locusts that do not jostle each other .. enter through
the window. Made me consider that it was a description of a one man copter with
a plastic windshield shaped like a grasshoppers head.. hmmm
The most enjoyable component of this group is the self
discipline that is demonstrated . Fuss if you may, BUT at the end of the day
forgive , remembering that opposing opinions may both
be technically correct, just different.
Richard
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