Hi Cloxxki,
Have you seen the video where the wind pushed the trike in the video "Building the Vehicle Physicists Called Impossible (feat. Veritasium)" ?
This is the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUgajGv4Aok&t=9sThis is what got my idea started, but instead of going forward, why not rotate it in a circle without wind or a treadmill.
Using a low rpm generator (washing machine permanent motor) with higher output then the drive motors, could it produce more power then is needed to turn the generator. I would say no, if I connected them directly to the generator with gears. The load would be greater then the output and cancel out.
Now using thrust is a total different drive with a better constant then direct drive no mater what gears you have.
The key is to get enough thrust to over come generator load with the help of leverage and speed.
Using less then 20 watts of power per motor to produce 1lb of thrust or a total of 80 watts for all four motor working together won't have the same effect as direct drive.
The generator would need about 60 rpm's to produce 80 watts, this comes out to be about :
P(hp) = P(W) / 745.699872
P(hp) = 80W / 745.699872 = 0.11 hp
Each motor is attached to 3.5ft rod form center, at 1lb of thrust would have a total of 3.5 foot pound x 4 = 14 total foot pounds of mechanical work.
60 rpm's @ 14 lb of thrust /5252 =0.16hp
Total thrust velocity needed is (84"*pi)=21ft/sec or 1319 ft/min
These are just some basic numbers, efficiency, drag and other unknowns.
This is just a theory, that's why I will have to build a prototype ASP.
Tom
