Gear reduction system to spin an alternator
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: MN
Posts: 1,526
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Gear reduction system to spin an alternator
Alright folks, time to pick your brain on this one...
Anybody know of an efficient gear reduction system that is relatively small? We need to spin an alternator by human power and want the alternator to be spinning around 3-4K RPM. It's for a project for school and all I can think of is just a system of regular tooth gears... Any smart folks out there want to share some ideas? It would be much appreciated!
Anybody know of an efficient gear reduction system that is relatively small? We need to spin an alternator by human power and want the alternator to be spinning around 3-4K RPM. It's for a project for school and all I can think of is just a system of regular tooth gears... Any smart folks out there want to share some ideas? It would be much appreciated!
#2
Can you rig something up with an old bicycle?? Maybe an old 10 speed or something? when it is in 10 you could run another chain off of the big sprocket on the driven end and have a small sprocket on your alternator, I think 3-4K might be an issue but you might get fast enough to produce power.
Besides I don't think 1 person can spin an alternator under load at 4000 RPM under load, how much current do you need to produce??
Besides I don't think 1 person can spin an alternator under load at 4000 RPM under load, how much current do you need to produce??
#4
'People of Wal-Mart' 2010 finalist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Oklahoma/Texas
Posts: 456
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
depending on the power you need to produce, I would lean towards a multi-gear system.
optamistically, your going to be able to peddle at about 60 to 100 RPMs.
optamistically, your going to be able to peddle at about 60 to 100 RPMs.
#5
Registered User
I like the roadbike idea...
Maybe it could be set up like a stationary trainer. Most of them clamp onto the rear quick release axle to hold the bike up, and run a roller off the rear tire. Others, like my Minoura, run rubber drive wheels off the rear rim's braking surface (for less slip, and no wearing out expensive tires).
Resistance is typically provided by a magnetic unit, or fan, or a fluid resistance unit. The rim drive unit uses a little cog belt between the roller and the resistance unit, so it might be possible to rig something that way.
Otherwise, if you can come up with a road bike (or a mountain bike with rock slicks) and a trainer to hold it up, maybe you could rig up a roller on the alternator, or perhaps running the tire on the regular alternator pulley would work.
As a plus, you would have the bike's range of gears to play with to find one that's efficient.
Anyhow, here's a link to some trainers... and good luck.
http://www.minoura.co.jp/trainer-e2.html
Maybe it could be set up like a stationary trainer. Most of them clamp onto the rear quick release axle to hold the bike up, and run a roller off the rear tire. Others, like my Minoura, run rubber drive wheels off the rear rim's braking surface (for less slip, and no wearing out expensive tires).
Resistance is typically provided by a magnetic unit, or fan, or a fluid resistance unit. The rim drive unit uses a little cog belt between the roller and the resistance unit, so it might be possible to rig something that way.
Otherwise, if you can come up with a road bike (or a mountain bike with rock slicks) and a trainer to hold it up, maybe you could rig up a roller on the alternator, or perhaps running the tire on the regular alternator pulley would work.
As a plus, you would have the bike's range of gears to play with to find one that's efficient.
Anyhow, here's a link to some trainers... and good luck.
http://www.minoura.co.jp/trainer-e2.html
#7
'People of Wal-Mart' 2010 finalist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Oklahoma/Texas
Posts: 456
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
does it have to be human driven?
What about driving the alternator from another motor.
Drive a higher voltage DC generator and run it thru an inverter to drive an AC motor to run your alternator?
If you want to use the stationary bike, remove the tire from the wheel and use that as your "large" pulley to drive a smaller pulley on your alternator.
Whats the challenge anyway?
What about driving the alternator from another motor.
Drive a higher voltage DC generator and run it thru an inverter to drive an AC motor to run your alternator?
If you want to use the stationary bike, remove the tire from the wheel and use that as your "large" pulley to drive a smaller pulley on your alternator.
Whats the challenge anyway?
Trending Topics
#9
Administrator
Alright folks, time to pick your brain on this one...
Anybody know of an efficient gear reduction system that is relatively small? We need to spin an alternator by human power and want the alternator to be spinning around 3-4K RPM. It's for a project for school and all I can think of is just a system of regular tooth gears... Any smart folks out there want to share some ideas? It would be much appreciated!
Anybody know of an efficient gear reduction system that is relatively small? We need to spin an alternator by human power and want the alternator to be spinning around 3-4K RPM. It's for a project for school and all I can think of is just a system of regular tooth gears... Any smart folks out there want to share some ideas? It would be much appreciated!
http://www.windstreampower.com/humanpower/hpgmk3.html
I used a DC motor from an old winchester drive for the generator.
Jim
#10
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Pasadena, MD
Posts: 851
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Here's an idea...I'm not sure which gear/pulley it would need to be on, but what about making it heavy? It would be harder to spin up, but once moving, the inertia would keep it spinning easier?
#11
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: MN
Posts: 1,526
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It's for an engineering project, we're using electical power to boil and distill a liter of water. It has to be 100% human powered. Right now the bike gears are looking like the way to go... they're cheap and pretty efficient. Yeah, where is Begle1 when you need to think outside the box
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
5.9Excursion
3rd Gen High Performance and Accessories (5.9L Only)
1
03-13-2008 07:08 AM
Jones0027
2nd Gen. Dodge Ram - No Drivetrain
8
02-11-2003 01:34 PM