Needed: BRAIN power, IDEAS

[ArmyValker]

http://ide20.com/?page_id=158

This is my Engineer Design class project. I've got a few ideas of my own, but I couldn't think of a better place to gather some more, say... creative solutions...

What do ya got?

My idea.... http://www.stormthecastle.com/catapult/spring-catapult.html  , but mounted upside down and with a claw hammer instead of a throwing arm..

I KNOW you guys can come up with something better than THAT! 

[sugerbear]

maybe connect the rope to a flywheel of sorts, to spin a small generator to activate an electromagnet
to pull the hammer
maybe a capacator to store the energy for the required 10 sec. between the generator and magnet

sorry the math is WAYYYYY above me. LOL

somebody MUCH smarter than me will tell you why it won't work.

[Gryphon Rider]

1. How are you permitted to fasten to the hammer?
2. Does the hammer need to be suspended at its maximum height, or can it swing back down?

[Jabba]

Your idea link didn't work for me...

My interpretation of the test is that the weight, pulleys, and the haller and it's pulley's are not open for design.  But rather part of the test apparatus.  And your machine will have to fit, inside that.

My 1st thought is to use a coil spring, like that on the pull starter of a lawnmower to store the energy from the falling weight.  Use a rachet type system to NOT release any stored energy.  The rules say that you CAN have external controls... so then you release the spring to "reel" in the hammer.

You could probably do that with a linear spring too.  anchor it on one end to a release.  then stretch the spring with the falling weight to catch on another anchor.  Then, after 10 seconds release the original catch to pull up the hammer.  I see this done with archery type string releases. 

Seems like a fun project.

I want to build a trebuche' too.  I want to take it to our hunting cabin and use it to throw, among other things, the deer carcass (post butchering) back into the woods.  I think it'd be a riot to have deer skeletons hanging from the trees.


Jabba