Dumbwaiters
There is a machine design competition somewhere, hosted by some organization where teams design and build a dumbwaiter. I don’t have the details yet because I am waiting for Mike (the EED instructor) to give me more information. In the meantime I am studying a typical dumbwaiter system.
A dumbwaiter is a small freight elevator or lift intended to carry objects rather than people. Dumbwaiters found within modern structures, including both commercial, public and private buildings, are often connected between multiple floors. -Wikipedia
If we boil down the dumbwaiter to its most basic components, they would be the following:
- The rails/track
- Motor or rope to power the machine
- Car/cab
The first image is a dumbwaiter system that would be powered by a motor. Since its powered by a motor, the system would require buttons and limit switches to ensure that the machine didn’t over stress itself.
While a motor powered dumbwaiter would be easier for the user, the maintenance of it may be challenging. For example, ensuring that the motor and limit switches are always working will be vital. If they aren’t working correctly it could lead to damages to the infrastructure where the dumbwaiter is in or more damage to the motor itself.
Another approach to this dumbwaiter system is to use a pulley system.
The main problem that may occur with a pulley powered dumbwaiter, is not having enough mechanical advantage. This will cause the user to need to exert more force on the hand rope. Thus making the dumbwaiter more of an inconvenience than helpful.
Once I have the competition guidelines I will be able to decide on what method my dumbwaiter will be powered.
*A helpful tip I just found out if you need to research items for a project: If you know a company that sells that item, go to their website, select the item, and review the installation guide/manual. They give in depth details and dimensions about the item! This information can then help you define constraints and make decisions about your design.
