Drop Mechanism
Drop Mechanism
(OP)
Hi guys, I'm currently an Industrial designer looking at creating a product which needs a drop mechanism inside. I want the product to drop at a slow speed for about 3 feet; and then the user will pull it down slightly for it to then travel back up to its original position. would this be possible, i was also looking at whether a servo could be used to drop the product down. thanks!





RE: Drop Mechanism
Then, in response to some unspecified stimulus, another part of the product descends slowly for a little less than a meter, and stops.
Then the user grasps that second part and pulls it down for an unspecified distance against an unspecified force, and releases it, whereupon said second part ascends to its original position at an unspecified speed.
You just need to flesh out the specification a little bit...
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Drop Mechanism
RE: Drop Mechanism
A.
RE: Drop Mechanism
RE: Drop Mechanism
Using giving the thing a gentle tug to tell it to spool back up isn't an essential part of the concept. You're already sensing whether the battery is flat or not, so maybe the thing could be designed to climb back up (say) five seconds after sensing it's got a fresh battery.
Doesn't sound like the exact speed of drop or exact distance lowered are particularly critical, so for a product this size, I would have thought a small dc motor running at whatever speed comes naturally, driving a winch drum would provide adequate control. Control lowering distance using a timer, and a microswitch to sense when it's got home afterwards. If the lowering mechanism needs to know whether the battery is flat, it might be better off in the bottom half of the device.
Potential problem with that concept is that you're doing a powered lower at a time when your battery (having a dedicated suspension battery would introduce all sorts of issues of its own) is already very tired and when you want to conserve the power that's left for detecting fires.
A.
RE: Drop Mechanism
The biggest challenge, I think, would be getting the battery to lay flat to keep the vertical profile low.
As an aside, many houses have much higher ceilings than 8 ft., i.e., some have standard ceilings that are 10 ft and 12 ft. Some smoke detectors are mounted on cathedral ceilings, and might be even higher than that.
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RE: Drop Mechanism
RE: Drop Mechanism
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The issue is that the alarm sounds tend to be high pitched, and in a house with a smoke detector in every room,it can be challenging. I'd prefer beeping with some sort of LED flashing pattern
TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKorP55Aqvg
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies forum1529: Translation Assistance for Engineers
RE: Drop Mechanism
RE: Drop Mechanism
RE: Drop Mechanism
Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.
RE: Drop Mechanism
RE: Drop Mechanism
another day in paradise, or is paradise one day closer ?
RE: Drop Mechanism
another day in paradise, or is paradise one day closer ?
RE: Drop Mechanism