In a message dated 6/23/99 8:24:57 PM EST, 105671.471@compuserve.com writes:
<< Why didn't you use a windshield wiper motor. I'll bet you have one lying
around there somewhere. A simple start button and one revolution and
it automatically stops at home! A short piece of cable and your done! >>
Dave,
I didn't because:
I didn't think about it, but now that I have:
The stroke is too long without modifications or rigging up some leveraging
mechanism.
Mounting it would be a lot harder than a solenoid, which is much smaller.
A working ww motor is more valuable than a solenoid.
<< OTH, you could get out the hotrod mags and look up an hydraulic hood
raising mechanism and really wow 'em.>>
Believe me, I have thought about that. The catalog that came with the
solenoids has several listed. Hmmmm. Don't tempt me!
One thing I've often thought of doing with a large sedan, using the
mechanisms you mentioned: I've thought about putting a very realistic looking
fake machine gun in the trunk, mounted trasnversley. I wanted to rig it so
when I press a button, the trunk s-l-o-w-l-y opens, the machine gun
s-l-o-w-l-y raises up out of the trunk, and s-l-o-w-l-y rotates to point to
the rear. I figure by the time the gun gets about half way around, my
tailgater problem would be over.
BTW, the catalog also had another item of much interest -- SPDT 12V latching
relays! Expensive, but......Think of all the things you could do with one. Up
till now, the only latching relays I could find were 120Vac or 125Vdc, and
VERY expensive.
Dan Masters,
Atlanta, GA
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