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valve initiator...

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 2:46 pm
by THUNDERLORD
hello to all, i have been reading here for a few years but i am new to posting, i would like to give back to this community. anyways i have been thinking about using a stick type tire valve gauge, maybe epoxied into a end cap or other connection(t, etc.) how it will work is that once the plastic marker reaches a certain determined point it will close a switch initiating a refill valve or the triggering valve. i actually got the idea while thinking about a old fashioned time bomb switch where one lead goes onto the minute, hour or second hand of a clock, the other terminal is a post through the plastic face and once the hand reaches that point the switch closes. the same pricipal could be used on a dial pressure gauge. i hope someone can find this useful. btw, bc pneumatics sells a 100psi valve that works similar for $9.99usd. but i was already thinking about building one before i saw it on thier site. p.s. thanks to pcguy, jsr, mr. crowley for your wonderful posts.

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 3:23 pm
by Blitz
When those tire pressure gauges push the plastic stick up, there's virtually no force behind it. Next time you check a tire's pressure, put your hand over it -- you'll barely feel it at all. That force won't be enough to move any switches.

Also, you'd have to worry about securing that gauge to a schrader valve permamently, in a manner where it wouldn't leak air. In other words, not very feasable.

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 3:32 pm
by Jared Haehnel
Blitz nailed it... unless you have some kind of ultra sensitive switch your switch would be stuck off...

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 3:34 pm
by pizlo
too bad, it sounded like a good idea. Welcome to posting!

Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 12:38 am
by THUNDERLORD
well thanks for the replies fellas. i guess it would be sort of rube goldberg to put a photocell and led type switch where the indicator would block the light, triggering a switch(idea i got off a coilgun sequence firing technique). the gauges on air hoses at gas stations are never accurate probably from result of repeated use and friction. besides the tire valve doesn't measure the psi range i was interested in. i am still wondering about dial type gauges? i would not activate the switch with a post as it would probably break the arm of the gauge.but maybe a thin wire coming off the arm that rubs against a copper piece glued onto the face of the dial. it could either close the switch when it reaches high pressure or close the switch when it reaches low pressure and could possibly be adustable. maybe this should be in the theories section. also, i wrote that the pressure switch was available at bc pneumatics, i meant bcarms link on the top of the screen. btw, bc pneumatics has some great videos on youtube under megaswordman. thanks. i am still designing a simple system of semi auto/ full auto where one event is not totally dependent of another event such as where a jam or other malfunction could cause a disaster. hopefully i will share some findings or someone else could. testing is in order.