The Design Technology Blog

Author: Mark

  • Wireless power

    A few years ago there was a demonstration by a team at Fulton Innovation of a product called eCoupled. Using the principle of electromagnetic induction, by which an electrical charge can be stimulated in a wire coil by placing another one nearby, the crazy boffins were able to display wireless power transfer.

    Despite being high voltage, they said, it was safe, efficient and could be applied to any surface. The demo room consisted of a kitchen without plugs, but full of lights that could be stuck anywhere and a frying pan that heated up just by sitting it on the counter. Put a phone on the same counter and it began charging. Clearly, this was the future.

     

    wireless power

     

    Fulton are still working on wireless power, but it’s a different company that’s beat it to the shops, Powermat – and its products are expensive for something that replaces a 50p mains plug.

    The Wireless Power Consortium are going to be finalising a standard for wireless power called Qi later this year, which should mean prices drop and manufacturers have the confidence to build the technology straight into devices, rather than requiring an adaptor.

    Another similar technology is the  Airnergy by RCA. It’s a tiny dongle that can turn Wi-Fi signals back into electricity for charging phone batteries and the like.

  • Environmentally Friendly Toilets

    A Swedish company is selling dry toilets to help countries where water or sewerage systems are a concern. These toilets work by keeping the urine and the solid waste separate and using the second to create manure for farms. So far, the company has sold about 2,000 dry toilets, but the demand is growing worldwide.

    These toilets work by keeping the urine and the solid waste separate and using the second to create manure for farms. So far, the company has sold about 2,000 dry toilets, but the demand is growing worldwide. Read more…

    Here are some short excerpts from the India News article.

    ‘Don’t mix, don’t flush, don’t waste’ is the slogan of a Swedish entrepreneur selling dry toilets – a revolutionary concept that not only saves water but also converts human waste into manure.

    Sven Ingvar-Nilsson, 77, has been successfully using the dry toilet design for the last 11 years at his massive farm on the outskirts of this small Swedish town. He says that the concept not only uses human waste but also saves a lot of water that is wasted every time you flush.

    The urine section is rinsed using approximately 0.1 litres of water each use. The urine is led to a tank where it is collected for further transport, preferable for spreading as fertilizer in garden or agriculture. Solids fall into a bin housed in an insulated container in which negative pressure is created by a fan and vent.

    The solid waste dries and thus bacteria and viruses are eliminated by a simple and reliable method. After a drying period of six months the solids can be composed, burned or dug down in the soil where it is quickly broken down. A standard bin (holding 80 litres) will need to be emptied every three months for normal family use.

  • Plastics used to make cars

    Bend New Materials into Futuristic Shapes

    New materials for car bodies may soon transform the auto industry. Auto engineers can mold these carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics into virtually any shape. The materials are both strong and light which increasies fuel efficiency and safety at the same time. Cars built entirely out of plastic could be the wave of the future, making metal a thing of the past when it comes to cars.

    New, innovative cars made almost entirely of plastic are paving the way for what you may be driving in the future.

    A mechanical engineer at Porsche Engineering Services in Troy, Mich., says, “With plastics you can design cars which are very bold, and that gives you an advantage to sell nicer cars.”

    Plastics have gained a lot of ground over traditional metals used in cars, making it possible to build almost an entire vehicle completely of non-metal material.

    Mechanical engineers use a lightweight, high-strength aerospace material called carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic. It’s used in the doors, hoods, fenders, chasis and also in support frames for the engine and transmission. You can mold the plastics into very complicated shapes that maybe you can’t do in steel, plastics help cars lose weight to go farther on fuel.

    New materials, like plastic, are usually tested on high-end vehicles first. Once the materials are proven to be more efficient and cost effective, they eventually filter down to affordable consumer vehicles.

    BACKGROUND:

    Student designers at the College for Creative Studies are creating new plastic polymer materials as alternatives for automobile elements typically made of steel. The designs were part of a semester-long project and the automotive division of the Society of Plastics Engineers.

    ADVANTAGES:

    Among other advantages, plastics can significantly reduce the weight of a vehicle, improving fuel efficiency by reducing drag, and also cutting down on emissions. Because plastic can be more easily molded, components can be tailored for more comfortable human-ergonomic features, as well as more streamlined, aerodynamic shapes. Less material can be used than with steel components and the durability of plastics results in a longer, more reliable vehicle lifetime.

    SOURCES:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_fiber-reinforced_polymer

    http://www.azom.com/Details.asp?ArticleID=1662

    http://www.icis.com/Articles/2008/09/08/9153976/plastics-use-in-cars-rises-as-emissions-laws-get-tough.html

    http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-Materials-Boost-Hydrogen-Cars-039-Efficiency-54358.shtml

  • Beretta A391 xtremaA2

    NEW BERETTA A391 XTREMA2
    Designed for the use of Super Magnum 12 ga. 3 ½ in. (89 mm) cartridges, but capable of functioning with lighter cartridges, the new Beretta A391 Xtrema2 gas operated semiautomatic is the ideal shotgun for long distance shooting and the most difficult game.

    MODERN DESIGN, ULTIMATE TECHNOLOGY
    Streamlined Shapes. The skilfully rounded receiver blends perfectly with the stock grip and it permits instinctive, rapid target acquisition. Impeccable balance makes this shotgun easy- and fast to handle. The strongly outlined sides of the receiver confer a distintinctive character to the gun.
    The slim fore-end and the stock boast a new ergonomic design that facilitates the ount of the shotgun. The accurate design of the trigger guard elegantly merges with the receiver.
    The enlarged opening of the trigger guard allows the use of gloves. The top of the receiver is designed to accept (with an optional Weaver base) optics and other aiming systems.

    Stock And Fore-End In Technopolymer.

    The stock and fore-end are produced in durable, resistant, fiberglass reinforced technopolymer that ensures anti-scratch properties and an improved feel in cold weather.Special extended soft plastic inserts are overmolded on the gripping areas of the stock and fore-end to guarantee a secure grip also in adverse weather conditions and to absorb vibrations when shooting.

    EXCLUSIVE AQUA TEK PROTECTION
    Aqua Technology is the name given to the exclusive special surface and protective treatments that are applied to the metal parts of the new Beretta A391 Xtrema2 shotgun.
    The steel barrel is chrome-plated inside to withstand the rigors of steel shot. The external surface of the barrel is first blued and then covered that an exclusive protective coating which remarkably increases its resistance to corrosion. The receiver is made of black anodized aluminum alloy and also boasts the same protective coating. All the internal parts are either nickel or chrome plated, or they are protected by a special process based on a ionic deposition which impregnates the surfaces with ceramic compounds and metals (e.g. Titanium, Chrome) guaranteeing a great resistance to wear and corrosion.

    This unique treatment, grey pearl in color, extends to the breech bolt group, the trigger and the carrier.
    The main internal springs (recoil spring, magazine tube spring, valve spring), the self-compensating valve and the rear drop/cast plate are made of stainless steel. The homogeneous matte black finish, which characterizes all the metal parts in view, boasts anti-glare properties.

    MINIMUM RECOIL, MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE
    Gas Operation System with Exhaust Valve. The unique gas operation system, patented by Beretta, with self-cleaning gas cylinder and piston, is provided with a self cleaning exhaust valve that automatically vents the excess gases of the most powerful cartridges.The result is that the shotgun, without any adjustment, fires everything from the weakest 28g (1 ounce, 3 ¾ dram equivalent) game load to the heaviest 64g (2 ¼ ounce) Super Magnum cartridge. The exhaust valve remains attached to the barrel, ensuring easy and quick assembly and disassembly of the shotgun.

    New Kick Off® Recoil Absorber
    The new Beretta patented Kick Off system  has been conceived to further reduce felt recoil when shooting. Thanks to the Kick Off device, the recoil energy is gradually dissipated by two hydraulic absorbers  inserted into the stock. The result is superior comfort for the shooter. At the same time, the vibrations and the muzzle jump when shooting are strongly reduced.

    Recoil Reduction System. A spring-mass recoil-reduction system, located inside the stock, counteracts the rearward forces generated by shooting and greatly reduces felt recoil.
    Bolt Travel Recoil Absorber. Manufactured from an advanced elastomer, it reduces the vibrations transmitted to the shooter and contributes to the shotgun’s reliability and durability.

    Adjustable Length of Pull. Thanks to the two stock spacers (one assembled) the length of pull of the Xtrema2 Standard model can be adjusted to all shooters.

    Gel•Tek Recoil Pad. It reduces felt recoil and vibrations transmitted to the shooter and is interchangeable with extreme ease.

    Rotating Bolt. The rotating bolt with two locking lugs guarantees maximum safety and reliability even with the heaviest cartridges. The operating rods are integral to the bolt body, ensuring that it is guided symmetrically and with minimal friction. The disassembly and reassembly of this unit is also simplified.

    Optima-Bore Barrel.
    The Optima-Bore internal barrel profile features an overbored diameter and lengthened forcing cone that considerably improve shot pattern distribution and felt recoil reduction.

    Optimachoke Plus Choke Tubes.
    The Beretta Optimachoke ,Plus tubes feature a long, gradual constriction, internal profile formed to minimize shot deformation and to enhance the concentration and distribution of shot patterns. Engineered to resist steel shot stress and corrosion.

    RICH ACCESSORIES

    The Beretta A391 Xtrema2 shotgun is supplied with a modern design case and a complement of accessories: additional set of stock drop/cast plates, 25 ml. Beretta Gun Oil, set of Optimachoke Plus choke tubes with spanner, stock spacer with assembly screws , front and rear sling swivels.

    Stock Drop and Cast Spacers. They allow the stock drop and cast to be adjusted by simply
    modifying their assembly position.

    Quick Detachable Sling Swivels. Thanks to an exclusive quick-release system it is possible to fasten
    and remove the rear swivel from the stock without any tools.

    BIBLIOGRAPHY:

    1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beretta_Xtrema_2
    2. http://www.berettausa.com/products/a391-xtrema2/default.aspx
    3. http://www.e-gun.net/more.asp?gid=20484&gun=shotgun