Slinky Sensor June 16, 2007 =20 I just finished a sensor made from a "Slinky Spring" The toy spring kids = and some adults play with. I used the "Slinky Jr." ? Which is a = metal spring smaller than the full size Slinky. I think they call it = the Jr. and it measures about 1 =BE" in dia. If you hold the spring by = the end it expands to about 3'. When you add weight it expands to = about 7' and has a period of about 2 seconds. This is a not-too-serious = attempt, its just for fun. =20 The basic concept ; =20 Use a Slinky spring. From the end of the spring hang a =BC" x 12" brass = threaded rod. On the rod place three =BC" thick x =BE " od ring = magnets separated by brass nuts Two magnets for the coil, one magnet = lower on the rod for the damper. Using the 4 brass nuts, you can = position the magnets up and down the 12" brass rod for vertical = adjustments. =20 The rod and magnets pass thru and are centered to float inside a donut = coil, and a damper made from a 1" x 2" long copper pipe, which is split = into three parts. These three parts each have a brass screw for adj how = close or far they get to the damping magnet. =20 There are two 3" pvc tees one on top of the other, which act as = housings. The top tee houses the coil. The bottom tee houses the = damper. =20 The two tees attach to a 3" toilet flange, and the toilet flange is = bolted to a concrete block. The concrete block has three adj leveling legs. =20 The spring, rod, and magnets are all lowered into a 3" x 48" pvc pipe, = and hang from a 3" pvc end cap. =20 I plugged the two tee openings with tee plugs with windows. =20 The entire system is inside the enclosed pvc pipe to isolate from air = currents. =20 All in all it work okay, I have recorded several earthquakes with it, = and it seem to work as well as my other vertical. They are posted on = PSN as TCIDzS (z for vertical S for slinky) =20 I have a concept sketch and picts to send if anyone is = interested.........I tried to post on the web. but had problems. Thanks, TedSlinky=20 Sensor &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; =20 June 16, 2007
I just finished a sensor made from a =93Slinky Spring=94 The = toy spring kids=20 and some adults play with. = I used=20 the =93Slinky Jr.=94 = ? Which is a metal spring = smaller=20 than the full size Slinky. I=20 think they call it the Jr. and it measures about 1 =BE=94 in dia. If you hold the spring by the = end it=20 expands to about 3=92. = When you=20 add weight it expands to about 7=92 and has a period of about 2 = seconds. =20 This is a not-too-serious attempt, its just for fun.
The basic concept ;
Use a Slinky spring. = From=20 the end of the spring hang a =BC=94 x 12=94 brass threaded rod. On the rod place three =BC=94 = thick x =BE =93 od ring magnets = separated by brass=20 nuts Two magnets for the = coil, one=20 magnet lower on the rod for the damper. Using the 4 brass nuts, = you can=20 position the magnets up and down the 12=94 brass rod for vertical=20 adjustments.
The rod and magnets pass thru and are centered to float inside = a donut=20 coil, and a damper made from a 1=94 x 2=94 long copper pipe, which is = split into=20 three parts. These three = parts each=20 have a brass screw for adj how close or far they get to the damping=20 magnet.
There are two 3=94 pvc tees one on top of the other, which act = as housings.=20 The top tee houses the coil. = The=20 bottom tee houses the damper.
The two tees attach to a 3=94 toilet flange, and the toilet = flange is=20 bolted to a concrete block.
The concrete block has three adj leveling legs.
The spring, rod, and magnets are all lowered into a 3=94 x 48=94 pvc pipe, and hang from = a 3=94 pvc end=20 cap.
I plugged the two tee openings with tee plugs with = windows.
The entire system is inside the enclosed pvc pipe to isolate = from air=20 currents.
All in all it work okay, I have recorded several earthquakes = with it, and=20 it seem to work as well as my other vertical. They are posted on PSN as = TCIDzS (z for = vertical S for=20 slinky)
I have a concept sketch and picts to send if = anyone is=20 interested.........I tried to post on the web. but had=20 problems.
Thanks,=20 Ted