In context... What sort of air-thrust (propeller or jet) engine would be required to push 160 pounds along the ground on low friction wheels? Or is a conventional motor pushing a wheel against the ground unquestionably better?
If you have any links to relevant information on similar attempts, they would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
On 21 Jul 2010 20:36:48 GMT, John Doe wrote in :
You're much safer with a geared transmission than with a prop spinning near your shins.
Having said that, one of the first pictures to come up is of a prop inside a cage:
I was going to suggest a 50cc two-stroke. Looks like that is about what others are doing, too.
Depends on how fast you want to go and how much hill climbing you have to do.
Marty
Gack!
I searched for motor-powered skateboards.
A search for gas powered roller skates nets this:
Which seems to be one of these:
Which got banned in Britain:
They're using a smaller engine--understandably!
Marty
Yeah, the only thing I found for in-line skates, when looking for an alternate method of propulsion, is motorized skates. That will never fly. You cannot attach anything heavy to a skate or your lower leg, without destroying the main purpose/quality of skating. Personally, I do street skating. I am currently using a push stick with an electric motor. I do like it, and probably very much so after my ankles adjust, but there is always better.
I actually started research for the propeller/jet thing... And I realized that the criteria/keyword should just be "bicycle" instead of "skate". Found a boatload of examples on YouTube. Pushing a bicycle is very nearly the same, and the adaptation is easy. One benefit of a skate over a bicycle is much less weight, depending on how much the backpack frame weighs, but probably just aluminum.
Not sure if I am going to make one, just depends on how feasible it looks, how much propulsion it can provide. Speed is a non-concern, getting me up slight inclines is the issue (especially on extremely narrow sidewalks).
On 22 Jul 2010 02:27:49 GMT, John Doe wrote in :
I seem to remember seeing some kind of backpack-to-wheel wire transmission. The flexible drive shaft was in a housing of some kind and must have run to a worm gear on the drive wheel. While that gets the weight away from the ankles, it leaves you with a power-robbing driveshaft that would seem vulnerable to kinking if you're not careful when donning and doffing the skates.
Marty
| In context... What sort of air-thrust (propeller or jet) engine | would be required to push 160 pounds along the ground on low | friction wheels? Or is a conventional motor pushing a wheel | against the ground unquestionably better?
Powering the wheel is unquestionably better.
You could do this with a R/C plane engine if you wanted -- even a moderately sized one (0.46 ci or so) could produce more power than the rider could -- but do be sure it gets lots of airflow, as airplane engines are designed to work with lots of airflow to stay cool. R/C car engines have bigger heat sinks and such and so handle less airflow.
Running it somewhat rich to keep the heat down would also be wise.
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