CO2 powered pinewood derby car is definitely cheating
This year [Sliptronic] grabbed an extra kit and threw the rules out the window by powering the car with compressed carbon dioxide. He used a 3D printer to make a housing for two CO2 cartridges that mounts on the center of the chassis. An official Pinewood Derby race track is on an incline and has a wooden gate that keeps each car in place until it is dropped to start the race. [Sliptronic] is using this gate as the triggering mechanism. Springs on either side of the car pull against an arm at the back of the vehicle. This arm is held in place by a rod protruding out the front of the vehicle. When the start gate is dropped that rod releases the trigger, which is pulled up by the springs to pierce the CO2 cartridges. You can see an overview of how that mechanism works in the video after the break.There's a picture of the car in the article:
Now, I wouldn't let a Scout race that car, but it would be cool as all get-out to see it go down the track once or twice...
That is all.
10 comments:
Jay,
Why not take it a step further? The co2 carts are a fine idea, but why not B or C sized model rocket motors? Hmmm? Triggering device would be similar and a small battery up front in a transverse orientation would provide power for the ignitors. Not that I've every tried anything remotely like that before ....
- Brad
For those who are now saying "This is useless without a video", just go to YouTube and search on "pinewood c02", and you'll find several examples. Yes, it works - and can be done with simpler hardware than this example.
Why no rocket engines? Simple: they'd trash the track (OK - and I suspect there are some safety implications...). You'd be surprised how much damage a rocket engine can do to sheet aluminum...
However, if a scout actually designed something like that himself, he should get a special mention for ingenuity.
Word verification = clefunly: To have fun cleanly?
In middle school we had CO2 powered pinewood derby races. It was a lot of fun actually. Especially since the rule book was considerably lighter.
Remember how on GBC last night we said the only unfair fight is the one you loose, that's how I viewed projects like this as well. I spent a bunch of time and built a small wheel bearing set for the wheels using copper, bbs, and Break Free CLP. Now I figure I probably could have just put a copper tube through the wheel with a bunch of Break Free but it wasn't as neat at the time.
The teacher thought it was unfair, my dad thought it was an awesome piece of engineering for an 8th grader. Guess who's opinion I valued more. A hint: It wasn't the teacher. Sure I had a little outside suggestion in the form my dad teaching me to repack bearings when I mentioned the project, but hey I created the solution didn't I!
Jay, Brad.. Back in the day..*ahem* .. my self and the other rocket scientists added model rocket engines to Tonka trucks, model boats, hand built boats and model airplanes.
Most ended up looking like the jumping jacks on fouth of july, BUT every once in awhile one would work :).
The best one was a Tonka dump truck, we finally got smart and rigged a rail system, that thing went pretty damn good down the street! :D
Pissed,
Your tale of ameteur rocketry sounds a bit like some vodka-induced experimenting I did back in my college days. Fun times.
- Brad
Illegal as heck for the race...but it would make for a great pre-race demonstration as to the power of imagination + effort.....
I see this kid putting JATO/RATO engines on NASCAR cars in the near future..... :)
yaknow... it would be trivial to make it a hybrid reaction turbine; powering the wheels AND giving reaction thrust.
Nice site, like to CO2 concept, remember when I was young doing the Estes rocket engines in a Pine Derby racer.
Maybe you should start a new class for the Pine Wood Derby the "Assisted Class"
I also an a firearms enthusiast and have a DIY site at uncleshooter.com, stop by.
Yeah, there are a few regulations that it is violating. The width requirement for one. It needs to be over such width to start the CO2. And since the cars are impounded from check-in to finish, then the little hot shot car is only good for two heats. But, if the time is averaged, then at least two lightning fast heats would compensate for the so-so races that it would have afterwards.
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