Jason's No-power Elevator Design
For a long time I've wanted to build a little elevator for a tree house or loft that didn't need electricity, and preferably didn't need any power at all. Below is my best idea yet.
This elevator is basically a glorified seesaw. The weight is balanced so if I'm at the end of the beam, I go down, and if I come in a bit I go up. Add in a ratchet to hold the weight up when I get off at ground level and a switch to disengage the ratchet, and you're pretty much there.
Going Down
I start in my loft, I step onto the plank and take a step uphill to the end. In this position I have more leverage so my end goes down. I hear the "click, click, click" of the ratchet as I descend.
I can control the speed of my descent by positioning myself closer or further from the end of the plank.
When I reach the bottom, I step off, and there is slight movement and noise as my end moves up slightly and is stopped by the ratchet.
Going Up
I step onto the end of the board. The board again touches the floor. I take another step uphill, so I'm further up the plank, standing on the ratchet disengage switch. Now that I'm closer to the fulcrum (and have disengaged the ratchet), my end goes up.
I stay on until the weight is safely resting on the floor, and step off onto the loft.
Folcrum Placement and Speed Control
The speed of travel is controlled by three things:
1) Where you stand/lean: You can easily effect the speed by where you put your weight.
2) Folcrum Placement: I've placed the fulcrum above the plank. This should give you some extra acceleration for the first half of your journey, and slow you down for the second half.
3) There is inevitably some friction.
Comments
Nice, but what if I want to come visit you when you are home? I have to wait outside until you come down. --Paul
Yeah, there is that... It can't go the same direction twice in a row. It's also huge... and hardwired for my body weight. -- Jason
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