A Different Type of Hybrid

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 13 Sep 2010, 08:24

Wind driven Rickshaw is a wind-human hybrid vehicle

There's a risk of spyware and other nasty stuff on this page that I didn't notice when I posted the link, as I use NoScript to block such stuff, so treat it with care if you have a look. I've removed the link, and you'll have to copy and paste it.

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http&#58;//www.automotto.org/entry/wind-driven-rickshaw-is-a-wind-human-hybrid-vehicle/

hardworkinghippy · Post by **hardworkinghippy** » 13 Sep 2010, 08:35

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 13 Sep 2010, 14:58

Very good.

There's something not quite right though.

madibe · Post by **madibe** » 15 Sep 2010, 18:23

*************spyware / popup alert on this link folks************

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 15 Sep 2010, 18:35

maudibe wrote:*************spyware / popup alert on this link folks************

There are rather a lot of links on that page, all blocked by NoScript, so I didn't notice a problem. Sorry if it caused any problems. I'll edit my original post.

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 16 Sep 2010, 11:43

emordnilap wrote:Very good.

There's something not quite right though.

I didn't mean this thing 'spyware', whatever it is.

I meant, well, what happens when your man faces into the wind, which I assume is around 50% of the time? Or did everybody get that and they're assuming everyone else did too?

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 16 Sep 2010, 12:10

emordnilap wrote:I meant, well, what happens when your man faces into the wind, which I assume is around 50% of the time? Or did everybody get that and they're assuming everyone else did too?

Wouldn't it still help, by counteracting some of the wind's effort to push the rickshaw backwards, making it easier to pedal? Or is that a dumb question from someone who's forgotten everything, in the 36 years since he got his physics A level?

Post by **adam2** » 16 Sep 2010, 15:55

I think, that if well designed, this machine should be able to proceed directly into the wind.
This may appear paradoxical, but I dont think that it breaks any laws of physics.
Consider that the wind turbine might produce 150 watts with strong headwind. A 150 watt electric motor, with a suitable gear ratio should be able to move the machine forward, into the wind, though very slowly.
To overcome the force of the wind onto the wind turbine, and the rest of the vehicle, would require a very low gear ratio, and the forward speed would be slow, but I believe that it could move into the wind.

Although posible in theory, I doubt how viable it would be in practice.

PS_RalphW · Post by **PS_RalphW** » 16 Sep 2010, 16:46

Not exactly a hybrid.

http://hembrow.blogspot.com/2010/09/ste ... trike.html

Just a bit of fun. I think some vertical rotor sailing ships can sail directly into the wind.

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 16 Sep 2010, 17:21

RalphW wrote:Not exactly a hybrid.

http://hembrow.blogspot.com/2010/09/ste ... trike.html

Just a bit of fun. I think some vertical rotor sailing ships can sail directly into the wind.

A modern version of having rotating knives in the centre of chariot wheels. I wonder how many people it's sliced in half with those unprotected blades

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