Re: The joy of FORTRAN

On Sat, 8 Mar 2025 23:05:11 -0500, c186282 wrote:

   Contemplate how similar electrics and PLUMBING are
 
   Hmmmm ... betcha a 'hydraulic CPU' really could be made ...
 
   I did find something long back, the equiv of a 'hydraulic
   transformer' - high-pressure/low-volume to low-pressure/ high volume.
   Likely the reverse is possible without too much complication. An
   oscillator using an air-chamber,
   the 'capacitor', and proper flow resistance to tune resonance freq
   and .......
 
   If I had to explain electrics to someone from the Roman empire days,
   I'd use plumbing analogies.

Maybe more than you think. Many hydraulic pumps were fixed volume, 5 gpm
or whatever. Hook the output to something like a hydraulic ram and the
pressure in the system is low, just enough to overcome friction or gravity
depending on the orientation. Then the ram meets the work and stops
moving. Pressure builds and the pump will happily blow itself up. Enter
the pressure relief valve. You can adjust it for 2000 psi or whatever
clamping force you want, and most of the 5 gpm is diverted back to the
tank.

Enter the 7805 linear regulator. Same deal. Voltage drop * current or
Pressure drop * gpm, it all gets converted to waste heat. It's been a long
time but the equations used to roll off my tongue to calculate the
horsepower of the electric motor to handle the flow and pressure.

Parker Hannifin came out with a servo controlled pump that was supposed to
handle the problem. That's when I learned that when a manufacturer ships
you something where the serial number starts with X, congratulations,
you're a beta tester.

All that was hot, dirty, and noisy, and I've been hosed down with
hydraulic fluid more than once but I loved it. Controlling stuff in the
real world gave me a satisfaction I never got from dealing with GUIs. I've
sort of come full circle in my golden years playing with microcontrollers,
sensors, servos, and the like.