Re: Bike tech idea for Jeff

On 1/23/2025 7:38 PM, Jeff Liebermann wrote:

On Thu, 23 Jan 2025 17:17:40 -0600, AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:
 

On 1/23/2025 2:31 PM, Jeff Liebermann wrote:

On Wed, 22 Jan 2025 11:52:20 -0500, Frank Krygowski
<frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>

On 1/22/2025 1:01 AM, Jeff Liebermann wrote:

   The problem with one cable strand or a single loop is that it takes
two people to operate.  One to load firewood at the bottom of the
hill.  Another to unload the firewood at the top of the hill and throw
it into a pile.  That's possible, but I'm trying to avoid solutions
that require an extra person.

>
That is a big problem. I've mentioned before doing work in the attic of
a friend's house, whose workshop and tools were in the basement-level
garage. I realized pretty soon that if I'd forgotten to bring up a 3
pound hammer, I had to lift almost 180 pounds up three stories. Most of
that load was me.

>
It's called exercise.  I drag all of this:
<https://photos.app.goo.gl/MLGS2MyEcMCCwzMK9>
up about 50 stairs, every winter (about 5 months).  My cardiologist
claims that the exercise is all that keeps my alive.  (He says that
it's the only thing I'm doing right and everything else I'm doing is
all wrong).
>

Seems like we should invent a mechanism that would allow you to load the
wood into some sort of cable-suspended box, let the motor pull it up,
and have the box dump wood onto an upper porch or whatever in response
to a remote command. It sounds like an interesting challenge.

>
It is interesting and I think about it often.  The hillside is uneven
and a cable delivery system avoids the problem.  Additional
complexications make it even more challenging.  However, as long as
I'm (barely) able to haul the firewood up the hill, I won't be
building anything to make it easier.  I really do need the exercise.
>
>

>
Does your stair have a railing? (if not, why not?)

 The lower half of the stairs have handrails on both sides.  The upper
part has no handrails.  Both parts need better guardrails which are
currently not to code.  It's my fault because I'm lazy and cheap.  The
lower part had better hand rails at one time, but had to be
temporarily removed because of construction.  Part of that was
providing clearance for a large crane being used to remove some huge
Douglas Fir trees across the road:
<https://photos.app.goo.gl/m6Wu54S6FLfssG2c9>
I'll add it to the "deferred maintenance" list of things to do
eventually.
 

A fairly simple monorail box with a section on either side
of the railing would do if you bring a light load per trip
and do that with each trip up to the house.

 I sling of firewood is not a light load.  I just weighed it at 30 lbs.
When green, it's about 40 lbs.  A monorail on one side could be made
to work. With a 60 degree angle from horizontal angle, I would need to
pull the box uphill at:
   40 lb * sin(60) = 40 * 0.87 = 35 lbs.
Better, but not really a major improvement.  Of course, if the
monorail was almost horizontal, like a railroad grade, the force
required for me to drag the box up the stairs would be much less.
 

Simple stick type stop which would engage the balusters.

 I'm not sure, but for outdoor stairs, I think the county now requires
2x2 square balusters with a wired cable down the middle and at least a
2x4 for hand rails.
"Deck, Porch, Landing, Stair, Ramp, and Guard Construction"
<https://cdi.santacruzcountyca.gov/Portals/35/CDI/UnifiedPermitCenter/Building/Forms%20&%20Publications/IB%20Publications/Deck%20Construction_IB900.pdf>
I'll read through it (time permitting).
 

Couple of rubber wheels from a hardware store and they ride
on axles which cross from one box to the other.

 That won't go around corners very well.  Going up from the road at the
bottom, to the deck and door at the top, I count five 90 degree turns.
I negotiate these with some difficulty using various hand trucks.
 

90 degree turns? Yikes!
That is indeed quite a problem for hauling firewood.
--
Andrew Muzi
am@yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971