- Dec 22, 2008
- 2
- 0
- 6
I think I've about got this figured out (after months of thinking). I've had a couple of problems with prior designs I've seen. Since I will be using a chicken tractor, I can't install a constant supply of water or AC power, so those design options are out. The other problem is the expertise needed to design circuitry that makes the motor stop and start at the right time and make a motor go forward and reverse to open and close a door.
In TX, we have a few oil wells, and I was looking at a pump jack yesterday. I realized that I can use a motor going in one direction to open and close a door. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pump_jack_animation.gif Sweet! I could attach a large wheel with a peg along the outside of the wheel that will slide a door open and closed by attaching a bar to the peg and to the door. Now I just need an accurate timer to run the motor for the precise amount of time.
They make 6V and 12V deer feeder timers that can be programed to the second: http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_94669____SearchResults The timer goes off for one or more seconds, and the motor opens or closes the door as the peg rotates around the wheel. I can adjust the location of the peg (and the length of the bar) in or out from the center of the wheel to get the door to close precisely (if a second is not a small enough unit of time).
I will also have to get a lower torque motor than is used for a deer feeder, or I will have to add gears or pulleys to slow down the wheel rotation and give the motor enough mechanical advantage to open the door. Some timers will adjust the speed of the motor, so I will have to play around with it. If I add in a solar panel, I might be able to operate an automatic feeder and waterer off of the same battery.
This is all theory of course, so I will have to build it this spring and let you know how it works.
Todd
In TX, we have a few oil wells, and I was looking at a pump jack yesterday. I realized that I can use a motor going in one direction to open and close a door. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pump_jack_animation.gif Sweet! I could attach a large wheel with a peg along the outside of the wheel that will slide a door open and closed by attaching a bar to the peg and to the door. Now I just need an accurate timer to run the motor for the precise amount of time.
They make 6V and 12V deer feeder timers that can be programed to the second: http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_94669____SearchResults The timer goes off for one or more seconds, and the motor opens or closes the door as the peg rotates around the wheel. I can adjust the location of the peg (and the length of the bar) in or out from the center of the wheel to get the door to close precisely (if a second is not a small enough unit of time).
I will also have to get a lower torque motor than is used for a deer feeder, or I will have to add gears or pulleys to slow down the wheel rotation and give the motor enough mechanical advantage to open the door. Some timers will adjust the speed of the motor, so I will have to play around with it. If I add in a solar panel, I might be able to operate an automatic feeder and waterer off of the same battery.
This is all theory of course, so I will have to build it this spring and let you know how it works.
Todd