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Garden Monorail

 
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Oh, I've got to interject here!

The Chinese wheelbarrow is a wonderful piece of appropriate technology, but isn't really as you have described.  First, it only has one, very large, wheel.  Not two.  The reason is that the wide diameter of the large wheel both creates a lower angle of attack upon small obstacles such as rocks as well as provides for a larger surface contact on unimproved roads.  Two wheels, even close together, would negatively affect the ability of the handler to balance heavy loads across the left-right axis.  But it's also a human powered road vehicle, not designed for no road at all.  The Chinese wheelbarrow does not serve the same function as a Western wheelbarrow, but is more like an ancient pickup truck.
 
pollinator
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I am now intrighed now, can we get an image please?
 
Creighton Samuels
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http://www.lowtechmagazine.com/2011/12/the-chinese-wheelbarrow.html
 
pollinator
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You're absolutely right Creighton.Quite early on I distinguished what I was describing as being in the Asian style, by which I meant a central rather than end positioned wheel, but not, strictly speaking, a Chinese wheelbarrow.

Then I  talked about how in my urban setting, I use slightly modified wheelie bins, and how they can share some of the same good traits as the chinese wheelbarrow.

If I remember correctly, I was making the point that you basically got the vehicle to a balance point where very little weight was actually being supported by the person, and no infrastructure needed to be moved before it could be useful.

-CK
 
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A new video is out on YOU-Tube wayoutwest blowinblog of a third OIM Garden Mono-Rail. Note sharp curves, 2Metre radius,trolley adaption for sharp curves, and ability to run on very roughly laid track. More info at oimindustrialrail  Facebook page.
 
chris shilling
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garden mono-rail.simplesite.com will be updated soon, after more trials.
 
chris shilling
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Minimal packing.
DSCF0008.JPG
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Rough track.
 
chris shilling
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Rougher.
DSCF0007.JPG
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chris shilling
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And rougher.
DSCF0005.JPG
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chris shilling
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This photo shows spring loaded caster with plastic wheel replaced by double flanged steel gate wheel. Spring stops caster flopping side to side to easily . Same at other end, again pulling to center of trolley. There are better ways of doing this but I decided this way was simplest, cheapest, minimal work. The operators on the smallholding recon it works fine.
mono-sc6.JPG
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Trolley detail for sharp curves.
 
steward
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Chris, if you want to post a youtube video, just click the Youtube box at the top of the screen and paste the URL for the video into the box that pops up.  Here's the video I think you are talking about:
 
chris shilling
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Thanks Mike; I`m a real dummy with computers.
Content minimized. Click to view
 
Chris Kott
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I was thinking about the whole track-moving thing and came across a question: what about segmented track that rolls up for movement and easy deployment, or storage in winter, where applicable?

Perhaps hinged track segments on hinged base segments, attached so that, for rigidity in deployment, the track would slide forward half a segment length before locking into place, so the joints don't line up.

Such a configuration could be rolled up into a toroid shape and rolled around the landscape at need.

-CK
 
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Dear Monorail / Garden / Wheelbarrow enthusiasts,

I came across this discussion and found it very interesting! I really like the monorail concept.
Why did I look for something like this? Well...my friends live in rural Kenya, and they just send some videos of how they carry water buckets from the river back uphill to their house.
That actually seems like a lot of work. The last 400m are across their property, and a bit steep. They have a path, but I assume it gets muddy in rainy season.

This got me thinking...
- I have seen rope ways for milk & cheese in the swiss mountains, they cover 50-100m
- but this is actually pretty difficult and expensive to construct
- the monorail seems much easier, espeially if, like someone mentioned, the track is not steel, but a garden hose filled with cement? Did I get this right?

Did someone follow up on this idea? Yes, friction would be more than with steel, but I don`t see them investing in 400 m of steel tracks. But a garden hose, if it does the trick and can be bend easier.... could this work?

And if we take some plywood as spacer, one foot maybe, and use two hoses and screw them on the wood, could this be a makeshift "rail" system?

I suggested them the rope way first and they think I am crazy. But there are actually "flying fox" sets we can buy, as kids toys - okay that would cover only 50 m, but in principle, this would work, I think...

If anyone has a good thought, please share
 
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