Hydraulic Switchblade?

Wesp666

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Aug 6, 2004
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Has anyone ever heard of the idea for a hydraulic switchblade? It seems it would be more reliable and no spring fatigue (but mabye bulkier). Plus it would bypass laws that specificly mention "springs" when referring to switchblades, or autos if you prefer :) .
 
Wesp666 said:
Has anyone ever heard of the idea for a hydraulic switchblade? It seems it would be more reliable and no spring fatigue (but mabye bulkier). Plus it would bypass laws that specificly mention "springs" when referring to switchblades, or autos if you prefer :) .
Just one problem. Hydraulics aren't known to store energy. Engergy you'll need to push the blade out.

It's a very reliable means of transferring energy though. Which then makes it a prime candidate for a Rube Goldberg Folder award. :p
 
Just my thought on the idea. The button could slide back and forth creating the energy. It is a cool idea to think about. :cool:
 
How are you going to compress the fluid? If you are going to have the "tank" be flexible to allow compression, that may be considered springy. Maybe, IDK. Also the thing about that spring fatigue, If you do have this flexible/expandable tank, it will probably be made of synthetic materails. Your fluid may, break down the tank. And the tank may crack in a few years.

Unless your lever is a pump, but if you want to open the blade fast, you'll have to pump one time fairly hard? Correct? I don't really see, the point. Our current switchblades are pretty damn tough as it is, and I can't even imagine having plumbing in a knife.

What about pneumatic though, same principle, but the blade will open slower. Unless the cylinder already has some compressed air, making it's reaction time better.

Co2? Holy hell! I got an idea!
 
underaged! said:
How are you going to compress the fluid?
Ah, that's what I was talking about in terms of not storing energy. You can't compress hydraulic fluid.

Unless you know something about fluid dynamics that I'm not familiar with? :confused:
 
I'm just picturing a knife that takes those disposable CO2 cylinders and uses air pressure to power the action. It could be a true double-action, since the switch wouldn't need to supply any real force. Kind of bulky, though.

--Bob Q
 
I'm guessing he means pneumatic instead of hydrolic (gas vs liquid).

As said above, a hydrolic method wouldn't really work as an automatic opener.

A pneumatic system might work, but it would seem more trouble than it's worth. Most states that ban switchblades would cover such a method. Descriptions that are vague enough like "commonly refered to as a switchblade" or with a catch-all phrase like "or other device". There might be a few states with descriptions with that a hydrolic system might loophole through, but I still wouldn't try it. No cop or judge in a state that bans "other" types of switchblades would buy your loophole, and you'd still be in as much trouble.

There might also be the issue of actual pressures involved, unless it's user-adjustable. A knife made at a higher altitude might not work at a lower altitude. A knife made in Florida might not even compress closed up in the mountains of Colorado. Ever buy a bag of chips then go driving up in the mountains? Halfway up...*BOOM*.
 
Planterz, your right, let me modify a little. You cold have a small steel tube filled with slightly compressed air and with a piston inside. When the knife is open the piston is uncompressed, to close the knife the piston would have to be compressed, now, to provide sufficient action, it would have to be pretty hard to close, but were all big strong men, so that would'nt matter :D I still dunno if the idea is feasible however.
 
To expand on Wesp666 post, think single shot, break open pellet rifle. If you pull the trigger when the barrel is folded, it will spring back rather forcefuly. Might work for a knife, but bulky I think.
 
Didn't myerco come out with some sort of system similar to what's been described, the designer. who's name I've forgotten "Modeled it after the mono shock on his Ducati motocycle".
 
a hydrolic folding sword would be nice :D you could really use the power of the hydrolics when the blade wieghs 3+ lbs....
 
Planterz said:
I'm guessing he means pneumatic instead of hydrolic (gas vs liquid).

A pneumatic system might work, but it would seem more trouble than it's worth.
That makes more sense. Still Rube Goldberg thinking if you ask me. ;)

DaveH said:
Didn't myerco come out with some sort of system similar to what's been described, the designer. who's name I've forgotten "Modeled it after the mono shock on his Ducati motocycle".
Blackie Collins, and that was still a spring model.
 
If we used the AK knife as a basic design and replaced the spring with a damper, (say the type used to keep the engine lid of a car open which is the smallest I've seen). it would work, but it would be more of a sword size than a knife.

Gas dampers have been used to replace springs in airguns for years and Theoben build theirs with a gas damper from new. Some enterprising folk have also used car dampers to power home made airguns, difficult to cock but very powerful.
 
someone i used to know actually made a CO2 powered otf out of one of those cheap "tomb raider" otfs and pieces of a co2 bb gun. it was a huge contraption and way too big for practical use, but it was cool while it lasted, which wasnt more than a day. id ask him about how he made it, but the last i heard he was going to jail for quite a long time.
 
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