Mechanical Design for the Stage

Scenic effects involving rotating turntables, tracking stage wagons, and the vertical movement of curtains and painted drops have become common in both Broadway and Regional theatre productions. The machines that drive these effects range from small pneumatic cylinders pushing loads of a few pounds an inch or two, to 40 horsepower winches running multi-ton scenery at speeds 6 feet per second or more. Usually this machinery is designed by theatre technicians specifically for a particular show's effect. Compared to general industry, this design process is short, often only a few days long, it is done by one person, design teams are rare, and it is done in the absence of reference material specifically addressing the issues involved. The main goal of this book is to remedy this last situation.

Mechanical Design for the Stage will be a reference for you that will:
* provide the basic engineering formulas needed to predict the forces, torques, speeds, and power required by a given move
* give a technician a design process to follow which will direct their work from general concepts to specific detail as a design evolves, and
* show many examples of traditional stage machinery designs.

The book's emphasis will be on following standard engineering design and construction practices, and developing machines that are functional, efficient to build, easily maintained, and safe to use.

* provides the basic engineering formulas needed to predict the forces torques, speeds, and power required by a given move
* describes the most common power transmission components used in stage
machines: roller chain, cable drums, bearings, gear reducers, etc.
* gives a technician a design process to follow which will direct their work from general concepts to specific detail as a design evolves
* shows many examples of traditional stage machinery designs

About the Author

Alan Hendrickson is a Professor (Adjunct) of Technical Design and Production at Yale School of Drama, and an independent consultant in scenery mechanization and control since 1984. Classes taught at Yale include Physics of Stage Machinery, Automation Control, Pneumatics and Hydraulics, and Mechanical Design for Theatre Applications. His outside consultant work includes hydraulic, control, and mechanical design for effects running on Broadway, national tour, and regional theatre shows, mainly through Hudson Scenic Studio.

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Focal Press (October 2, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 024080631X
• ISBN-13: 978-0240806310
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 7.1 x 1.6 inches 

Source:  Mechanical Design for the Stage

ISO 6430:1992, Pneumatic fluid power -- Single rod cylinders, 1 000 kPa (10 bar) series, with integral mountings, bores from 32 mm to 250 mm -- Mounting dimensions

Establishes a metric series of mounting dimensions (basic dimensions, nominal stroke and tolerances, bore sizes, mounting styles, piston rod characteristics) required for interchangeability of commonly used pneumatic cylinders for a maximum working pressure of 1 000 kPa (10 bar). Applies to pneumatic cylinders with detachable mountings. This title may contain less than 24 pages of technical content.

Product Details

• Paperback: 24 pages
• Publisher: Multiple. Distributed through American National Standards Institute (ANSI) (August 23, 2007)
• Language: English
• ASIN: B000Y2T9QA
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 8.2 x 0.1 inches

 Source: ISO 6430:1992, Pneumatic fluid power -- Single rod cylinders, 1 000 kPa ...

ISO 10099:2001, Pneumatic fluid power -- Cylinders -- Final examination and acceptance criteria [Paperback]

This International Standard specifies functional tests for a final examination and the acceptance criteria for double-acting pneumatic cylinders with a single-rod used in pneumatic fluid power systems. This title may contain less than 24 pages of technical content.

Source: ISO 10099:2001, Pneumatic fluid power -- Cylinders -- Final examination ...

Pneumatics: Player Piano, Pneumatic Cylinder, Pneumatics, Circuit Theory, Air-Line Fittings, Pneumatic Flow Control, Flow Limiter See larger image Share your own customer images Publisher: learn how customers can search inside this book. Pneumatics: Player Piano, Pneumatic Cylinder, Pneumatics, Circuit Theory, Air-Line Fittings, Pneumatic Flow Control, Flow Limiter [Paperback]

Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Chapters: Player Piano, Pneumatic Cylinder, Pneumatics, Circuit Theory, Air-Line Fittings, Pneumatic Flow Control, Flow Limiter, Compressed Air Filters. Excerpt: This article is a compendium of hand-operable air-line fittings , typically of quick-disconnect type, used for pneumatics and other compressed air purposes including breathable air (a subset of breathing gases ).Breathable air applications For breathable air applications such as SCBA , these may found on both sides of the first-stage and second-stage pressure regulators (very similar to SCUBA diving regulators ) to allow for rapid and tool-free return-to-service. For breathable air applications such as supplied-air and mixed supplied-air with SCBA backup, the quick-disconnect fittings allow movement of a worker from one supplied-air station to another.Other applications These fittings or special-service variants may also be found in hydraulic applications and alternative compressed gas applications (Oxy-acetylene welding and cutting, fuel gases, NSF C-2 food-contact, etc...), though perhaps not as frequently.Summary tables of fittings, alpha-sorted by common fitting name Table 1 In many instances the name is the manufacturer who originated or popularized a particular design.(see also: ARO, Automotive, Broomwade InstantAir, Camel, Coilhose, Tru-Flate, Walther, etc...)Table 2 Summary table of cross-compatible "meta" fitting designs, specifications, or profiles, alpha-sorted by common fitting name.(see also: British Profile, English Industrial profile, Italian Profile, Japanese Profile, 7.2 - 7.4 European Profile, ISO 6150-C)References (URLs online) A hyperlinked version of this chapter is at Circuit theory is the theory of accomplishing work by means of routing matter through a loop .

Source: Pneumatics: Player Piano, Pneumatic Cylinder, Pneumatics, Circuit ...

Air Cylinder - Using Pressure to Put Air Into Linear Motion

The air cylinder, which is also referred to as a pneumatic cylinder is a device that works mechanically to produce force combined with movement that is powered by high pressure compressed air. The scientific function at work within these cylinders can be described as force being imparted by the conversion of potential energy of compressed air into kinetic energy, or the energy of movement.

The mechanic energy produced by the pneumatic cylinders is achieved because the compressed gas is able to expand, without external energy input. The expansion, which is the main aiding factor in the creation of kinetic energy, occurs due to the pressure gradient established by the compressed gas being at a greater pressure than the atmospheric pressure. The air expansion is also what finally forces the piston of the cylinder to move in a certain direction.

Air cylinders are devices that use air pressure to put air into linear motion, such as in an air compressor. A typical air cylinder has a rod and piston that operates the cylinder. Types of air cylinders include: Single acting cylinders (SAC); Double acting cylinders (DAC), and 'other types', including rodless linear air cylinders (actuators that use a mechanical or magnetic coupling to impart force). A rodless cylinder has no rod outside of the cylinder but rather a piston connected to a carriage inside the cylinder. The different types of airless rod cylinders include cable cylinders, magnetically coupled air cylinders, pneumatic cylinders, and band cylinders.
Based on the design of the cylinder system, pneumatic cylinders can be used for a multitude of operations. Examples include having the ability to perform multiple strokes without the need for intermediate intervention, to perform a full stroke with intermediate stopping points, to be adjusted so as to control the amount of extension and/or retraction of the piston rod once actuated.

As air cylinders are used for such a variety of functions, the market place is very competitive. Bimba Manufacturing specialise in bespoke solutions for companies and have years of practical experience. In addition to a broad line of standard catalogue products, nearly half of Bimba's business consists of custom and semi-custom products designed for specific customers with unique applications. In 2007, Bimba took another step as leader of air cylinders when the company acquired Mead Fluid Dynamics Inc. to expand capabilities even further. Mead is a leader in the design and development of valves, cylinders, and pneumatic components for the industrial automation market.

Air cylinders are available in a variety of sizes and can typically range from a small 2.5 mm cylinder, which might be used for picking up a small transistor or other electronic component, to 400 mm diameter cylinders which would impart enough force to lift a car. Some pneumatic cylinders reach 1000 mm in diameter, and are used in place of hydraulic cylinders for special circumstances where leaking hydraulic oil could impose an extreme hazard.

John Greyling is a retired entrepreneur and businessman. During his career he acquired extensive experience if many business sectors. He now spends his time travelling the world with his family and writing. If you would like to read more articles on Air Cylinders by John please visit http://www.compressed-air-cylinders.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Greyling

Wheel Chair Restraint Pneumatic Cylinder

Product Features

• Wheelchair Restraint Cylinder for GMC RTS Nova TMC Bus
• Wheel Chair Lift Pneumatic Cylinder
• Original OEM Unit includes rod & rear mounting clevis
• Stainless Steel body and rod.
• Made In USA

Product Description

Wheelchair Restraint Cylinder for GMC RTS Nova TMC Bus - Wheel Chair Lift Pneumatic Cylinder - Original OEM Unit includes rod & rear mounting clevis - Made In USA - Ships same day via United Parcel Service from New York. 

Source: Wheel Chair Restraint Pneumatic Cylinder