----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2005 7:33
AM
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Another
nutcase here.
Rick,
Im a bit of a train guy as well as
sub guy so yes, I was aware that locomotives were in fact diesel /
electrics.
I am leaning towards the diesel /
electric method in an effort to keep things as simple and reliable
as possible. I see shafts,bearings and clutches as sources of
mechanical breakdown. In the end, the cost would likely ballance out
anyway if a person was to factor in maintenance and replacement of these
parts. The thought of messing around with them once they are installed
is not appealing, pretty tight quarters in there.
At this point, I'm still in "dreamer
/ planner " mode, wondering if I can get the funding together to make
something like this happen. There are many other factors that I'm
thinking about as in simply being able to transport and launch a sub that
weighs about 7000 lbs. (but that's a whole other topic). I need to
come up with a financial proposal for the board of directors (my wife) which
is what I'm trying to figure out.
By the way, I'm about 3 hours south
east of North Battleford. Quite arguably as far away from the ocean that
a person can get. .....I'm looking at making the sub for
fresh water lakes anyway.
Thanks for the
response.
Myles.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2005 11:52
PM
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Another
nutcase here.
Hi, Myles - anywhere near North
Battleford?
Thanks for all the warm sub thoughts. You
have now entered the hallowed halls of the
I-wanna-dive-around-the-world-in-a-sub crowd.
Rather than re-inventing the wheel, I'd opt for
the diesel electric model myself and for much the same reasoning as you
presented: simplicity.
It works in subs and locomotives well
enough. Many people don't realize that locomotives are not diesel
operated they are electric. Those chugga-chugga sounds are diesel
generators.
Rick Lucertini
Vancouver
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2005
1:19 PM
Subject: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Another
nutcase here.
Hello all,
Like all of us here, I have this
wierd fettish with subs. U-Boats are my "thing". (Peter Madsen
is cool in my book) I have dreamt of building one for years but
always thought it beyond my scope. That was until I stumbled upon
PSUBS.org. By tuning into discussions and reading everything I can
get my hands on, I am coming to the realization that "normal / average"
(perhaps that isn't the right term) people build these things and
not some excentric millionaires or something. (you know, the same guys
that take solo hot air balloons around the world). Over the period
of several months, my confidence has grown to the point now where I tell
myself, "I could build one of those." The group here at PSUBS is indeed "special". I admire each
and every one of them for following their passion, whether they bring it
to fruition or not. The guys that actually get something in the
water have really accomplished something unique.
Does anybody have any thoughts on direct
drive diesel / electric propulsion ? I am still contemplating
whether that is the way to go, or whether a guy should use the diesel /
electric as a generator to power the thrust motor ? I like the
direct drive method for it's added efficiency, price (Only have to buy one
motor/generator instead of two, one generator and one thruster) and
generally more "U-Boat" like, but I am wondering if the engineering
required to get the shaft connected in line with the clutches and bearings
through the pressure hull while maintaining pressure hull
integrity is worth it. (what does it take to seal that shaft
?). I also have concerns with the mechanical dependability of the
two clutches that would be required. (Could be a real bugger to
get in there for maintenance and replace). The other way would simply
mean connecting an external electric thruster to the battery source that
is being charged by the diesel which I believe would be easier to do. (Am
I right here ?).
I'm more interested in building
a 1ATM U-Boat resembling sub that has decent surface performance
rather than something that will dive deep. I'm aiming for an
operation depth of 35M.
Thoughts / opinions on propulsion
?
Myles Hall
Saskatchewan Canada.