Human & Animal Power Tools and Transmission Systems

At a glance..

The main use of pedal power today is still for bicycling, at least in the high-power range (75 watts and above of mechanical power). In the lower-power range there are a number of uses of pedal power--for agriculture, construction, water pumping, and electrical generation--that seem to be potentially advantageous, at least when electrical or internal-combustion engine power is unavailable or very expensive. This book talks about Human and Animal Power Tools and Transmission Systems.

The details..

'Understanding Pedal Power' by David Gordon Wilson is a technical paper published by Volunteers in Technical Assistance (VITA) as part of their series on state-of-the-art technologies for people in developing countries. The book introduces the concept of pedal power, which utilizes human energy to generate mechanical work through various devices such as bicycles, treadle lathes, band saws and more.

The book covers different types of animal gear yokes used for transportation and farming purposes. It also explains how hand plows can be made using locally available materials. Additionally, it discusses soft technology magazines from Australia and USA that provide valuable information about pedal-powered generators, winches, washing machines among others.

The author delves into the science behind measuring power output with units like horsepower (hp), watts (W) or joules per second. He cites examples of world-class cyclists who have produced impressive amounts of power during races but notes that over longer periods most average cyclists produce around 50-75 W or about 0.1 hp.

Overall,' Understanding Pedal Power' serves as an excellent resource for anyone interested in learning about alternative forms of energy generation that are sustainable and eco-friendly while being cost-effective at the same time.