Pythagorean Rain Validator

The rain validator needs to be drained after it reaches its maximum capacity. To do this we implemented the Pythagorean Cup principal. This allows for our validator to reach a certain liquid capacity and then drain. The principal is quite simple; the liquid is permitted to rise to a certain level and when the point is reached, a siphon will drain will the container. 

 

Rain Validator CAD rendering 

Section Analysis of the Rain Validator using Fusion360

Our design works but needs modifications to be able to work appropriately. The following video is a demonstration of the current desing. 

Water Collection Pouch Cap

IMG_0001

Finished and printed the first design of the rain collector pouch cap. It’s two parts: one that presses against the top of the opening with an o-ring and another that screws onto the pouch’s threaded mouth, which presses onto the first part as it is tightened.

 

Screen Shot 2016-07-18 at 2.24.29 PM

This assembly was designed in Fusion 360 rather than OpenSCAD so I could design it quickly. Designing multiple parts that are dependent on each other can be significantly easier using Fusion360 than it is with OpenSCAD, though OpenSCAD has its advantages.

The threads were made by creating a helix and then sweeping an area through the path of the helix. It added some twisting but prints and fits just fine in both ABS and HIPS.