A WORD ABOUT HYDRAULICS



Guess what? Studying hydraulics might be a tad difficult with LEGO® elements as they do not use liquids ( for example water or oil ), like "real" hydraulic elements. Since the compression of AIR is similar in nature to the compression of liquid ( air simply compresses more than a liquid ) and the same laws of physics are obeyed, nothing is lost if we use LEGO® pneumatics.

Of course, there are other constructs that can be utilized. For example, Pat McShane hooked a plastic bug spray pump to a system of hoses to provide constant air pressure. Fischertechnik, Edmund Scientfic and others also provide pnuematic elements. I have also had a good deal of luck integrating various tropical fish air pump hoses, connectors and valves into my projects.


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THANKS FOR THE ORIGINAL TEXT PAT!
Copyright© 1996 by Richard Wright for PCS Education Systems, Inc. All Rights Reserved