Hello All - This posting looks at designing a "Low-Cost People Powered Corn Grinder" dedicated to the Engineers Without Borders, University of Wisconsin-Platteville chapter. Good Luck on your upcoming trip to Ghana!
The topics in this posting might be helpful in providing basic survival needs, making into products to sell, or instructions for people to make devices themselves. Good Luck!
As a start, how about these People Powered Corn Grinder patents. Please remember that newer patents are probably not expired, and therefore active. Patents that have expired due to age (generally more than 20 years old from the filing date) are free to use by anyone.
GRINDING-MILLUS Pat. 525473 - Filed Nov 25, 1893 -
CORN CUTTING AND GRINDING MILLUS Pat. 230547 - Filed Dec 12, 1879
GRINDING-MILLUS Pat. 11181
IMPROVED PORTABLE GRINDING-MILLUS Pat. RE316
GRINDING-MILLUS Pat. 20734
Mill for grinding granular materialUS Pat. 4807818 - Filed Oct 27, 1986
DRIVING DEVICE OPERATED BY THEUS Pat. 1933654 - Filed Jun 9, 1930
CORN HUSKERUS Pat. 224588 - Filed Jan 2, 1879
In addition, here's some other information you might find interesting.
Pedal Powered Grain Mill Project Summary - Looks Good!
Pedal Power Dynapod
Processing Machines,Hand Operated Machine,Juice Machine,Pop Corn ...
Appropriate technology sourcebook - Page 469
by Ken Darrow, Kent Keller, Rick Pam, Volunteers in Asia, inc - Technology & Engineering - 1981 - 816 pages
Appropriate Technology Sourcebook - Page 196
by Ken Darrow, Kent Keller, Rick Pam, Volunteers in Asia - Technology & Engineering - 1981 - 816 pages
Appropriate technology sourcebook
1978
Page 196
How to Build a Plumping Mill: 9 steps - wikiHow
How to Build a Plumping Mill eHow.com
Michigan Tech Media Relations Story#876 - Low Tech, High Impact ...
Gristmill - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Find your local library at Libweb and ask about People Powered Corn Grinders.
You could ask for help from an Engineering School. Find schools at All Engineering Schools.
So what can you do with all this information? Here's some suggestions.
+ You could make and sell the device described in the expired patent. Please note that just because something is patented or written, it might not work all that well or might not be safe in today's standards. Use your own judgment, or seek help, to stay safe and out of trouble.
+ You could "translate" the expired patent into easy-to-understand instructions for others to make the device. These instructions could use easy-to-find materials, like trees, plants, rocks, people, scrap materials, etc.
+ You could recruit the inventors or authors to help you, since they are experts in their field. Some of the inventors of older patents might be retired now and might be looking for something to do.
+ Existing manufacturers of Trash Handling System/Incinerator could use this information to make their already fine products even better, more efficient, or less expensive.
+ Build on the work of others. Maybe, use patent images instead of starting with a blank sheet of paper. Computer model other's designs and make the designs better or cheaper or simpler. You don't have to "reinvent the wheel" . Design around active patents.
+ You could use the information to brainstorm new ideas.
That's about all for now. As background, the site "Design for the Other 90%" said to "GET INVOLVED", so I did. I plan to continue posting these LOW-COST DESIGN TOPICS on my Blog for a while yet. Let me know if you have a topic you would like covered. I'm open to suggestions on improving my blog format, too. Please e-mail me directly.. I hope you find this helpful. I'm sure you can do much better though! Good Luck!For more of my LOW COST DESIGN TOPICS - Click on the tag below "design for the other 90%".See disclaimers on TG Ideas LLC publications and website - http://www.athenet.net/~ideas/, Thanks!
