Vacuum Automixer project

Haha thanks Tom! I over think alot of stuff but all I have is time so why not. Definitely couldn’t afford something like this or anything else I’ve made for this Gasifier. (Good luck buying these off the shelf) I’m hopeful that it will work well so I can improve the countless other things that this unit needs which will be never ending. :grin: Looking forward to that other 70% of operator experience in this old truck.

10 Likes

Still thinking about adding one to the GMC, I saw a cheap Jeep 4WD vacuum actuator to see how long the stroke is.
It uses differential pressure, has a port on either end of the diaphragm.

I’m assuming you don’t necessarily need that long of a stroke if the automixer is just there for fine tuning, and have a manual mixer for gross measurements.

7 Likes

My vacuum canister that Chris built doesn’t move very much when in service. I put my live video camera on it and was very surprised at how little the 1 7/8" valve actually moves when in operation of mixing the 1: 1 : 1 ratio of air to wood gas. I am sure it will work fine.

6 Likes

Okay so this actuator may be useful I think. Stroke is 9.1mm lock to lock. The diaphragm housing is 3.5 inches or 89mm in diameter. Most notably I can move it with my breath. All I would have to do is fashion a piece to go on the end, and a collar fitting to mount the actuator.

I’m thinking, weld a bolt on the end and have a reverse pitch threaded clevis and adjusting sleeve like on a tie rod.

8 Likes

Clamp some vise grimps to the rod so when welding the heat will not go into the diaphragm and melt it.
I would try to thread the shaft.

5 Likes

[quote=“Cody Edison Tate, post:285, topic:1778, username:ForbiddenTuna”]

Hi Cody
can you give us the link where to find this awesome little thing?

Thierry

4 Likes

Cody,
Much heat would ruin it. Use a setscrew collar or JB Weld, or something.
Just my opinion. :upside_down_face: :grimacing:

6 Likes

I purchased it from Amazon but I also saw them on eBay for the same price. It’s the vacuum 4WD actuator for a Jeep Cherokee or Wrangler, and I think other Chrysler 4x4 vehicles.
https://a.co/d/dHtHs6N

Yeah I was thinking of that as well, threading or collaring would work just as well I think. I could make a collar by drilling a hole in the actuator shaft and using a rollpin

Since this doesn’t have a very long throw I think it would be more of a Fine Tuner than a true Automixer. Unless this actuator is incredibly strong and I can use a very short lever arm or a gear ratio.

8 Likes

They make them with threaded rods, or hooks already. but the cheapest one I have seen that was threaded was this one, and I am not sure the threaded part isn’t part of the outside of it, and I have no idea where the rod is.
NOS 73 MUSTANG TRANSMISSON VACUUM DIAPHRAGM BB8 | eBay?

It looks like the one you have takes a collar that fits inbetween the circlips rings. then you can weld on the collar, and not worry about melting the diaphragm.

4 Likes

Wonder how long the throw of the actuator is, modulators don’t have to move a lot but they do require manifold vacuum.

This shift actuator uses a little vacuum pot in the vehicle itself, when you shift into 4x4 it lets metered vacuum flow to the pot and then to the actuator.

This actuator already has a very short throw, I may have to use a Doubler to retain some sensitivity.

3 Likes

My 1 7/8" butterfly valve moves very little to adjust the air mixer. Just get it setup with a adjustable arm for the valve linkage.

4 Likes

Although seemingly odd, I ran into this looking for the diy version of a free floating piston rather then a diaphragm. It is a stirling engine but it is essentially two diaphragms using balloon, and pop cans. But it appears to have quite a bit of travel to it. A couple of small mods and you might get want you want.

1 Like

I found this on Thingiverse, though I’d probably rather use PVC or other smooth tubing for the cylinder. Since the components are all plastic they’d hopefully need less force applied to move quickly.

Edit: this one uses a PVC pipe already:

6 Likes

Cody, that 9mm is probably enaugh. Also check my automixer project, l used a kinda gate valve. Less travel.

But l must say, at least my resaults were exactly the opposite of what you expect. The automixer is great to get you in the balpark of your mix but after that its best to hand fine toone it. Usualy lean. Good woodgas needs about 1:1.1 ratio but the automixeralways mixes 1:1.

8 Likes

That is what I was looking for. I got the name wrong, then I was worried about friction or the working pressure.

This one is 100mm or 3.93"
Amazon.com?

this one is 45mm or 1.8"
Stroke Double-acting Pneumatic Stainless Steel Cylinder | eBay?

3 Likes

I’m having a hard time finding the specific posts of your mixer for the old Chevy. I saw the one that Tone made for you if that’s what you meant.

1 Like

Cody, there is also this configuration

https://youtu.be/dj2R-8H5J4k

I built this automixer for my truck.
I think it’s different from other automixers.
the transfer of the movement does this by a hinge in place of the longitudinal displacement of an axis
this design facilitates sealing and minimizes mechanical losses caused by friction

What do you think?

Thierry

7 Likes

No, l think it might be on my Mercedes. But l realy dont remember. Sorry, l will try to find when l get some time, real buissy times… but it was quite a simple design. I determined whats the rough cross area of an opening for air (was about an 1/2" hole) and l set the gatevalve opening to move around that crosssection.

7 Likes

Yes, it does all that, and it should last a very long time too.
Rindert

6 Likes

I found it on the 2nd Mercedes topic, had to Summarize to narrow down to just your posts. Lots of excellent discussion in there to get lost into.

Edit: my one hang-up would be the dual throttle body, F-150 old style TBIs are getting harder and more expensive to get even at scrap yards. I have a dual carburetor from my old Kawasaki but it’s awfully small for my 350 V8.

Also the Finkbeiner style gas mixer wouldn’t work with an Automixer system since it uses a smaller air tube.

I think the Kawasaki carb could work in the Mazda however, so I won’t give up on an Automixer for that. It’s a manual gearbox so when I am going up and down in throttle demand I think it will be more useful to have an Automixer.

9 Likes