Recent Blogs
Double-Acting Pneumatic Cylinder: Ideal Differential-Pressure Force
Piston and valve mechanism explained: how intake and exhaust valves time pressure delivery to a piston, with worked numbers for pneumatic cylinders in industry.
Mechanical Windmill Pump: Cylinder Displacement
Explore a mechanical windmill pump and calculate swept volume, theoretical flow, adjusted flow and water power from cylinder geometry and supplied stroke rate.
Hotchkiss Atmospheric Hammer: History and Unit Conversions | FIRGELLI
Learn about the crank-driven, air-cushioned Hotchkiss hammer and use a separate event-rate and pressure converter. Hammer motion, energy and operating limits are not calculated.
Hodges Compound Blower: Fan Stages and Separate Phase Model | FIRGELLI
Learn the historical Hodges staged fan arrangement and explore a separate ideal two-cylinder delivery waveform. The calculator does not predict the blower’s pressure or volume...
Hemispherical Cups: Static Drag Comparison Calculator | FIRGELLI
Compare isolated concave- and convex-face drag using entered coefficients and projected area. Rotor speed, torque, power and structural design loads are not calculated.
Grimshaw Compressed Air Hammer: Valve Drive and Pressure Work
Explore the stationary Grimshaw forging hammer, its compressor and variable-speed valve drive. Compare ideal piston force and pressure work in the calculator.
Foot Bellows: Pumping Motion and Wedge-Volume Calculator | FIRGELLI
Explore pedal-operated bellows and one-way valves. Compare ideal wedge geometry and a fixed scaled volume, with actual air delivery kept separate.
Halladay Feathering Windmill: Sail-Angle Calculator | FIRGELLI
Explore Halladay-style sail pitching with a sliding head. Compare an entered feather-angle schedule, projected sail width and independent wheel-tip speed.
Fan Blower: Flow and Static-Pressure Speed Calculator | FIRGELLI
Compare same-fan flow and static pressure at a changed speed using fan laws. Includes a centrifugal-blower diagram and clear limits for system changes.
Fabry Rotary Blower and Low-Pressure Power Comparison | FIRGELLI
Learn the historical Fabry blower arrangement and compare a low-pressure power approximation using flow, pressure rise and efficiency. Includes a separate two-lobed illustration.
Electric Windmill Plant Mechanism: How It Works, Parts, Diagram & Off-Grid Power Explained
Explore a small wind turbine and compare wind-stream power, assumed electrical output and rotor speed from diameter, wind and tip-speed ratio.
Duplex Steam-actuated Air Compressor Mechanism: How It Works, Diagram, Parts & Uses Explained
Explore two tandem steam-and-air cylinder trains on a common crankshaft. Calculate rod-corrected swept volume and compare geometric pulsation with crank phase.
Duplex Pneumatic Riveter: Nested Hammer and Cylinder Mechanism
Explore a historical duplex impact riveter: a nested hammer and moving cylinder strike one tool alternately. Compare ideal pressure forces and pressure work.
Duplex Air Compressor Mechanism: How Lead-Lag Control, Parts, and Duty Cycle Work
Explore two equal-capacity compressor pumps sharing a receiver. Compare average demand, lead/lag run fractions and any sustained capacity shortfall.
Double Organ-blowing Bellows Mechanism: How Paired Feeders, Valves, and Reservoir Work
Explore two alternating organ feeder bellows and a shared reservoir. Estimate average air delivery and see how the reservoir buffers pulsating feeder flow.
Double Cone Ventilator: Opposed Cones and Geometry Calculator
Explore a historical ventilator with opposed horizontal cones and a central uptake. Compare radial clearance, cone projection and gross annular opening area.
Curved Vane Windmill or Motor: How It Works, Diagram, Parts, Formula and Uses Explained
Explore an open curved-vane wind rotor and compare assumed pressure loads, moment arms and torque. The calculator includes a clearly defined 70% power comparison.
Crank Equalizing Angle: How Multi-Cylinder Compressor Crankshaft Phasing Works
Compare crank-throw phases and illustrated piston motion for two to six throws. Calculate equal-spacing reference angles, individual phases and selected step difference.
Compressed Air Water Elevator Mechanism: How the Pohle Air Lift Pump Works, Parts and Uses
Explore an air-lift water elevator. Compare lift above water level and injector depth to calculate submergence and static gauge and absolute pressures.
Compressed Air Sheepshearing Machine Mechanism: How the Pneumatic Handpiece Works, Parts & Diagram
Explore Hiscox’s piston-driven sheep-shearing handpiece. Compare stroke, diagonal-slot geometry, cutter sweep and ideal pneumatic force.
Compressed Air Power Mechanism: How It Works, Parts, Diagram, and Sizing Formulas Explained
Compare ideal compressed-air power and pressure loss in one straight pipe. Adjust reference airflow, bore, length and inlet pressure to explore the model.
Ancient Windmill Mechanism Explained: Sails, Gearing, Animation and Calculator
Explore a tower windmill and its right-angle gear drive. Compare pitch-diameter ratios, output rpm and ideal torque percentage with an interactive animation.
Ornithopter Crank–Rocker Drive Geometry
Explore an ornithopter crank-rocker drive. Change four link lengths to compare the rocker-angle range and endpoint chord of an ideal planar linkage.
Compressed Air Lift System Mechanism: How It Works, Parts, Formula, and Industrial Uses Explained
Calculate fresh-water pressure at a submerged air-lift injector and compare two pressure allowances. The diagram shows the receiver, air line and riser.
Compressed Air Lift Mechanism Explained: How It Works, Diagram, Parts, Formula and Uses
Explore an air-lift pump cutaway. Compare lift and injector depth, calculate submergence and static pressure, and estimate airflow using a selected coefficient.