Height of ingenuity: Retired professor builds lift using unused air compressor

Coimbatore: Right from his youth, B Vijayan, 65, a city-based retired chemistry professor, used to plot medical experiments with the items he discovered at home. Though he studied chemistry in faculty, his passion for experimentation drove him to plot machines using mechanics and electronics. In the previous, he has designed a merchandising device and an digital locker. Now, he has put to use an air compressor that was once lying idle and constructed a boost for his two-storey space at Kovaipudur.
Vijayan says the theory struck him when he saw his 91-year-old mother suffering to climb the stairs. “Also, outdated other folks, who visited our home, had issue in mountain climbing the stairs. Hence I considered designing this carry,” he says. “An air compressor I had purchased to fill air in car tyres was once not getting used a lot, so I made up our minds to use it to transport the carry,” he explains.

It took him six months to come to a decision at the final design, says Vijayan. “As I had no engineering background, I didn’t make a drawing and pass by it. This took me extra time as there were errors,” he says and adds it was once additionally dangerous running with air compressors as there was once an opportunity of them exploding.

The carry uses a simple piston-cylinder mechanism. Vijayan says he dug a 12feet pit wherein he planted a four-inch seamless pipe, which acts as the cylinder. A 2.5inch pipe, which is closed on one finish acts as the piston. The air glide is managed by pneumatic valves operated by electrical switches. “I discovered commercially available electric switches incorrect, so I devised them myself,” he says and adds it took him around Rs 1.five lakh to build the carry.


The capability of the carry is 200kg, says Vijayan. “I have set the pressure at a most of 120 kilos. Even when there's no power, the carry could make around 5 to 10 journeys with the saved pressure. One commute up and down would use 5 kilos of pressure,” he says.


Vijayan says his invention would save delivery boys, who bring fuel cylinders and water cans, from mountain climbing stairs.


Vijayan, a native of Pudupalayam close to Villupuram, joined as an assistant professor at CBM College of Arts and Science within the city in 1983, the place he worked till his retirement in 2011.


Height of ingenuity: Retired professor builds lift using unused air compressor Height of ingenuity: Retired professor builds lift using unused air compressor Reviewed by Kailash on May 07, 2018 Rating: 5
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