MIB with single cylinder

[JackMan]

Anyone ever use a single cylinder to operate a MIB with double doors that burst open and the beast thrusting out? I have an idea on how to do this but would like to see any design that accomplishes this.

[Jadams]

Interesting thought.......I have never done it, but could do it this way:

The doors could be powered open with springs, kind of like a jack in the box.  The monster would be on the end of the cylinder.  The question would be how to automatically close the doors.  You could do it manually or use a wiper motor with a reel on it and pull them shut.

[bsnut]

I can't say I did. Here's what you can do is, use "Y" shaped bar connected to the cylinder that would burst the doors open at the same time. It will be connected at the end of the cylinder that pushes up.

Here's is another way you can do it and it will look cool 8). You mount the cylinder so, that it pushes "Y" shaped bar side ways, which will rock back and forth on the center of the "Y" shaped bar. This would burst the doors open back and forth.        

[BigRez]

I did think of doing that with my MIB, but gave into using a cylinder for the beast and two for the doors; it was easier.  Could have done a single cylinder for the doors but opted for one for each door.

Problems I encountered while designing it is that in my case, the beast travel was much greater than that needed to open the doors.  The beast would travel a total of 15 inches to fully extend out of the box.  So the mechanism would need to account for that.

I had thought of allowing the doors to be thrust open by the beast extending out but doing that meant the doors would have no pressure keeping them open as the beast is out and get caught when the beast retracts.

A friend wants me to make one for him and I think rather than having two doors open as I do now, I'll make his where the entire panel drops down and then closes.

[JackMan]

I was thinking of using a "Y" type linkage on the doors which would also be secured to the beast. With the right geometry, I should be able to get 12" or more of travel on the beast with the doors open a little past 90 degrees. When the doors are open, the "Y" linkage would become a "T". Man, I'm addicted to this hobby, Halloween was just a few days ago and I'm already thinking about new stuff for next year!  ::),