Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2017 June 8

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June 8

Ford manual 5 speed transmission clutch slave cylinder designs

Hello, I am in dire need to understand the manual transmission clutch slave cylinders on the Ford trucks that use the Japanese made 5 speed transmissions. I have done extensive searching for information particularly about the hydraulic line connector designs. There have been many mechanics that do not know the kind of slave cylinders inside the transmissions and there are different designs on the input of the fittings. The angles, length, widths, etc. are different to different years and when one does not know how to identify the year it becomes a nuisance to find out. I need to know how to identify the slave cylinder while it is inside the transmission of the Ford F150 4.2 engine. I know the years the 4.2 was made for Ford F150 trucks but do not know exactly if there was any difference Ford allowed on the slave cylinders from those years they installed the 4.2 manual 5 speed transmissions and how to distinguish by sight or specifications on the input hydraulic line fitting on the slave cylinder of those years. I cannot find anyone willing to give me any idea of what to look for or how to look for it except telling me, "well, just go buy some and see if they fit." The problem is they cost a lot of money and once bought and trying to fit them if they do not fit then you are stuck with the cost. I want to know how to eliminate this if someone has installed a different year slave cylinder in the transmissions unknowing to the buyer. I hope you can understand me and if not please ask me for more information. Thank you, — Preceding unsigned comment added by 192.171.200.30 (talk) 12:15, 8 June 2017 (UTC)

I think you'll have more luck here: https://www.f150forum.com/ 196.213.35.146 (talk) 13:02, 8 June 2017 (UTC)

Military terminology, merging units

Is there any specific military term for merging devastated units into one new unit? Say you're on the front in WWI and you have five platoons who come out of a battle with ten surviving soldiers each - do they get reformed into a new platoon, and what's the word for it? And this is a grammar question but actually, it occurs to me, what was the protocol around that back then? Maybe they'd just be scattered off to different platoons entirely? Dr-ziego (talk) 12:26, 8 June 2017 (UTC)

In the British Army, it's called a "composite" unit. For example, the war diary of the 7th (South Irish Horse) Battalion, Royal Regiment of Ireland records that on 21 March 1918 (the first day of the German Spring Offensive), the battalion had been reduced to "1 Officer and about 40 Other Ranks". The next day, "The Battn now forming part of a composite Battn of units of 16th Division..." Alansplodge (talk) 18:03, 8 June 2017 (UTC)

See also the Household Cavalry Composite Regiment. Alansplodge (talk) 18:05, 8 June 2017 (UTC)

Thanks! — Preceding unsigned comment added by Dr-ziego (talk • contribs) 22:25, 8 June 2017 (UTC)

Consolidated in the U.S. - see 3rd Arkansas Consolidated Infantry Regiment for example. Rmhermen (talk) 00:23, 9 June 2017 (UTC)

Small van identification please

I just glimpsed an interesting small van that I'd like to identify. (I live in France.) It was about the width of a SmartCar - perhaps 1.5 m wide, and proportioned like a fairly typical boxy van. I only saw it for a moment but I'm fairly sure the driver was in its centre. It seemed to have some commercial sign on the side, which I mention because it signifies to me the typical usage. What make and model could it have been? Hayttom (talk) 19:39, 8 June 2017 (UTC)

Does anything at microvan help? Maybe something like the Daihatsu Midget.--Jayron32 20:23, 8 June 2017 (UTC)

Here in New Zealand, NZ Post is using Norwegian-built Paxster vans for mail delivery. These are street legal with a max speed of 50 kilometres per hour (31 mph), but are permitted to drive up onto footpaths (sidewalks) to access mailboxes. There's no Paxster article yet, but if you google the name you'll find dozens of images. Maybe that's what you saw. Akld guy (talk) 20:57, 8 June 2017 (UTC)

Or perhaps the Piaggio Ape. Thankfully, they've never made it across the Channel. Alansplodge (talk) 22:36, 8 June 2017 (UTC)

Thank you all, I don't think we found what I glimpsed, but I'm glad to read about the suggestions. Hayttom (talk) 21:26, 11 June 2017 (UTC)

Brighton Pier Rides from an Engineering Perspective

Hello, Reference Desk Contributers, after a recent holiday to Brighton, I was left thinking about the rides on the pier. As an electronics and computer enthusiast, I am dead interested in all electronic and computer controlled items. Though some of my points here are not exactly pertinent to this subject, I feel that there are a lot of engineering questions that I could ask.

First of all, the rides on Brighton Pier, or at least the same type of rides found there; what are the expected voltages and wattages that such items would require for sufficient operation?

Also, from an engineering point of view, how are height restrictions correctly determined when designing a ride? I am particularly interested in maximum height restrictions, as they are less common and more unusual. Although these are often associated with children's rides, they do occasionally turn up on more adult rides.

I also notice that many of the rides on Brighton Pier have flashing lights. How are they actually programmed? I am an expert with computer programming, I guess that I want to know how that kind of expertise fits into amusement park rides?

Finally, out of pure curiosity, how much do the types of ride on Brighton Pier cost? Some of the rides, such as The Booster and Air Race intrigue me.

I appreciate that you may not have an engineering background, but I still expect to enjoy your thoughts here. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Collegiate199861 (talk • contribs) 21:04, 8 June 2017 (UTC)

Collegiate199861 (talk) 21:05, 8 June 2017 (UTC)

The Air Race ride "replicates the experiences and sensations of an acrobatic airplane flight with banks, loops, dives and weightlessness"[1]. It is manufactured by Zamperla[2] and consumes 100 kW - 109 kW drive power.[3][4].

The Booster ride may be the one made by Fabbri seen in this POV video. "Spin, turn upside down and be catapulted 130 feet into the air!"[5]. It consumes 180 kW, normally from a 3-phase 380 VAC 50 Hz supply (detailed technical information here).

Height restrictions on Brighton Palace Pier:[6]

Under 0.9m - too small for Trampolines, Carousel, Fantasia, MegaSlide

Under 1.2m i.e Kiddies just under 4 feet (3' 11.24") - too small for Galaxia, AirRace

Under 1.3m - too small for TurboCoaster

1.2m to 1.4m - Must be accompanied by someone over 1.4m with a wristband

Here are email addresses for the pier info@brightonpier.co.uk and the Air Race manufacturer zamperla@zamperla.it. Blooteuth (talk) 16:38, 9 June 2017 (UTC)

Dear reference desk contributors, I am disappointed in your lack of information for this question. Although I am happy with the email addresses that you have given me, I am very annoyed that you haven't contributed your engineering knowledge here. You didn't even answer the section about costs and prices? Was it really that hard to get this info. I hope you answer these questions soon, as this post is archived in a couple of days. I'll repost the questions if necessary. Please answer the questions soon or I'll be even more pissed off. Collegiate199861 (talk) 17:19, 12 June 2017 (UTC)

Hi Collegiate199861. I can understand your disappointment that no-one here lives on Brighton Palace Pier to look up the prices for you, but I fail to see why you could be annoyed that we don't have sufficient engineering or health-and-safety expertise. If you have specific engineering questions, then perhaps you might find some engineers on the Wikipedia:Reference desk/Science. You need to remember that everyone here is a volunteer and has no obligation to spend time doing your research for you, though if we are easily able to help, then we nearly always do so, and Blooteuth has provided lots of information above. Perhaps you could continue your research when you take another holiday in Brighton? Best wishes. Dbfirs 17:46, 12 June 2017 (UTC)

Very well, I understand. I think you mistunderstood my "cost" question though. I was referring to the money that Brighton Pier or another ride operator would pay for the ride manufacturer to come and set up one of their rides in the desired location. You seem to have been thinking of ticket prices which I know already. Collegiate199861 (talk) 18:15, 12 June 2017 (UTC)

I have checked The New Encyclopaedia of Brighton, which I have to hand, and unfortunately the only specific mention of the cost of a ride is in relation to the helter skelter, which cost £6,000 second-hand from Rhyl in 1974 (Rhyl Pier having been demolished not long before). I've had a look at several other Brighton books but have turned up nothing else. Hassocks5489 (Floreat Hova!) 18:41, 12 June 2017 (UTC)

@Collegiate199861 The manufacturers (Fabbri, Zamperla) of the rides market them through their web sites which invite enquiries. Wikipedia of course will not estimate the price of their turn-key delivery contracts that involve transport, engineer attendance and installation costs above the base price of the hardware, but I have given you email addresses of the right people to ask. And they get paid to answer you! Blooteuth (talk) 14:32, 13 June 2017 (UTC)