“It is Finished”

Through countless hours of brainstorming, researching, designing, constructing and furnishing, the Dragonspine Water Lift is completed at last. Congratulatory efforts must be given to Chris Logan who completed a vast majority of the design and construction process single handedly. A few problems were encountered along the way, such as the water lift not being able to complete a full revolution when it was first constructed, but they were quickly overcome and the finished product is, as far as we know, free from any errors.

Featured above and below are close up pictures of where the gear forces the chain along its circulatory course. Each chain link is 2 inches long to give you an idea of the scale of the model. 44 of these intricate links were cut and crafted by gluing three separate pieces of mahogany plywood together and then expertly sanded so each notch could accommodate the gear paddles. The chain link once constructed was by far the most detailed part of the water lift and carried the greatest sense of achievement.

Once constructed, sanded and stained, the water lift was able to successfully carry water through the bottom channel and out the opposite side. Below is Chris Logan demonstrating how the water lift moves. The water lift had yet to be stained in the video below.

watch?v=2aLSLYBXjco&list=LL6iqP_hgkBhD2BWIsJ6KQ-A&feature=mh_lolz

The Learned and the Discovered

Throughout the process of completing the waterlift, we learned the hard way that ideas do not always translate perfectly from paper to a working model. When our written design of a chain link was 3D printed, several errors were found with the piece that otherwise would have gone unnoticed on paper. While the project is aimed to leave an impression on the school children of today, it did not fail to leave a lasting impression on us. After manually making only a scale model of this water lift we can only have a feeling of admiration for the Chinese who regularly built full size water lifts, and without the use of the several woodworking machines we have easy access to today

The Sun Yat Sen Garden Community: Our Contribution

Through regular showcase of the water lift, the miniature replica aims to teach the younger generation how an ancient Chinese water lift would operate, with the ultimate goal of drawing their interest to Chinese culture. We hope that the water lift will expand the interests of future generations in order to help create a greater appreciation of differing cultures.

After everything has been said and done, the water lift stands tall, completed, and looking as beautiful as it should. We’d Like to thank the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Garden for this fantastic opportunity and we hope the water lift serves your community well. Below is a picture of the entire water lift in all its glory as well as a picture of the poster used in the Civil 202 class poster session.

The Poster

Welcome to our updated version of the blog on the Dragon Spine Water-Lift project at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden! The past two weeks has given the team the time to work on constructing the water lift, and make an idea on paper into a reality. The following blog provides a detailed description of the implementation process, current evaluations of the project, and project outcomes.

Working in the Shop: Implementation Progress

Finding a location and tools to construct the water lift was the one of the main challenges part because a lot of finer and precise tools are needed to build the chain links and gears. Fortunately, we were able to get help from Dr. Nesbit which introduced us to Dr. Johnson of the architecture department. Dr. Johnson is able to contact the workshop director at SALA. After brief dialogue and a safety orientation, the team was given permission to assemble the water lift at the SALA workshop.

Earlier in the week, the wood required for the construction was purchased from Windsor Plywood. Chris took the materials back to White Rock, where a family acquaintance was able to lend various power tools, and sized the wood to create all of the individual components of the design. After many hours in the shop and countless wood cuts later, the raw materials were transformed into crafted components ready to be assembled into a final product.  At present, the team is assembling the water lift and the platform, with the storage box already completed. Today, the team met together and worked in the SALA workshop to begin assembling and fitting individual components – the complex and highly finicky mechanism was starting to take shape. Current progress on the water lift assembly can be seen below in the figure.

The remainder of the weekend will be dedicated towards completing the assembly phase of the water lift. Several hours of work are still required to complete the task ahead, but the team is committed to ensure project success.

The Good, the Changed, and the to be Improved: The Evaluation

Previously we mentioned our indecision in selecting an ideal wood type. Between teak and mahogany, the later was selected and implemented into the construction of the water lift. Although teak is considered a superior crafting wood, the reduced cost, and more importantly, the increased availability and variability of mahogany gave it the upper hand. With the wood type selected, construction began with earnest and is currently approaching the final stages of completion.

From our previous concept design of the water lift, the chain links have undergone a slight modification. Inspection of the plan and a 3D print of the chain links revealed that the spacing of the paddles as well as the shape of the notches allowed for interference with the gear, sharply decreasing the efficiency of the lift. Amendments were made, including the notches taking a larger more rounded shape and an alteration of the overall chain size. Construction of the wooden chain link was recently completed and the changes between the current design and the previous concept art can be noticed in the picture below.

Although no current problems have arisen during construction of the water lift, we are well aware that a perfect project is rare and difficulties may arise in later stages of construction. In response, several accommodations were made to the water lift to account for any future errors. Gear teeth were made longer than necessary to account for sources of error and will be trimmed to appropriate length when required. Several extra chain links and paddles were also constructed in case of damage or a slight change of length in the water lift. These extras, if not required later in the construction phase, will also be provided to the client in case a replacement component is required.

What is to be Expected: Project Outcomes

The main purpose of this model water lift design and construction project is to provide an effective educational tool. The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden wishes to promote the learning of classical Chinese inventions, history, and culture through concretely illustrating the tools and methods used hundreds of years ago.Furthermore, the project team believes this project will serve to spark an interest to further understand how the water lift operates, and encourage youth to explore the possibilities for a future of engineering and design. The project outcomes are set to reflect and contribute towards this end goal. Other contributing factors were taken into account for the project outcomes such as aesthetics and storability to enhance the quality and protect the longevity of the project. Listed below is a detailed set of project outcomes to be completed in order to ensure the project is fully successful in achieving its purpose:

– Functional scale model of a Chinese Dragon Spine Water Lift

• Able to elevate water effectively through a hand crank

• Aesthetical and effective demonstration tool

– Platform to display the water lift that contains a reservoir of water

– Storage container to provide proper storage capabilities for the design

Welcome to our updated version of the blog on the Dragon Spine Water-Lift project at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden! The past three weeks has given the team the time to finalize the design specifications, and further develop the scheduling and implementation plan of the project. The following blog provides further insight to the implementation plan with the scheduling of each team member’s role to achieve the plan, a description of construction activities, and indicators of the project’s success.

A Plan to the Finish: Implementation Plan and Team Member Responsibilities

In order to ensure the water lift is constructed and operational before the show date, with a respectable amount of reserve time to manage the unexpected, the overall requirements of the project were established and a detailed scheduling of tasks was deviced. The following is a list of the expected tasks required to achieve project completion in a timely manner; accompanied the name(s) of the individual or members set to complete the task with their respective due date.

Task 1: Research and Design Analysis of Full Scale Water Lift
Assigned to: All Members
To be completed by: February 8 (completed)

Task 2: Water Lift Design Drawings and Schematics
Assigned to: Chris Logan
To be completed by: February 20 (completed)

Task 3: Material Calculations for Construction
Assigned to: Jennifer Fu
To be completed by: March 1 (completed)

Task 4: Sourcing of a Work Location
Assigned to: Jack Hu and Chris Logan
To be completed by: March 8 (completed)

Task 5: Sourcing of Where to Buy Materials
Assigned to: Jeremy Scott and Chris Logan
To be completed by: March 8 (completed)

Task 6: Organizing a Safety Plan
Assigned to: Asad Ijaz and Bob Shi
To be completed by: March 8 (completed)

Task 7: Cost Analysis of Required Materials
Assigned to: Jennifer Fu
To be completed by: March 8 (completed)

Task 8: Purchasing and Obtaining Materials
Assigned to: Asad Ijaz and Bob Shi
To be completed by: March 13

Task 9: Construction of the Water Lift
Assigned to: All Members
To be completed by: March 25

Task 10: Showcase Final Product!
Assigned to: All Members
To be completed by: TBD

Working at SALA: Description of On-site Construction Activities

A major component of this project is the construction of the water lift, which requires scoping out the necessary tools and a suitable location to complete the construction. Recent communications with Susan Nesbit and Greg Johnson, a senior instructor of Architecture and Civil Engineering, has led to the possibility of using the SALA architecture workshop. This workshop has all of the necessary tools and space required to build the water lift. Furthermore, the workshop is under constant supervision by trained and knowledgeable staff which may be able to provide valuable advice on construction methods and safety.

Earlier in the week, Chris and Jack met with Greg Johnson and were introduced to the SALA Workshop Manager, Nick Scott. After discussing the project specifications, the team was granted access to the shop given that the entire team attends a workshop safety orientation and are limited to hand tools – with the possibility of the shop supervisor doing any cuts necessary on the power tools. These specifications will be easy to meet considering the scope and scale of the project. The team aims to conduct most of the construction within the workshop with some assembly and remedial sanding tasks off site.

In order to ensure proper construction methods and safety standards are maintained throughout the construction phase of the project, a safety plan was established which can be found at the end of this blog post. This safety plan is based on the team’s previous construction and woodworking experience, and will be further detailed upon receiving a safety orientation from Nick Scott sometime next week.

Where the Project Stands: Indicators of Project Success

It is important that the current standing of the project is assessed to ensure the timely progression and completion of the scheduled tasks. Upon revision of the implementation plan, it is evident that the project is currently on schedule. In order to put the completion of the scheduled tasks into a concrete and specific form, the following list of indicators of the project’s path to success has been created.

– After the chain links and gears of the project were designed, the functionality and quality   of the design would best be determined by making a 3D print of our design. With the help of our mentor Malek Charif who made a CAD drawing for the 3D print, we were able to print the design in the Engineering Physics laboratory located under Hennings building. The link functions flawlessly, it is very flexible and sturdy.

– With the help of Susan Nesbit, we are able to reach Greg Johnson who contacted the lab director of SALA architecture shop to allow us to use the laboratory to construct our project.

– After a visit to Windsor Plywood in Vancouver, it was found that they carry all of the necessary wood sizings and other miscellaneous materials required for the construction phase. Two ideal options are teak and mahogany, they provide different look and have their advantage and disadvantages, we are planning to meet our client tomorrow to finalize the material and see if there is any particular request that would require us to change our design.

– The cost analysis indicates the project is well under budget, with the total estimated cost ranging from $100 to $150, varying based on the type of wood decided upon and whether or not we have to buy larger than necessary quantities.

3D print of initial chain link design

Safety Plan

CBEL Group: Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Gardens Water Lift Design Project

CIVL 202

Asad Ijaz
Chris Logan
Jeremy Scott
Jack Hu
Jennifer Fu
Lin (Bob) Shi

1.0 Introduction and Objectives

This Safety Plan is meant to provide construction safety context for the students participating in the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Gardens Water Lift design project. This guide is not meant to replace a safety orientation, but in turn to be used in reference to a formal safety orientation provided by a certified worker. Each student is expected to be familiar with all issues covered in this guide and be responsible for his/her own personal safety as well as the safety of his/her teammates. The Department of Civil Engineering at UBC is dedicated to ensuring the safety of all participants involved in this CBEL project.

2.0 Student Responsibilities

Every civil engineering undergraduate student involved with this CBEL project is responsible for participating in practicing safe construction methods and techniques. Each student is expected to be aware of all risks associated with the project and the well being of himself/herself and their group members. All students are expected to fully participate in a safety orientation conducted by a certified individual and abide by all workshop rules when constructing. Furthermore, it is the responsibility of the student to ensure that each and every member of  the team is working in a safe manner and are taking the necessary precautions to protect themselves as well as their team. Each student must ensure that he/she wears appropriate clothing and safety gear depending on the type of work being done. In addition, any student under the influence of alcohol or drugs will not be allowed to work on the manufacturing or construction of the project and should be expecting further discipline. All students should be as alert as possible to mitigate hazards at the construction site.

3.0 General Project Site Safety

The construction and manufacturing site must remain clean and safe at all times. All emergency exits, hallways, staircases and doors must remain clear of any obstructions and any cords and hoses must not be left in walkways. All hazardous materials should be designated with proper markings, and all students participating should have knowledge of where all the emergency equipment and nearest first-aid kit are located. Any safety concerns or problems should immediately be reported to the site supervisor or manager.

4.0 Specific Hazards

4.1 Equipment and Materials

The participants involved with this project must ensure that all equipment and materials are in working condition, and are returned in the same condition. Only the students who have been trained in a orientation to use machines are given permission to operate the machines. All machines, equipment and materials must be operated in safe manner with no tolerance for horseplay or any behaviour that puts his/her or their team members safety at risk. All used materials should be disposed of properly in designated areas, and should not be left at the site after work is completed.

4.2 Fire Prevention Methods

With the bulk of material used being lumber, no attempt to spark or attempt to burn wood should be made. If any combustible material is involved, it must not be placed near heaters, and effort should be made to ensure sparks are not falling on the combustible material from nearby machines. Smoking is strictly prohibited in all workshops and construction sites as well.

5.0 Emergencies

All participants involved must provide an emergency contact, who must be listed on a contact sheet which has to be present on the workshop during construction and manufacturing. Each student must know how to evacuate the site/shop safely in the case of an emergency and make effort to provide support to team members. All members will be familiar with escape routes and all emergency exits located in the premises. As well, all members are expected to act in a safe and responsible manner in the case of an emergency, and contact the site supervisor or proper authorities as soon as possible.

6.0 Conclusion

UBC is committed to safety of all students. As such, participants of this CBEL project are expected to act in a safe and responsible manner when working in a workshop, making sure to assess all hazards associated with themselves or team members.

Welcome to our updated version of the blog on the Dragon Spine Water-Lift project at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden! We have taken the time since the last blog to research and conceptualize several different design scenarios. This blog outlines these options and eventually settles on a preferred design with our current progress on this project detailed at the end.

Waterlift Functionality

    The water lift consists of four main parts: chain links, paddles, two gears and a channel. The chain links connects all the paddles which is turned by two gears. The paddles are placed into a well fitted channel which allows the paddles to push water up a desired elevation.

Proposed and Researched Designs

    We have looked at multiple designs, most of which are found in a Mandarin context since there is a limited resource regarding the water lift in english. This is one of the designs we looked at, it follows a similar design from our actual choice however the fact that the gears push on paddles instead of notches made it a weaker design. Constant forces applied on paddles will weaken the links significantly and will be much more susceptible to failure.

Figure 1: Model Waterlift #1

    We have based our design on the model displayed below. The basics of the model is similar to the one shown above, the one small detail that caused us to choose this model over the one above is that the gears push the chain with a small notch made into the links. This design makes the water lift links last substantially longer compared to the one above.

Figure 2: Ideal waterwheel design

    The figure below shows early concept art of the potential waterlift. Although the frame of the waterlift as well as the design of the wheel were what we desired, the specifics of this concept needed adjustments. This design is designed based off the ideas presented in figure 1, which suffers the same shortcoming of having the gear pushing the paddle instead of a notch.

Figure 3: Concept art of proposed design

Using the Decision Matrix

    The preferred idea was chosen based on a decision matrix evaluating various aspects of the project. The decision matrix criteria includes: cost, life cycle, aesthetics and functionality. Based on the matrix our chosen design is the most favorable. The cost is similar for all of the designs since the material is wood and the model scale is relatively small so adding a few parts does not increase the cost. Aesthetics are also similar for most designs as the same type of wood is used. The functionality of the design in figure 3 and our chosen design are similar in that they can both be operated by a crane, and push up water quite well. Other designs fall short in this category. The lift cycle really differentiated the two designs, the superior notch design increased the life cycle of the water lift significantly which greatly influenced our decision.

Preferred

    Below is a quick concept sketch of the preferred design. Complete design schematics, with detailed dimensions and descriptions of each integral part of the waterlift, have been completed. The designs are unfit for the nature of this blog post however, so they will be posted at a future date.

    This design makes use of notches in each of the chain links in which the wheels on either end of the waterlift may latch onto, effectively turning the chain. The sketch is not to scale and the chain links are enlarged to show detail. the waterlift would be propped up at angle to allow water to move to a higher elevation.

Figure 4: Preferred Design Concept

Progress and Future Schedule

    With the design of the waterlift fully completed, construction is expected to begin soon after the reading break (reading break span is Feb 16th – 24th). Modelling of the project is already underway as just earlier today our mentor, Malik Chariff, visited the Engineering Physics lab at UBC with a few members of our group. Once at the lab, we were able to utilize a 3D printer to create a perfect replica of an ideal chain link and paddle. Two chain links and one paddle were printed in order to see how well it would fit together; more importantly providing us with a template for when we are able to woodwork the final product. Photos of the 3D printed material will be posted in a future blog.

Use of modelling cardboard is also being considered. With this material we will be able to construct a cheap construct of the waterlift chain and wheels relatively quickly, in order to see how the system operates and behaves as a whole. This is expected to be constructed during the upcoming reading break.

Below is a video that illustrates how the water lift will operate. It is battery powered and constructed of plastic, but its overall design is ideal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csd5M1iDKg8

Welcome back to our blog on the Dragon Spine Water-Lift project at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden! The following week has given us the opportunity have a meeting with the Garden’s education coordinator, Susan Ma. The following blog provides further information relating to the Garden, project specifications agreed upon during the meeting, and initial strategies to achieve the project goals.

The Organization: Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
Vancouver’s Chinese Garden was built in 1985-1986 using the time honored principles and techniques of the original Ming dynasty garden. The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden is very passionate about promoting traditional Chinese culture and aims to provide an authentic experience into a journey back in time to 15th Century China. The goal of the garden is to provide a “window to another world” to truly enhance the learning experience and strengthen the bridge of understanding between Chinese and Western cultures. Following the garden’s truism of how “life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away,” the project team is glad to be a contributing part of this wonderful organization.

The Big Three: Project Scope, Budget, and Schedule
The dragon spine water-lift was a milestone among ancient Chinese machinery and was invented around 200 C.E. during the Three Kingdoms Period. The high working performance of this agricultural irrigation device made it widely used throughout Asia, only being replaced by the introduction of mechanical pumps during the 20th century. This project is aimed to provide an active learning experience for children, with its main purpose being to demonstrate how the dragon spine water-lift operates and to captivate their interest for older Chinese inventions. The scale model of the water-lift will be fully functional and powered through the use of a hand crank. The scale of the project is set to be approximately ½ foot by 2½ feet so it may be easily showcased on a regular sized table. Another main objective is to make the model compact and easily storable due to space constraints at the garden.

Authenticity is key to this project, so the scale model will be constructed of materials that were originally used for the traditional water-lifts, using wood and bamboo to create an aesthetically pleasing replica. As we would like to make a long lasting asset for the garden, we are considering using teak or white oak as the main building material due to their aesthetic appeal and high resistance to water. The work location and methods used to construct the water-lift are left up to the project team due to the limited space at the garden.

The initial scheduling for the design and construction phases of the project has been planned out to ensure a successful and timely project completion. Design schematics and sketches have been started so they will be completed and showcased in the next blog update. Construction is set to take place during late February/early March after reviewing the final design with Susan Ma. The construction process is estimated to take 2 weeks, and we aim to have it fully constructed by mid March.

In terms of project costing, the budget for the project agreed upon is $200. Reimbursement for construction materials will be accompanied with their respective receipts. A cost analysis of the design will be conducted to provide estimates and make sure the project is well within the outlined budget. At present, the project team sees no issues keeping the project under budget.

Initial Strategy: A Running Start
After the brief meeting with Susan Ma, our group parted to individually research and conduct a design analysis of the water-lift. Later in the week, the group will meet as a whole to decide which aspects of each design is most suitable and synthesize ideas to create a workable design. The designs will be assessed based on functionality, ease of storage, economic feasibility, and aesthetics. After finishing the design process, we will have a detailed breakdown for each part of the water-lift, and access how much time needed to construct each part. A time schedule for construction will then be created to keep the group on track with the intention of finishing the project two weeks before the due date. This will provide sufficient time to conduct a trials of the water-lift and manage any problems that may require us to make adjustments to the design. We will also be updating the progress of our project with Susan Ma often to make sure the project is progressing as intended.

Dragon Spine Water-Lift

Source: http://www.chinasanitarywares.net/Museum/Dragon-Bone-Water-Lift.htm

Introduction: Who We Are
Welcome to the Community-Based Experiential Learning (CBEL) project for the Dragon-Spine Water Lift at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden. This blog will be updated biweekly and will include information about our team as well as provide project updates.

The University of British Columbia’s Civil 202 course (Introduction to Civil Engineering 2) is aimed to actively engage students into the community through a CBEL project. A team of second year civil engineering students; Chris, Jeremy, Jack, Asad, Jennifer, and Bob; and their guiding mentor, Malek Charif, have united to form a passionate project team. The enthusiasm and drive of the students combined with the experience of the mentor will promote a strong work environment and commitment towards a successful project.

The Organization: Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
A veteran when it comes to providing CBEL projects for UBC students, the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden Society, incorporated in 1981, is a self-sustaining, not-for-profit organization with the mandate to maintain and enhance the bridge of understanding between Chinese and Western cultures, promote Chinese culture generally and be an integral part of the local community.
Vancouver’s Chinese Garden was built in 1985-1986 using the time honored principles and techniques of the original Ming dynasty garden to provide an authentic representation of age – old garden tradition which reached its peak in the Ming Dynasty.

The Project: Lifting Water on the Dragon’s Spine
This project asks the CBEL team to produce a simple and working miniature scale model of the Dragon-Spine Water Lift as a teaching tool and representative educational artifact. The Dragon-Spine Water Lift was invented in the 1st century CE, and served to be one of the most successful and innovative irrigation machines in early China. The purpose of the water lift was to fetch water so crops could be irrigated in a more efficient way. The water lift is man-powered and comprises of a system of cogs, paddles and a chain of wooden pallets – operating similarly to the chain on a bicycle.

Source: http://www.0731sty.com/ewebeditor@csylzx2011/uploadfile/20110921152325675.jpg
The Community: Bringing 15th Century China to You!
The Garden serves as an educational and enlightening experience as the scenery takes you on a journey back in time to 15th Century China to enjoy this “window to another world.” The Garden’s education department transforms a classical Ming Dynasty scholar’s home into a living classroom! With a scaled down model of the Dragon-Spine Water Lift, the Garden intends to animate and actively promote the learning of Chinese culture, inventions and history for the thousands of students that visit each year. Hence, visitors of the Garden will benefit from an interactive learning experience.

We look forward to working on the CBEL project and are grateful for this opportunity to apply our university knowledge while gaining real-life skills through the process.

Jade Water Pavillion
Source: http://vancouverchinesegarden.com/photo-gallery/

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