An umbrella that rains?

[VultureChow]

So...

Stupid brain came up with another idea in the middle of the night, and now it won't go away.

An umbrella that rains.

Water tank in the handle, battery operated pump that pumps water up through the handle in irrigation tubing to the top where individual lines with holes run along the ribs of the umbrella.

I found a pump that I think will work, I'm just trying to think of something I can modify into a handle that will hold say a liter of water but is easy to hold as a handle.

Any ideas? I saw this:

which is an umbrella that folds into its handle., so was think something cone shaped like that. Then i was thinking of those big gulp cups with the smaller bottom to fit into a cup holder.

Looking for any help or suggestions you may have.

[unjonharley]

A camel pack..

[VultureChow]

A camel pack..

I was thinking of that, especially as it would allow it to run longer, but I was hoping for something that is self contained and not one that I have to attach to me. Plus the longer the line gets, the more power I need from my pump.

Maybe just a sturdy stainless steel water bottle. I have a few extra that are solid and threaded, so a lid could be made to screw in that would hold the shaft of the umbrella.

[FIGJAM]

Check the stats on the emiters.

They use .5 gal per hour each!

[VultureChow]

Check the stats on the emiters.

They use .5 gal per hour each!

I wasn't thinking of something that would run continuously, rather turn on for a few minutes and then turn off. Almost more for the novelty than real cooling potential.

I have to admit, when I woke up with this idea my first though was your swamp cooler design.

ETA: OH! That's per hole. Got it. Well maybe some light experimentation first before I go all nuts then.

[Bob]

Given the prevailing westerly winds and a large enough umbrella you could probably sail from Frisco to the Black Rock.

[VultureChow]

Given the prevailing westerly winds and a large enough umbrella you could probably sail from Frisco to the Black Rock.

[bubbavic]

Is the intent to create a portable simultaneous shade/misting device?? Not sure from the description.


If so then, you may actually want to have the nozzle ends terminate well before the end of the umbrella ribs. Leaving them that far out subjects them to wind/spray scatter and might reduce the efficiency of the misted area.

Maybe also a hand pump (squeeze type ala battery-less flashlight) in the umbrella handle instead of an electrically powered pump. I also think with that, you could get away with a reservoir in the handle. =)

[VultureChow]

Is the intent to create a portable simultaneous shade/misting device?? Not sure from the description.


If so then, you may actually want to have the nozzle ends terminate well before the end of the umbrella ribs. Leaving them that far out subjects them to wind/spray scatter and might reduce the efficiency of the misted area.

Maybe also a hand pump (squeeze type ala battery-less flashlight) in the umbrella handle instead of an electrically powered pump. I also think with that, you could get away with a reservoir in the handle. =)

Not misting, actual drops. It's pretty inefficient from a cooling stand point, but cooling was not the intended effect. The original idea was for something more... fun than anything else. Like those old cartoons (that I am completely drawing a blank on) where the perpetually unlucky character opens up the umbrella and it rains on them.

The original plan in my head was for a pump handle that you squeeze. I just don't know if there is enough force and volume to get the effect.

[bubbavic]

Hmm in that case then, you could modify existing drip irrigation systems in the umbrella ribbing. You'll want to place nozzles where you want to drip from rather than just leave holes. From what I know you'll need a decent psi so yeah, the hand pump won't work. Might be worth a shot though...It's not like you're sending the water too too far. =)

[waxpraxis]

You're wanting more of an effect like this it sounds like:

[Eric]

Something you might want to consider: playa dust turns to clay when wet. Nasty, goopy, clinging clay. Any dust on your clothes (and there will be a lot of dust this year with current playa conditions) will turn into clay and never want to leave your clothing.

It also builds up on your shoes ("playa platforms"):

[bubbavic]

Eric, was there a lot more rain by this time last year?

We lucked out last year...wishful thinking conditions will be the same this year??

[VultureChow]

You're wanting more of an effect like this it sounds like:

Bingo, though I'm thinking more"gentle drizzle" than "cats and dogs"

[VultureChow]

Any dust on your clothes (and there will be a lot of dust this year with current playa conditions) will turn into clay and never want to leave your clothing.

Good reason not to wear any then.

/Wish I could, but don't have the self confidence to pull it off.

I suppose I could bring an outfit that I really don't mind ruining and wearing that while using the un-brella (which I totally just thought of and am now going to call it).

Thanks for the heads up.

[Ugly Dougly]

Don't listen to the naysayers. Go for it, that's a cool project.

[Bob]

Here you go. "Chindogu" are uniquely un-useless inventions.

[VultureChow]

Here you go. "Chindogu" are uniquely un-useless inventions.

Perfect!



Now I can use my un-brella and not get playa platforms

[davink]

Love it, I want one!

[Wrath]

...playa dust turns to clay when wet. Nasty, goopy, clinging clay. Any dust on your clothes (and there will be a lot of dust this year with current playa conditions) will turn into clay and never want to leave your clothing.

More the reason!

[burner von braun]

Hey, fun idea VC !! How about using a garden sprayer as the source for your water and pressure. No electric, just pump up the pressure (like an old bicycle pump does) and you're good to go. They come in a lot of sizes too, from several gallons down to hand held, which maybe holds a quart. With a bit of engineering you could probably make them interchangable, so at times you could hand it off as a portable device to the 'victim', and for general purpose, attach the bigger reservoir to your back, and wander around the playa sharing the laughs.

[VultureChow]

Hey, fun idea VC !! How about using a garden sprayer as the source for your water and pressure. No electric, just pump up the pressure (like an old bicycle pump does) and you're good to go. They come in a lot of sizes too, from several gallons down to hand held, which maybe holds a quart. With a bit of engineering you could probably make them interchangable, so at times you could hand it off as a portable device to the 'victim', and for general purpose, attach the bigger reservoir to your back, and wander around the playa sharing the laughs.

Ooh.... That might be even better. If the smaller ones hold pressure too, that might be perfect.

Off to the google!

[Playa+Tom]

A few years ago the Academy of Fools performed at Center Camp, as they left the stage they opened umbrellas then opened water bottles put them over the spikes at the top of the umbrellas. As they walked through the crowd the water poured down the umbrellas drenching the spectators while the performers stayed dry. It was hilarious.

[Turtleburp]

I once saw a guy in Covent garden London who had exactly this - he had a pin stripe suit and macintosh on and looked like very normal - it took me a couple of takes to see what want not quite right!

He had the power pack and pump in a briefcase and ran a tube up his coat sleeve

I'll look out for you!

T

[Ugly Dougly]

"What? You're going to build a big wooden statue, only to drag it out to the desert and burn it. Stupid. What's the fun in that?"

[Foxfur]

Needs propane.

[MacGlenver]

Funny, I just heard of and saw one of these for the first time last night. My friend had made one out of an umbrella and a manual pumped garden sprayer.

[Ra1nBr0]

Probably a pretty goofy idea, but here's my two cents..

Why not adapt a small kiddie pool with some suspenders. Wear it as a kind of water containing belt-trough, that the pump can pump from. The umbrella rains into the kiddie pool and the cycle repeats.

[unjonharley]

Probably a pretty goofy idea, but here's my two cents..

Why not adapt a small kiddie pool with some suspenders. Wear it as a kind of water containing belt-trough, that the pump can pump from. The umbrella rains into the kiddie pool and the cycle repeats.

The belt trough could up a pair of huge clown pants

[vargaso]

This is pretty close:

[media]