Category: Reference Library

Items deposited in the Reference Library.

Woodscrews and Bolts

A collection of facts about Wood Screws and Bolts

This article on woodscrews and bolts is very basic at the moment but may get improved with time.

Woodscrew Chart by W. L. Fuller

woodscrews and bolts
Coach Bolt
woodscrews and bolts
Coach Screw

Woodscrews Which Don’t Split Wood

This link goes to Titan Metal Werks, Inc of Ilinois, USA a company which makes SplitStop screws which they claim won’t split the wood they are screwed into. Designed for fixing decking they appear to drill themselves in and make a countersunk hole to boot.

See their example video which I have embedded below. It shows how an ordinary screw splits the wood when it is screwed in. Then it shows how their screws can be screwed in around it, very close to the edge, without splitting the wood:

This is what TITAN have to say about their products:

“Experience the ability to place woodscrews within 1/8″ of the edge of a board without splitting the wood. Install deck boards and railing balusters with little fear of splitting! Penetrate knots without shearing-off screw heads! Countersink effortlessly, even in Oak! All without predrilling!” — Titan

How A Toilet Silent Fill Valve Works

Introduction

This article is in effect an addendum to the post Toilet Silent Fill Valve Repair which explains how to access and dismantle such a valve and inspect or change the diaphragm that sits in the valve. That post also explains what is, and is not, silent about a Silent Fill Valve. This is now complemented by the post Replacing A Toilet Fill Valve.

In order to satisfy the requirements of Internet SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) the valve is referred to, in this article, specifically as a Toilet Silent Fill Valve or more generally Silent Fill Valve but its full title is a Silent Fill Toilet Cistern Inlet Valve since it is:

  1. A Valve.
  2. An Inlet Valve.
  3. A Cistern Inlet Valve.
  4. A Toilet Cistern Inlet Valve.
  5. A Silent Fill Toilet Cistern Inlet Valve.

This type of valve is complex and deploys a built-in mechanism which uses the inherent water pressure in the Mains Water to drive the valve from the closed to open position and then from the open to closed position. The mechanism is controlled by a much smaller valve in the form of a stopper covering a pinhole which requires a much smaller effort to operate it than the main valve.

The article endeavours to explain to the reader how the complete valve works so that they understand the order in which physical processes take place and why they follow on from each other as they do. The theory behind the workings of the valve are developed from the basic principles of forces and pressures acting on the individual parts but without the detail of too many mathematical formulae. Continue reading “How A Toilet Silent Fill Valve Works”

Kuiper and Oort Objects

Here is a poster of Kuiper and Oort Objects

This poster/wall chart was produced by SPACE.COM as a quick guide to Kuiper and Oort Objects.

Kuiper and Oort Objects

Knowledge of the Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud is sparse but it is known that some objects have very eccentric orbits. I think we can expect many more objects to be discovered in this area in coming years.

Reference

Poster source: Space.com: All about our solar system, outer space and exploration.

Dwarf Planets In The Solar System

There is a new class of objects in the Solar System – Dwarf Planets – which now includes Pluto.

dwarf-planets-121120b-02-1

Source Space.com: All about our solar system, outer space and exploration

Cosmic Inflation and Expansion of The Universe

This Chart Describes Cosmic Inflation and Expansion of The Universe

I’m sure we’re a long way from hearing the last on Cosmic Inflation and Expansion of The Universe, but here is a SPACE.COM chart briefly explaining it.
Cosmic Inflation and Expansion of The Universe

On 30th January 2015 Space.com announced: Inflation is not proven to have occurred as previously suspected in March 2014. The evidence for it has been discredited. Check it out at Space.com where Evidence for Cosmic Inflation Theory Bites the (Space) Dust.

Source: Space.com – All about our solar system, outer space and exploration.