Philosophical Statement:
America is a place where the wind often blows, and until America catches that wind, "America Blows". Our piece demonstrates that renewable energy is plentiful in our blustery country and can be fun to utilize.  America Blows pays homage to our ignorant past and calls for a sustainable future where we harness clean energy. Swanky Seven Ranch was started because its founders believe in renewable energy and sustainable culture practices. We want to minimize our dependency on the outside world and increase our self sufficiency. With rising energy costs, and questionable futures ahead, looking to alternative energy is necessary. Our latest design of a wind turbine utilizes people and their ability to cooperate to create wind energy. The piece will allow for a fun and exciting way for people to interact with nature, while working together to harness energy. America Blows is an interactive piece that not only makes a statement about America's current use of wind energy, it also teaches people how easy it is to "catch the wind." Interactive experimental energy is created by the participants utilizing natures enduring force "wind".



Overview:
America Blows is a windmill which requires participants to guide large panels which harness wind energy occurring naturally in the Black Rock Desert. The structure entails a pyramid with a large beam which rotates on the center axis. At each end of the beam hangs a pod with a seat for one user. Inside the pods, users are instructed on how to guide the large sails atop each pod.  These sails may be oriented to the wind as to "catch" or "slip" the wind.  Users work together alternating "slip" and "catch" alternating sides.  America Blows spins, creating electric energy from a generator mounted in the base.  This electricity is used to power the creative lighting found throughout the structure.  Increasing levels of power result in increasing levels of visual stimulation.  Cooperation is required from the users operating each side of the pods and thus they will be connected by a radio.

Physical Description:
America Blows, fully modeled in 3-D constructed with a maximum of off-the-shelf parts, keeping fabrication to a minimum.  America Blows can be entirely constructed at Swanky Seven Ranch with no need for further infrastructure.  All parts have been analyzed to ensure safe operation in the Black Rock Desert.  The center pivot is constructed from steel and has four outriggers which create the structural foundation of America Blows.  These will be buried to prevent a tripping hazard and for aesthetics.  The outriggers will also be stapled into the playa using large gauge rebar or equivalent. 

The generator was chosen for it's ability to produce electricity at relatively low RPM.  America Blows will spin slowly but produce high torque.  This generator, while being the best off-the-shelf choice, produces usable power at 500 RPM. If we can spin at least 6RPM, then we will be producing at least 75watts, which is enough to power all of our lighting. Also, there may be a potential to produce up to 3600watts if it is windy enough.  This is achieved through twin sets of gears with a ratio of 112:12. At 500RPM the voltage is 12V and increases linearly upward with increased rotation.  Energy is stored in a battery bank of two deep cycle marine batteries.  Energy is retrieved from the batteries through a standard 1500watt inverter producing 112V.

The beam is a 20ft long rectangle tube, 4in by 6in.  At each end of these tubes a 2.5in vertical shaft is affixed with bearings.  Atop the shaft is a sail of 32ft2 (4ftx8ft).  The sail will be built with the size of the sail was set by calculating it's load in a 55knot wind and maximizing the torque it produced on a 2.5in shaft.  2.5in is the largest size of off-the-shelf shaft we found.  This shaft will be offset to one side of the sail.  This will produce higher drag on one side and will naturally orient the sail to slip the wind.  This is similar to the tail on a weather vane.  While this will make it more difficult to pilot the windmill, America Blows will naturally orient itself to the wind and cease rotation when the steering wheel is unattended.  A pin is available on the center shaft to cease all rotation when necessary. 

The cockpit is constructed from 4ftx6ft aluminum channeling.  It's design is simple, cheap and strong.  The steering is routed to give the  cockpit an open air feel and built from off the shelf parts. 

Link to downloadable Swanky 7 promo movie:
http://crayton.com/Media/AB.mov

America Blows Crew

David Crayton
Burn Years: 2007
Professional: Information technology professional with over seven years of experience in all areas of implementation and coordination of internet application, web development and video production expertise in producing and directing. Has strong communication and interpersonal skills, as well as, project and time management in the corporate world of Internet/Intranet technologies.
Passions: Travel, Video, Technology
Project Position: David will be video documenting the build of the project using his high definition camera at The Swanky Seven Ranch and during assembly in the Black Rock Desert.
Website: http://crayton.com
Resume: http://crayton.com/resume/resume.htm

Jane Crayton aka JanedaPain
Burn Years: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
Professional: New Media Artist, Graphic Artist
Passions: New media and audio/visual artist working with interactive experimental art and collage. Coordinating and participating in experimental electronic events at galleries, museums and underground venues.
Project Position: Lead development and aesthetic design of interactive alien components, lighting and design of the user interfaces. She will also lead fund raising and promotion, working closely with her father and Cody in documenting the project online and with video.
Website: http://janedapain.net
http://swankyseven.com/files/resumes/JaneCrayton.pdf

William Guiles
Burn Years: 2005, 2006
Professional: Network Engineer
Passions: Bio Fuels hobbyist. Art grant committee member for Apogaea 2007,2008. Certification in welding technologies that include FCAW, SMAW,GTAW, PAW, OAW, LBW and EBW. 
Project Position: Lead fabricator and welder for project. Assembly, and promotion through local Colorado Burning Man Community.
Resume: http://swankyseven.com/files/resumes/willguiles.htm

Talmage Kirk
Burn Years: 2007
Professional: Artist
Passions: Artwork, nutrition, industrial design, chess, and organic gardening.  Specialized brush and pencil, specifically black light reactive mediums.
Project Position: Camp Cook, Food and Water Inventory, and painter.
Resume:http://swankyseven.com/files/resumes/talmagekirk.htm

Edwin Penniman
Burn Years: 1995, 2006, 2007
Professional: Senior optical engineer at CDM Optics in Boulder. Former lead engineer at Ball Aerospace.  Lead engineer for team Ballistix 2005, 2006 Boulder Kinetics race.
Passions: Mountain biking, sking, climbing, drums, plotting and scheming. Systems Engineer, inventor/designer and builder. 
Project Position: Lead engineer for America Blows. He built the computer models, creating parts lists, structural analysis physical testing, and fabrication.
Resume: http://swankyseven.com/files/resumes/EdwinPenniman.pdf

Cody Pritchard
Burn Years: Virgin
Professional: Hardware support specialist for Boulder tech company. Data packets flow in my blood like midi-chlorians. 
Passions: Rock and mineral specialist, permaculturist, and organic gardener.
Project Position: Lead web designer and hardware support, electronic documentation, assembly of installation.
Resume: http://swankyseven.com/files/resumes/Cody's_Resume.doc

Steve Sampson
Burn Years: 2006, 2007
Professional: Builder, Inventor
Passions: Working to create positive change in politics, finance and energy through permaculture. Wind and Biofuel Hobbyist.
Project Position: Builder and Project manager.  Steve will be coordinating project schedule, staffing, budget, assembly and fabrication.
Resume: http://swankyseven.com/files/resumes/SampsonsResume.html

Peter Wilson
Burn Years: Virgin
Professional:
Passions: Art, music/drums, cultural studies, aesthetic affects on social interactions, new media, politics, alternative energy sources, and linguistics.
Peter will oversee aesthetics including lighting and props. Fund-raising and promotion in local community.
Resume: http://swankyseven.com/files/resumes/peterwilson.doc

Kris Young
Burn Years: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 ,2007
Optical and Mechanical Engineer. New technology, cross disciplinary projects, new applications of existing technology mechanical systems, customer interaction, travel, technical writing. Fixture design, fabrication monkey, and materials purchasing. Kris will be integral in computer modeling, testing, fabrication and lead masseur as he is also a Certified Massage Therapist.
Resume: http://swankyseven.com/files/resumes/KrisYoung.htm


America Blows Building Location:
Swanky Seven Ranch, 4287 NE County Line Road, Erie, CO 80516
A four acre sustainable artist community started in November 2007.  Born of seven creative and industrious individuals who aim to create a sustainable art community.  Located in East Boulder County, Swanky Seven Ranch has at it's disposal: a 5000 sq. warehouse, two shipping containers, one modified into a wood and metal shop. The other container is a welding and electronics shop.  Swanky Seven Ranch is dedicated to expanding the realms, and testing the limits of experimental art and sustainable energy. Each of its founding members is committed to experimental technology, community and educational public outreach. Here we collaborate to invent and create new and exciting art and technologies.

We have looked at all known safety hazards, and ranked them in the table shown below. From analyzing this matrix, we have changed our design to include a speed regulation system, a 'White Picket Fence', and additional lighting and signs to warn passersby and participants on the America Blows turbine.

Speed Regulator
Using consecutively larger loads to regulate the speed of the turbine, we are able to limit the pod speed to 10 mph. The speed regulation system is comprised of mechanical and electrical speed regulators.  The system works in 2 phases, first by electrically regulating the speed, and in high winds, the mechanical speed regulation turns the power into heat by pumping water.  The turbine also has a locking mechanism that can handle 30,000 ft-lbs.  The safety controller is the heart both speed regulation systems.  Its function is to minimize the load in low winds and as the wind gets stronger it charges the battery bank and powers appliances.  The safety controller is also responsible for making sure that the core safety lighting turns on at night.  If the generator voltage is too high for the battery bank, the safety controller dumps it into a hydrogen production tank, which produces hydrogen that can be immediately burnt off.  If the wind speed is too great and the generator amperage exceeds 30 amps, the safety controller turns on the water pump with an electric clutch.  The mechanical speed regulator is a robust mechanical load capable of handling 780 lbs of force on the sail.

There will also be plenty of energy wasting appliances and tools available for participants to interact with, allowing a greater number of factors to affect speed and performance. This will provide users and participants an opportunity to apply the knowledge of their everyday lives by using everyday consumer products to manipulate the situation. For example, a person could plug in a hair dryer to see how much energy it takes from the revolving turbine. Thus demonstrating visually how much energy we waste consuming in our current state of the 'American Dream'.

Safety Pin & lock
A locking pin on the turntable bearing is an integral part of the system, provided in the event that we  need to lock down the turbine from any use, for any reason. This of course, would be used in a reasonable fashion. It would be employed only  if there were a hazardous malfunction, if the America Blows posed a potential hazard, and/or if potential environmental hazards could affect the safety of users and observers, or for any other unforeseen reason that  called for ceasing the spinning of America Blows.  This locking pin can handle 30,000 ft-lbs, which is 3000 lbs of force on the sail.

The White Picket Fence 40' diameter (lit with signs)

The American Dream of the past has included many ideas, such as the nuclear family, a nice house in the suburbs, complete with a white picket fence and a dog. America Blows will push the Burning Man 2008 theme 'American Dream' by uniting it with our personal dream of renewable energy. This will illustrate both our current frustration with the former 'American Dream', and our desire to create a new, sustainable, and renewable 'Dream'. We feel that the white picket fence solidifies our message to participants and observers, and communicates that renewable energy is a must for the concept of the 'American Dream' to continue.

In addition, the simple 'white picket fence' allows for us to continue on our theme of reduce, reuse, and recycle as we plan to gather discarded wood pallets to make our fence. We shall build small sections that can be constructed and painted, prior to playa arrival. This provides a simple, quick, solution to nearly any possible safety concerns while providing the user adequate opportunity, and information, prior to reaching the turbine as to potential danger and that it is to be used at their own risk.

A simple white fence also provides for the highest amount of visibility and a physical barrier allowing for the greatest safety of all participants and passers by. There will be at least forty two signs, one every thee feet. They will be designed with a rustic theme, coupled with a modern twist. Signs indicate entrance location, caution, and other basic 'common sense' warnings about the rotating turbine within the 'White Picket Fence'. Participants may only enter into the fenced area via the gated entrance or by scaling the 3' high fence.

The fence will be decorated with traditional white paint, reflectors and LED spot lights mounted every few feet. The fence will be adorned with several brightly lit LED, El Wire and Black Light Designed signs that mesh with the traditional 'American Dream' theme by day, and celebrate the collection and use of our renewable energy 'Burner' theme by night.

We will gather donated material to create windsocks, which will lie just before the 'white picket fence' parameter. These windsocks shall provide a visual que to potential users that there may be enough wind to spin the turbine. The windsocks will provide them a reference as to the direction from which the wind is blowing. These can be easily produced, and we have all the materials for the windsocks minus the fabric at the Swanky Seven Ranch.

Leave No Trace

• renewable and recycled goods involved. 
• Project does not require deep digging into the playa only 6 inch trenches.
• Area will be scanned at final phase with a metal detector.
• Wires and cables buried in playa will be dug up and removed.
• Minimal assembly required. No welding, No Zip Ties, No feathers, No sequins.
• LED's and El-wire are secured inside structural designs.
• Assembly and Disassembly estimated to 1 day for 4 people.