Sunday, January 18, 2015

Aluminum, Aliens (9): Diagram: Aiud Object Explained

1973 or 1974. The Wedge of Aiud, found 10 meters down in an excavation in Romania, in the same strata as Mastodon bones. It was made of Aluminum. "Specialists" analysed the metal object and dated it anywhere from hundreds to hundreds of thousands of years. An "aeronautical engineer" said the "Wedge" strongly resembled the foot of a VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) aircraft. The analysis is problematic on a number of points, whether on the mistaken oxidation age, the different metallurgical test outcomes, or the engineers drawing itself (from Alien Skies) which does not account for the rear "arms" on the wedge or the lack of pivots that would be necessary for landing on uneven ground.

The aeronautical engineers drawing of the landing gear. Notice the profiles in these two views that are not accounted for.

 

The underside of the wedge of Aiud is rarely seen in photographs. The "boring" side has obviously been slammed down on the earth many times. Deep gouges and scratches pit it's surface. "...on its lower side of the object were traces of repeated beatings, some of which were strong".* But was it beaten under the spacecraft; or an excavator?

* http://www.asfanufo.ro/index.php/opinii-si-ipoteze/119-calcaiul-de-aluminiu-de-la-aiud&prev=search.

Let's call the object of Aiud an Excavator Bucket Tooth (EBT); could it possibly be? Regular bucket teeth are generally hollow and mount of the leading edge of the bucket. But the Aiud EBT would have to mount on the face of the bucket's shovel edge. The "top" of the wedge has a mounting hole with a smaller locking hole in the back, between the wings. This arrangement would leave it hanging under the lip of the digging bucket. Going through a few industrial catalogues, EBTs are "slung under" in clamshell-style diggers.

Clamshell bucket excavator.

They are used where depth is an issue, since the bucket is either on the end of a long hydraulic arm or flown on a wire - especiallyuseful for things like dredging the bottom of rivers or flooded pits. Aluminum teeth are used where there is a danger of explosion or fire - in coal mining, around swamps or garbage dumps - because they minimize the risk of sparking.

The Wedge of Aiud as it would appear on a clamshell excavator.

A conjectural drawing by this author, which is far more explanatory than the "aeronautical engineer's", illustrates how the "wedge" could be fixed to the bucket. The forces that act on it would primarily be in sheer, so such an arrangement would be durable - unlike a standard bucket that experiences a bending moment and requires stronger mounts. Shear would be absorbed by the central 40 mm steel dowel on the bucket. The dowel is locked into the bucket tooth using a pin inserted through the hole between the "arms". Further, the flat surface between the arms would be backed by a steel wedge matching the 45 degree profile of the "arms". The arms themselves prevent the tooth from wanting to rotate on the 40 mm pin, and the wedged shape allows the bucket to open against rough material.

A steel wedge and dowel (rod) welded on the bucket would hold the Aluminum EBT and a pin would fix it there.

Even the wear patterns on the "Wedge of Aiud" would match the pattern of repeatedly digging wedge-on into abrasive material and clamping shut against the opposite shovel. The edges are rounded and extreme wear is seen around the 40 mm mounting pin.

I believe that this diagram explains the features of the wedge fairly well. Perhaps from now on we should call it the EBT of Aiud? Again, unless Yoda was at the controls; it's safe to say that Aliens most likely had nothing to do with this piece of mysterious aluminum.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 comments:

  1. Identificarea corectă este dată de mine pe forumul rufon: unul din cele două bătătoare ale unei piue mecanizate folosită în industria textilă.
    Identificarea mea explică toate uzurile piesei precum și forma acesteia.

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