WTF item of the week!

[Capt. Link.]

How about a size reference.

[daviscustom]

Is that a burner nozzle/venturi to mix air and gas for a gas forge or something similar?

[T-Rex]

I did some digging and found a pic of the assembly. The pipe is 1/2". The white material, inside of the cage, is made of PTFE. The SS tubing is for instrument air. The other end has an ANSI flange with bulkhead fittings for the air and cabling.

Too much info?

Most people who see it think it's a movie prop from Star Wars.

[whiterussian1974]

The coiled tubing is a heat exchange w the 1/2" pipe. Otherwise I'm unfamiliar w the device. Not sure what's taking place under the perf sheet sleeve.

A flow rate sensor? (Just guessing.)

"The major application of PTFE, consuming about 50% of production, is for wiring in aerospace and computer applications (e.g. hookup wire, coaxial cables). This application exploits the fact that PTFE has excellent dielectric properties. This is especially true at high radio frequencies, making it suitable for use as an insulator in cables and connector assemblies and as a material for printed circuit boards used at microwave frequencies. Combined with its high melting temperature, this makes it the material of choice as a high-performance substitute for the weaker and lower-melting-point polyethylene commonly used in low-cost applications."

[T-Rex]

The coiled tubing is a heat exchange w the 1/2" pipe No. Otherwise I'm unfamiliar w the device. Not sure what's taking place under the perf sheet sleeve.

A flow rate sensor? (Just guessing.)

"The major application of PTFE, consuming about 50% of production, is for wiring in aerospace and computer applications (e.g. hookup wire, coaxial cables). This application exploits the fact that PTFE has excellent dielectric properties. This is especially true at high radio frequencies, making it suitable for use as an insulator in cables and connector assemblies and as a material for printed circuit boards used at microwave frequencies. Combined with its high melting temperature, this makes it the material of choice as a high-performance substitute for the weaker and lower-melting-point polyethylene commonly used in low-cost applications."

More clues.

[Capt. Link.]

The use of Teflon in this device is it for RF or Voltage.

[T-Rex]

The use of Teflon in this device is it for RF or Voltage.

Dielectric and thermal insulation

[1rflman]

Looks like a flamethrower???

[whiterussian1974]

Looks like a flamethrower???

Has to be some sensor. No reason for all that stuff otherwise.

[Fulliautomatix]

It probably is some kind of bi-fueled flamethrower/ice melter/weed burner/grill starter. (Fire, what can't it do?!) I'd guess the electrical line is for a piezoelectric igniter. The coiled tube is possibly for a compressed gas/liquid so it can expand/warm up by the time it gets to the nozzle for ignition. If that's the case the main tube would be compressed air.

Or I could read the posts above mine... I got nothing now. (except for ideas on how to burn weeds and start grills.)

I'll stick by my guess on a piezoelectric igniter though. Maybe they're using compressed air as the propellant of fuel coming down the 1/2" pipe and there's a combustion chamber at the end of the contraption.

[T-Rex]

I'll spill so we can move on. Any more clues gives it away.
It's an electrical resisitivity probe for sampling ash in the flue duct of a coal-fired power plant. I guess it could be used anywhere, but this is what we use it for.

The air is to keep the probe cool, before sampling, and to blow out the ash, between samples. It is wrapped around the pipe for rigidity, while in a hot atmosphere.

Inside the PTFE piece is the probe. As stated, the PTFE is for insulation.

The Venturi looking scoop is to collect the sample.

Insert probe, with air on and scoop downstream. Wait for probe to reach proper temp, by adjusting air. Shut off air, spin scoop upstream, collect sample, spin scoop downstream. Take reading, blow out sample chamber, cool probe, repeat.

[Capt. Link.]

The SS tubing is for instrument air

The air is to keep the probe cool

[T-Rex]

The SS tubing is for instrument air

The air is to keep the probe cool

Instrument air is a type of service, not necessarily referring to the type of device.
It is cleaner, and generally of lower pressure, than typical plant air.

[joe0121]

I'll Play

I hope this inst to industry specific but i'll give you some clues.

It's made by IBM

It is as an older technology

It attaches to a drive



It is something that I work on occasionally though there aren't many out there any more. I do hardware break/fix for server/mainframes/SANs and so on in the IT industry.

[pdsmith505]

I'm going with either a network attached storage tower missing it's hard drives (probably SCSI) or a optical disk cloning center missing it's drives.

My submission and hints:
- One-time use item
- Material is steel
- calibrated for specific platforms

[T-Rex]

I'll Play

I'm gonna go with some type of printer.
For the rectangular paper that's perforated in a long/tall stack.

[T-Rex]

Too easy!

[Capt. Link.]

[pdsmith505]

Too easy!

Too easy as in I win with the SCSI tower, or too easy you know what my part is?

[whiterussian1974]

Too easy!

Too easy as in I win with the SCSI tower, or too easy you know what my part is?

He meant Your sacrificial part.
He named his guess for the Server stack w digital access readout by saying that it was an old time ribbon-paper fed printer.

Your part reminds me of a USN catapult tiedown pin. It break once steampressure is enough to surpass tensile strength of the narrowly grooved section, releasing shuttle to drive nosegear down launch ramp via the steamtube.
So I'll guess that it's similar function, if not actual part.

[Capt. Link.]

Your part reminds me of a USN catapult tiedown pin. It break once steampressure is enough to surpass tensile strength of the narrowly grooved section, releasing shuttle to drive nosegear down launch ramp via the steamtube.
So I'll guess that it's similar function, if not actual part.

The hazard of high velocity small parts and a Sailor are just not compatible.

[T-Rex]

Yes, this.
Only, because it was in a similar thread, on a different forum, some years back.

[pdsmith505]

He meant Your sacrificial part.
He named his guess for the Server stack w digital access readout by saying that it was an old time ribbon-paper fed printer.

Your part reminds me of a USN catapult tiedown pin. It break once steampressure is enough to surpass tensile strength of the narrowly grooved section, releasing shuttle to drive nosegear down launch ramp via the steamtube.
So I'll guess that it's similar function, if not actual part.

That is precisely what it is. I figured it would be easy for a sailor to ID, not so much for the general populace.

The hazard of high velocity small parts and a Sailor are just not compatible.

Sailors tend to be incompatible with many hazards... but that doesn't stop us from trying

[whiterussian1974]

Your part reminds me of a USN catapult tiedown pin. It break once steampressure is enough to surpass tensile strength of the narrowly grooved section, releasing shuttle to drive nosegear down launch ramp via the steamtube.
So I'll guess that it's similar function, if not actual part.

That is precisely what it is. I figured it would be easy for a sailor to ID, not so much for the general populace.

The hazard of high velocity small parts and a Sailor are just not compatible.

Sailors tend to be incompatible with many hazards... but that doesn't stop us from trying

I'm just an aficionado. Not a sailor.

(/sarc) Don't sailors have G-codes for easy replacement? Like USArmy 11b. Most HumanInventory is fungible, right?

[Capt. Link.]

Sailors tend to be incompatible with many hazards... but that doesn't stop us from trying

Never a truer statement has been said.

I'm just an aficionado. Not a sailor.

I'm a Sailor and not a aficionado.