16x12 - Composite Propane Cylinders/Salsa/Water-Pumping Windmills/Dragsters

[bunniefuu]

Narrator:
a composite propane cylinder

Is an alternative
you'll appreciate

If you've ever lugged
a steel propane cylinder

For your gas barbecue

Or if you've ever run out of gas
in mid-grill

Because you couldn't tell

How much propane
was left in the tank.

Composite material
is 30% lighter than steel

And see-through.

Composite propane cylinders are
made of transparent fiberglass

Encased
within a plastic housing.

Propane,
a liquid under pressure,

Expands
as temperature increases.

So as a safety feature,
the cylinder valve is equipped

With an
overfill-prevention device,

A valve shut-off that kicks in

When you've filled


This ensures ample room
for the propane to expand.

Fiberglass is actual glass

That's been drawn
into thin fibers,

Then woven into fabric
or, in this case, yarn.

It's the ideal material
for a gas cylinder

Because it's strong,
lightweight, rust-proof,

And nonflammable.

A robot simultaneously winds


Over a steel form
shaped like a half cylinder.

The winding pattern is very
specific, strategically designed

To make the cylinder walls
as strong as possible.

While winding, the robot applies
a powder binding solution.

This immobilizes the strands
so that the shape won't collapse

When the robot
later lifts it off the form.

The winding process
takes about 45 seconds

And produces
what's called a preform.

The robot transfers the preform
over to the next machine,

A molding press.

It injects liquid plastic
at high pressure,

Impregnating the fiberglass.

Then it heats the preform for


What comes out
of the molding press

Is a fully formed
fiberglass half cylinder.

The top-half cylinder needs
to be prepped for the valve.

First, an automated drill
bores a hole.

Then workers apply caulking
around a valve fitting...

Set the fitting
on an assembly fixture...

Position the hole over it...

...then press the fitting
into the fiberglass.

Now they mount the top-
and bottom-half cylinders

On opposing lathes.

A computer-guided grinding wheel
with a fine diamond-grid surface

Trims the edge
of each half cylinder

To an exact specification.

Then it machines a precise


At opposing angles.

Next, an automated nozzle

Applies adhesive
onto the tapered edges.

Then the lathes move toward
each other, mating the halves.

The tapered edges slot together
in a tight fit.

After the adhesive cures
nearly two hours later,

This is a solid,
inseparable cylinder,

Which, as per the certification
label, conforms to the standards

Required
by government regulators.

Every single cylinder
this factory produces

Undergoes safety tests.

This one,
in a pressurized chamber,

Ensures the cylinder can hold
the required amount of pressure.

This submersion test ensures
the cylinder is gas-tight.

If bubbles appear in the water,
it means there's a leak.

After a cylinder passes testing,
workers install the valve,

Which is already connected to
the overfill-prevention device.

The valving machine
holds the cylinder steady,

While it turns the valve
to the precise tightness

The engineering specifications
require.

Now it's just a matter
of snapping together

The cylinder's
two-part plastic housing.

The housing has handles
for carrying the cylinder.

It also has a flat base to allow
the cylinder to stand upright.

Composite propane cylinders
come in various sizes

To fuel everything
from barbecues to patio heaters,

Even ride-on lawn mowers
and factory forklifts.

Narrator:
salsa is a staple

Of mexican
and southwestern cuisine --

A spicy tomato-based condiment
people typically enjoy

As a topping on tacos
or dip for tortilla chips.

Recipes vary,
as does the kick factor --

From mild to extra-hot.

"Salsa" is the spanish word
for "sauce."

This american company
produces nine different flavors,

From regular to roasted garlic
to pineapple-mango.

All flavors begin

With fresh tomatoes
delivered daily to the factory.

Workers inspect them carefully
and remove any stems, leaves,

And unripe or imperfect
tomatoes.

Other workers, meanwhile,
cut the stems off cilantro,

A leafy herb that acts
as a major flavor-enhancer.

They wash the cilantro
in a tank of ice-cold water,

Then transfer it
to another cold-water tank

For a second wash, and then to
another tank for a third wash,

Then a fourth and final wash,

This one in a machine with
food-safe vegetable sanitizer,

Containing bacteria-k*lling
hydrogen peroxide.

Then they dry the wet cilantro
in a giant salad spinner.

In another area,
they prep the onions,

Peeling the skin
and slicing off the ends.

They rinse the onions
with water

And the same sanitizer
they used on the cilantro.

Ditto with the tomatoes.

This industrial-strength
dicing machine

Chops up
all the produce ingredients.

It has interchangeable blades to
adjust for different-sized cuts.

First through the dicer --
the tomatoes.

They enter whole

And exit in pieces
about 4/10 of an inch big.

Next, the onions.

The dicer chops them into pieces
roughly 2/10 of an inch in size.

Meanwhile, the cilantro
goes into a cutter

Which chops it into fine pieces.

The recipe proportions
are roughly 80% tomatoes,




Then additional
flavor-specific ingredients,

Plus salt, pepper, and vinegar.

With the prep work done,

It's now time to blend all the
ingredients in a giant mixer.

Each batch begins
with 55 gallons of tomatoes.

Next comes the cilantro.

This and all the ingredients
are pre-weighed,

So as to be
in the correct proportion

To the quantity of tomatoes.

The onions are next.

This particular batch of salsa
is garlic-artichoke flavor;

Hence the next ingredient --
diced artichokes.

Now the combined
liquid ingredients --

Lemon juice, lime juice,
and white vinegar...

Followed by
the combined dry ingredients --

Salt, pepper, dried celery,
and garlic powder.

A final high-speed
five-minute mix

Ensures everything is thoroughly
blended and ready for packaging.

The finished salsa
goes into vats.

From there, at packaging time,

A pumping system moves it to
the automated filling machine,

Whose nozzles squirt
the required quantity of salsa

Into plastic containers.

The machine then seals
each container

With a plastic safety film
and presses on a cover.

This is what
the packaging process

Looks like in slow motion.

It actually moves
at about twice this speed.

The filled containers

Now pass through a combination
x-ray/metal detector.

On the off chance

A foreign object fell into
the salsa during production,

The machine flags
the affected container

And triggers an automated arm

To eject it
from the production line.

This standard
food-safety precaution ensures

That every single container
proceeding to labeling

And then onto store shelves
is "a-olé."

Narrator:
to pump water from the ground,
the windmill reaches to the sky.

The blades catch the breeze
and spin,

While gears convert the spinning
action into pumping action.

This technology has been around
for over 2,000 years.

The first known
water-pumping windmills

Originated in persia
around 7 a.d.

In 19th-century america, this
was the wheel of progress --

A metal-bladed windmill

That turned with greater force
than traditional wooden ones,

Even in low wind conditions.

Its superior pumping capacity
made it indispensable

To pioneers settling inland,
away from rivers and streams.

And today this same design

Continues to be a part
of the rural landscape,

Especially when there's no
electricity to run water pumps.

Production begins
with a 100-ton punch press.

Once activated,

It cuts triangular shapes
from galvanized steel sheets,

Each with a slot in the center.

Each cutout
will be a windmill sail.

They'll need 18
for each wind wheel.

Once stacked,

They transfer the sail shapes
to a rolling station.

The roller curls the steel
to an exact curvature,

Producing
a slightly bowed shape,

Which will efficiently capture
the wind.

Next, a worker wraps a metal rib
around each sail.

He taps the sides until it fits
snugly to the sail.

The rib has a tab

That slots into the hole
in the sail's center,

Allowing the two parts
to interlock.

Bands fit through the ribs

To assemble the sails
in groups of three.

Next, a worker slides a metal
loop over the guide wheel

And drives the ends
into holes in the gearbox,

Using a sledgehammer.

He rivets the ends
to the gearbox

So that
they're solidly ensconced.

Next, he inserts
the wind-wheel hub and shaft

Into the mainframe
of the gearbox.

He taps it
to nudge it tightly into place.

He then grinds the brake lever

To shape it to
the brake mechanism on the hub.

This braking system
is critical.

It will stop the wind wheel
from spinning out of control

In high winds.

He spins the hub and activates
the brake several times

To confirm
that his machining is dead-on

And that the brake system
works perfectly.

If it doesn't,
he makes adjustments.

Next, using a very toothy
circular cutter,

He carves grooves into steel
blanks to shape the gears.

The difference is quite obvious.

He installs a set of these gears
at the base of the metal loop

And secures them
with a metal pin.

He checks their turning radius

And then mates a larger set
of gears to the smaller ones,

Ensuring
that the teeth intermesh.

This very substantial
gear system

Will drive the guide wheel,
creating the pumping action.

Two metal parts,
called pitman arms,

Link the gears
to the guide wheel.

A steel pin
holds everything together.

As the gears turn, the guide
wheel rolls up and down the loop

To complete a pumping cycle.

Next, he screws a series
of thin metal rods to the hub.

They're called wheel arms, and
they hold the windmill sails.

The wheel arms
fit into precut holes

In the structure
of the sail sections.

He secures the assembly
with nuts.

Once all the sail sections have
been mounted to the wheel arms,

The windmill
is ready for a spin.

It's a test run to confirm

The wind wheel and gears
function flawlessly.

It takes a crane

To lift the 640-pound windmill
to the top of its tower.

Once it's in position,

A worker guides the gearbox
onto the mast pipe.

Once it's secure,
they hoist the helmet.

It's a cone-shaped metal cap

That will protect the gears
from the elements.

He bolts it
to the top of the gearbox.

With that job done,
this windmill is ready to pump.

It should last decades,

Providing water
that is as free as the wind.

Narrator: dragsters roar out
of the starting line

In a cloud of smoke,
and then it's a blur.

Traveling at speeds
of up to 320 miles an hour,

These hot rods rip through
a quarter-mile racetrack

In less than 4 seconds.

It's why they need parachutes
to slow down

And come in for a safe landing.

Blink a couple of times,
and the race is over.

Packing an incredible


A dragster is
at least 50 times more powerful

Than a subcompact car.

With fat rear tires for traction
and a tapered aerodynamic body,

The dragster is engineered
for one thing only -- speed.

Production begins
with the heart of the vehicle --

The powerful 8-cylinder engine.

To reduce drag, the engine block
is made of lightweight aluminum.

A technician carefully installs
the camshaft...

And then fastens
the timing cover

To the front of the engine.

The timing cover
prevents oil leaks.

He installs
the crankshaft and hub.

And once
the eight rods and pistons

Have been loaded and connected,

He tests
their movement and function.

Satisfied
with their performance,

He encases them in an oil pan.

With the installation
of the drive gears

And other components, the
engine block is now complete.

They move on
to the supercharger,

A forceful blower that boosts
engine power tremendously.

This worker seals the seams
with urethane and caps the ends.

He slides strips of teflon
between the rotors

For extra sealing.

All this sealing will ensure

That the compressed air
generated

Is directed down through
the bottom of the supercharger

And into the engine.

With the supercharger

Now installed
in its magnesium casing,

He connects a cage-like starter
to its drive pulley.

It's now time
for a test run.

Blue streamers
have been attached

To the bottom
of the supercharger.

Their fluttering
is a visual indication

Of the force of the air
generated.

The next employee

Attaches fuel pipes to
the dragster's metal skeleton.

They install the engine
and the high-tech clutch.

This racing clutch
is equipped with five discs

To transfer power from the
engine directly to the wheels.

Between every run,

The dragster engine
will be completely rebuilt.

The rebuild
should take just 22 minutes.

So the team at the factory

Is on the clock
to prove it can be done.

The technician torques the
cylinders to the engine block.

He installs
the fuel-distribution system

And connects the hoses
to the cylinder heads.

Dragsters run on nitromethane,
known as top fuel in the sport.

It delivers more power
per stroke.

Still on the clock, the crew
transfers the supercharger

To the engine and connects it
to the intake manifold.

They use super-strength
kevlar strapping

To restrain the supercharger
in the event of an expl*si*n.

They loop a belt over the gears
that drive the supercharger.

They adjust the engine valves...

And then check to confirm
the valves move freely.

They cover the valves
with this titanium lid

To prevent oil leaks
and keep all the parts in place.

A technician connects
spark plugs to the engine

Through slots in the cover,
two per cylinder.

With each step carefully timed
and ex*cuted,

It has taken 22 minutes
for the crew

To get this dragster engine
in rip-roaring shape.

In that 22-minute window,

They also bolt the back wheels
to the axle.

They then slide the steering
wheel into place in the c*ck

And give it a try to confirm
that it steers the tires

At the front of the dragster.

Also part
of the 22-minute routine,

A check of the fuel lever and
the loading of the parachutes.

They'll be tested at every
pit stop before repacking.

Finally, they fill up the tank
with nitromethane fuel.

This high-performing fuel
is both volatile and corrosive,

So there's a protective cover.

This dragster is almost ready
for the starting gate.

All it needs is a sponsor
to pay all the bills.

One last test of the clutch,

And this dragster
is ready for the track.

[ Engine running ]

And it's off
in a cloud of tire smoke.

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