Narrator:
in 1895, ogden bolton jr.
Registered one
of the first patents
For an electric bicycle
in the u.s.
A century later,
They've become one of the most
popular electric vehicles
In the world.
Using electricity
to enhance performance,
The e-bike
is definitely in the current.
These electric three-wheel
trikes combine ergonomic design
With cutting-edge
mechanical engineering.
A rechargeable battery powers
the electric engine.
The rider sits comfortably
in the ergonomic seat,
Places his feet on the pedals,
Releases the parking brake,
And takes off.
The process
begins with a water jet cutter.
It uses ultra-high-pressure
water and sand
To cut parts
out of a thin aluminum sheet.
The cutter significantly
enhances productivity
Without sacrificing precision.
It can make several parts out
of a single sheet of aluminum.
Parts that are ready
for assembly
Go to the cnc brake press
for folding.
A stopper positions the piece
on the v die,
Where a punch
comes down to fold it.
A worker
inspects the folded part
To make sure
it's ready for assembly.
A cnc bender curves aluminum
extrusion tubes for the frame.
This machine has
Multidirectional bending
capabilities
And can make multiple bends
to a single extrusion tube.
The trike frame assembly process
starts on a jig.
Once all the tubes
are in place,
A welder spot-welds
the aluminum brackets.
He welds about 20 spots, bonding
the brackets to the tubes.
The tubes bear most of the load
While the brackets
keep the frame aligned.
The worker uses
an electric tig-welding torch
To complete the welding.
He welds at a low temperature
to avoid heat deformation
In the metal.
A mechanic installs thermoformed
recyclable abs plastic
Over the back frame tubes.
He assembles the rear wheels,
Which have a seven-degree
negative camber angle
For better grip and handling.
The mechanic mounts
brake levers,
Gear shifters, and handle grips
onto the steering bar
And tightens
the six-point socket nuts
With an allen wrench.
He applies a structural adhesive
on the drop-out poles
And in slots located
on the front frame tubes.
The adhesive provides
the flexibility and strength
Needed to keep
the drop-out poles in position.
Now, the mechanic assembles the
front and back frames together.
The two frames
connect under the seat
Through an integrated direction
pivot and suspension system.
The mechanic slips the front
wheel into the drop-out poles
On the frame.
He uses a calibrated torque
wrench to tight the wheel nut.
He assembles the three-cog front
cassette to the bottom bracket,
Then bolts
on the pedal crank arm
Using
a threaded taper pin system.
Next he installs the derailleur
for the nine-gear cassette
And bolts
it on with a lock-tight bolt.
The compact drivetrain
makes the trike 15%
More energy-efficient than
regular bicycles or tricycles.
A mechanic installs
the disc brake system
On the front wheel electric hub
And verifies
that it is functioning properly.
The seats are made
of woven synthetic fabric
Wrapped around the frame
And tightened
with bungee elastics.
He locks the removable battery
pack in place with a key.
A console indicates levels
of electrical assistance
And battery regeneration.
This trike's wheel base
allows it to ride on bike paths.
When on the road,
its width takes up more space.
The design
of this electric trike
Combines stability and safety
for a secure and pleasant ride.
Narrator: the easiest way
To treat dry skin
is to spread on some skin cream.
It rejuvenates the skin cells
And acts
as a protective barrier.
This is particularly important
in the winter,
When cold outdoor air
and indoor heating
Suck the moisture
out of your skin.
If you have dry skin,
It's wise to keep a good supply
of skin cream on hand.
It's not just dry air
that makes skin flaky and itchy.
Cancer treatments can also
dry out the skin,
Along with other medical
conditions, like diabetes.
The first ingredient
is stearic acid.
It's a wax
derived from palm tree oil.
The next ingredient
is refined lanolin.
It's blended
with isopropyl myristate,
A natural oil that helps soften
the stearic acid.
These ingredients make up what's
called the oil-soluble phase
Of the recipe.
Workers heat the stearic acid
until it liquefies,
Then add the blend of lanolin
and isopropyl myristate
And keep heating.
While the oil phase is heating,
They prepare the water-soluble
phase of the recipe.
The first ingredient is glycerin
derived from a vegetable source,
Such as corn.
They heat and mix it,
then add purified water.
They continue heating
The mixture
to just below the boiling point,
Add a floral fragrance,
Then pump the oil phase
into the bottom of the tank.
It blends in
with the water phase
While naturally rising
to the top.
They gradually lower
the temperature.
This makes the mixture
creamy and bright white.
After an hour of mixing,
the skin cream is ready.
They pump it
out of the mixing tank
To supply tanks that feed
the filling line.
This company packages its skin
cream in jars
For body cream and tubes
for hand cream.
Workers unpack boxes
of plastic jars and line them up
On a conveyer belt
that feeds the labeling machine.
Each jar passes
a photo-eye sensor.
This sensor triggers
the machines to spin the jar
At the same speed
As the adhesive label
coming off the roll.
Workers place the labeled jars
Onto a turntable
that feeds the filling machine.
Two single-file lanes
each lead to three nozzles.
The machine fills up
to 125 jars per minute,
Depositing 12 ounces
of skin cream into each jar.
The two lanes of filled jars
Merge as they approach
the capping machine.
The caps come down a chute
to the machine's carousel.
A device called a timing screw
correctly positions each jar
To receive a lid.
The lower part of the machine
Holds the jar steady as an arm
secures the lid in place.
The next station on the line
applies an adhesive label
Onto the cap.
The jars of body cream
are ready for sale.
This factory also
packages hand cream in a tube
That you can keep
in your purse or pocket.
A mechanical arm
Places the tubes
on a turntable, cap side down.
The bottom of each tube
is open and ready for filling.
A nozzle squirts two ounces
of skin cream into the tube.
Then the machine heats the open
end to soften the plastic,
Clamps it shut,
Then cools the plastic
to a solid state.
When you rub the cream
on your skin,
The key ingredients,
Glycerin and lanolin,
pack a one-two punch.
Glycerin is hydroscopic,
Meaning it draws water
from the air to the skin.
Lanolin smoothes the skin,
Forming a protective film
to lock in the moisture.
Narrator:
patio heaters make it possible
To dine outside
even when it's cold.
When this outdoor space heater
is turned on,
It creates a circle of warmth.
The heater can take the chill
out of a cold summer evening
And extend patio season
well into the fall.
It's a chill day,
but not on this patio.
It has its own microclimate,
One that's warm and toasty.
It's all thanks
to the infrared heater overhead.
To make a patio heater,
An engineer first maps
out the design on a computer.
He transfers the design
to cutting equipment,
Like this laser.
It cuts screw holes and vents
Into steel that's covered
by a protective plastic film.
The laser also cuts a part
That will be shaped
into the patio heater's housing.
After removing the plastic film,
A worker places the steel
between the jaws
Of a press brake.
It bends the part
to form a rim around the edges.
Additional bends give the part
a rounded profile.
A laser probe checks
that the worker's fingers
Are not getting too close
to the jaws.
Once all the parts
have been cut and shaped,
The patio heater
is ready to be assembled.
A worker creates a reflector
that will direct heat
Down and out of the unit.
Then he attaches an insulator
to the reflector.
It will protect the roof
And walls that the heater
will be mounted to.
He inserts the insulator
and reflector assembly.
The legs
of the reflector assembly fit
Into the laser-cut holes
in the housing.
He temporarily places
the control box cover
At the end of the housing.
Then he aligns and welds
a side panel to the housing.
He welds a second panel
to the other side.
After covering the assembly
with protective plastic again,
He grinds down the welded seam.
This gives the patio heater
unit cleaner edges.
He buffs the seams to a low
sheen using a cloth wheel
And polishing paste.
This makes the seams blend
in with the steel.
The burner is next.
It's made of steel
But has a ceramic grill
with hundreds of tiny holes.
This contoured pattern
Allows heat
to radiate in all directions.
He tucks insulation
Into the heater body to protect
it from the hot burner.
Then he installs the burner
on top of the insulation.
It fits snugly to the reflector
and insulator framework.
He places a separator
at one end of the burner,
Leaving a space
for a control box and gas line.
He inserts the control box
And connects the gas line
to the burner.
He attaches the spark igniter
And temperature sensor
to the separator.
He secures the burner to
the main assembly with screws.
He tucks the electronic controls
into the control box
And connects all of the wiring.
He seals the control box with
a metal plate and rubber gasket.
This makes the electronics
watertight.
Finally, he adds a vented panel
to the top of the controls
And a metal grill
to the rest of the heater.
Over at a test station,
a technician
Powers up the heater
using a remote-control system.
He checks for gas leaks
or blockages
And confirms
that the temperature
Rises in response to
the remote control's commands.
This patio heater
has passed all of the tests
And is now ready
for the outside world,
Where people are sure to be
attracted to its warm glow.
Narrator: in the early days
of the automobile,
Wheels had wood spokes and rims.
But by the 1920s,
Manufacturers began using
more durable materials,
Like iron and steel.
Today, wood-spoke wheels are
used in classic-car restoration.
In the early 1900s,
cars had wood-spoke wheels.
When those antique vehicles
need new wheels,
Collectors turn to wheelwrights.
They can build wood-spoke wheels
Just as it was done
a century ago.
Production starts
with the steel rim
That wraps
around the wood wheel.
The steel spins
in a lathe as stationary tools
Cut it to the correct profile
And create a lip
for gripping the rubber tire.
A worker measures the rim
To confirm
it's the same as the original.
You can see the difference
the machining has made.
Another member of the team
measures the moisture content
Of hickory wood
and selects boards
That are sufficiently dried.
He traces a rough pattern
of a wheel spoke
And cuts
along the penciled lines.
This gives him a basic shape
to work with.
Next
he selects a more exact pattern.
He clamps this pattern
in a wood carving duplicator
Alongside four
of the rough spokes.
He follows the contours
of the pattern
With a tracing wheel.
The tracing wheel moves cutting
tools that carve the hickory.
This duplicates the profile
of the wheel spoke pattern.
He sands off marks left
by the cutting tools
And smoothes the surface
of the newly formed spokes.
Then he secures the spokes
one at a time in a jig.
This steadies the spokes
as he cuts the wider ends
Into a wedge shape.
Together, two wheelwrights
Arrange the spokes
in a wheel formation.
The wedges fit together at
the center like pieces of a pie.
They tighten clamps
to bring the spokes
Into perfect alignment.
One of the wheelwrights inserts
a steel hub in the center hole.
He drills holes
into the wood and inserts bolts
To secure the steel hub.
Using a tool that's
like a big pencil sharpener,
He carves the ends
of the spokes, creating dowels.
Dowels are peg-like fasteners.
He sands the dowels on an angle
To create a gentle slope
in each one.
These slopes make it
easier to slide the spokes
Into the two-part wood rim.
Using a special tool,
the team stretches the rim
And pulls the spokes
into position.
Then they insert
the doweled ends of the spokes
Into the holes.
This process is difficult.
One wrong move,
And they could damage the spokes
or rim.
But thanks to their skill,
The wood-spoke wheel
comes together.
All of the parts are intact,
And the spokes
are firmly secured in the rim.
A wheelwright measures the
circumference of the wood rim
And calculates how much
will need to be trimmed off.
He shaves down the wheel,
adjusting the circumference
To the desired dimension.
The wheel must be slightly
larger than the outer steel rim.
You'll see why next.
They place the steel rim over
an intense gas flame
And cover it
with a piece of metal.
The heat causes the steel rim
to expand.
After about 15 minutes,
The wheelwright
removes the cover.
He grips the hot rim with tongs
And transfers it
to the wood wheel.
The enlarged steel rim
Fits loosely around the outside
of the wooden wheel.
They now spray the steel
with cold water.
As the rim cools,
it shrinks to the hickory wood,
Creating a permanent bond.
The wheelwright
shaves the spokes down
To make them look
more streamlined.
He sands the wood
to enhance the grain.
It took 16 hours
to make this wood-spoke wheel.
It's brand-new, but looks
like a thing of the past.
Welcome to our World! Where we serve you cookies to ensure you get the best viewing experience on our site.
Did you know that you can remove censorship board-wide, use our advanced search functions, be notified when new content is posted, join our memberships, set episodes to show in any order you want & more if you are logged into your account?
Register or sign in here: ucp.php?mode=register
Did you know that you can remove censorship board-wide, use our advanced search functions, be notified when new content is posted, join our memberships, set episodes to show in any order you want & more if you are logged into your account?
Register or sign in here: ucp.php?mode=register