The Unhappy Me thread

[kladner]

What happened? Autos have several kinds of rotational energy. Was this the source?
I certainly hope you were not in proximity to catastrophic failure of a fan-jet engine.

[Dr Sardonicus]

Originally Posted by Uncwilly

Saturday I was injured. 1 digit was broken on dominant hand and 10 stitches were required on it. Within the same second a family member was also injured. They have dermabond and steri-strips, and had an eye exam.

Uncontrolled release of rotationally stored energy is no joke.

May your recoveries be swift.

In the "uncontrolled release of rotationally stored energy" category, once upon a time, long long ago, there was an oopsadaisy in a physics lab about rotational dynamics in a course I was taking. The experiment involved a solid steel sphere IIRC about 3 inches in diameter, resting on a cushion of air, and being spun up to a huge number of RPM's with a side jet of air. We used a strobe to measure the RPM's.

I didn't see the hilarity, because it was in another lab section, but word got around.

The oopsadaisy was, the rapidly spinning sphere got jostled off its air cushion, and -- ZOOOOOOOM!

A great deal of rotational kinetic energy got converted to translational kinetic energy, and the thing went pinballing around the lab at high speed. Luckily, nobody was injured, but the lab was a bit the worse for wear.

[Uncwilly]

Originally Posted by kladner

What happened? Autos have several kinds of rotational energy. Was this the source?

A large spring with about 10 full turns on it (about 30 cm long and about 5-8 cm diameter). Vise-grips on the end of the assembly that were being used to wind it got away, hit my hand and the other person in the face. Polycarbonate sunglasses saved major eye injury, the lens popped out and caused the injury to the cheek. The frames were bent.
7 of the stitches are on the tip of the finger, a tiny bit of tissue removed (1/2 the size of a sunflower seed [without the husk]). The x-ray tech could see some of the tissue damage in the image.

While at the hospital we figured a safer way to accomplish the task. We had watched an instruction video by experts. When we got back, we did it the way we figured and only needed 3 turns on the spring. We wound it near the stored position, not in the extended position. (The shade cloth on the side of a caravan.)

[kladner]

Yeow! I had not thought of energy stored in springs, though I have heard horror stories about garage door balancers.
On this subject, springs as energy storage devices, and many other 23rd century distopic, globally warmed elements:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Windup_Girl

The Windup Girl is a biopunk science fiction novel by American writer Paolo Bacigalupi. It was his debut novel and was published by Night Shade Books on September 1, 2009.

We had watched an instruction video by experts.

I suppose they may have had their reasons for dealing with things a maximum tension, but starting retracted, at lower tension, and upping the initial turns as needed seems easier and safer.
I fart in the general direction of some experts.
EDIT3: I hope you both have steady recoveries. Those are dreadfully traumatic injuries. I hope there are plans for occupational therapy for the hand, when there is sufficient healing.

[Xyzzy]

A long time ago we were, for some dumb reason, holding a small two-stroke weedwhacker engine in our hand, while it was running. The clutch on it was centrifugal, and we did not have the clutch bell installed. We stupidly revved the engine and the three clutch shoes were ejected with considerable force. One embedded itself in the roof of the workshop, one was never found and one hit my boss in his private parts.

Good times!

[Nick]

Originally Posted by Uncwilly

Saturday I was injured.

Hope you have a speedy recovery!

[Dr Sardonicus]

Originally Posted by Uncwilly

A large spring with about 10 full turns on it (about 30 cm long and about 5-8 cm diameter). Vise-grips on the end of the assembly that were being used to wind it got away, hit my hand and the other person in the face. Polycarbonate sunglasses saved major eye injury, the lens popped out and caused the injury to the cheek. The frames were bent.

They aught to post a picture of the ruined glasses with a caption like, "If I hadn't been wearing these..." as a PSA.

You might consider investing in safety glasses, safety goggles, or full face visors. And wear them whenever you use power tools or work on something that might go kerflooey. It's standard fashion advice -- "Dress for the occasion."

EDIT: Some years back, I was borrowing my neighbor's power mower. As I was pushing it from one place to another, his young daughter saw me, and couldn't help giggling. I said, "I look pretty funny with these goggles on, huh?" She smiled kind of shyly, nodded, and said yes. "Well," I said, "Think how funny I'd look without EYES!" Those goggles have taken a few hits I'm very glad they were there to take...

[chalsall]

Originally Posted by Dr Sardonicus

You might consider investing in safety glasses, safety goggles, or full face visors.

As Red Green says: "You know my motto: Safety Forced." (The humour is an acquired taste.)

[jwaltos]

Having been a paratrooper with some training in mountain, jungle and desert combat, scuba diver, motorcyclist, worked in a rail yard with cowboys flinging boxcars here and there....and a few other things..know your equipment and environment (especially the people)! It's one thing to take a hit for your own actions but I wasn't particularly appreciative of those who made me take a hit for theirs. Mind you, being in the vicinity of stupidity in action is always entertaining but there may be an unanticipated gawking fee

Sounds like a few inductees into the hall of "cautionary tales" or "lemony snicket's series of unfortunate events" here.

Regarding the gout..ouch..my dad had that from quaffing a few extra pints. It helps to both ease and cause the pain.

[Uncwilly]

Originally Posted by Dr Sardonicus

They aught to post a picture of the ruined glasses with a caption like, "If I hadn't been wearing these..." as a PSA.

You might consider investing in safety glasses, safety goggles, or full face visors. And wear them whenever you use power tools or work on something that might go kerflooey. It's standard fashion advice -- "Dress for the occasion."

Said family member is a machinist and has never had a personally inflicted wound of significance at work. They know all about that. I worked in a lab and always work lab glasses. At the time of the event we were both wearing polycarbonate lenses. About 5 years ago I caught a branch in the face at work. The PC sunglasses that I wear nearly all of the time I am out of doors during the day to the brunt of the strike and likely saved my eye. I have the same scar between the eye and the cheek on the fold line that my family member will have. Yes, the glasses caused the wound, but saved the eye. I will suggest to them about the PSA. A comment on the YT video should do it with a link to the image on imgur.

They have clear safety glasses at home. They gave me some surplus goggles that were being thrown out at their work. They have a face shield that the use when grinding. They have at least 1 or 2 welder's hoods. Leather gloves would not have saved me from the break and likely would not have saved the finger from the laceration (avulsion actually).

[jvang]

Originally Posted by Uncwilly

Leather gloves would not have saved me from the break and likely would not have saved the finger from the laceration (avulsion actually).

Hm? Google time... *5 seconds later*



I hope it's not as bad as it looks...