These Boots Were Made for 22 M.P.H.

[Case]

The Gray Lady's got a rather interesting piece on the peculiar (and telling) tale of a Russian inventor and his declassified gas-powered engine-boots that get 70mpg and can swiftly take a runner upwards of 20 miles per hour without the regular stain, stress, or tiredness that comes with long-distance running. Unfortunately for Viktor Gordeyev, the boots' creator, instead of being allowed to sell his boots on the open market, the Russian government classified them for military use until 1994. When they were declassified in 1994, Gordeyev tried his damnedest to get them into consumers' hands (or rather, on their feet), but despite his better efforts he just couldn't find buy-in and his business -- like so many other Russian technology companies -- went under. Yes, it's truly apparent that in Russia, boots run you. What a country, eh?

Via Engadget - http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/17/business/worldbusiness/17gazshoes.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Now this would make a neat project to build these id love it... But so far ive found no information on how these babies work.


From the NYT slide show

The boots are a simplified internal combustion engine. They have no crank shaft to create circular motion as in an automobile engine. Instead the piston punches straight down to push the boot - and whoever’s foot is inside - into the air. The shoe's tanks hold one-third of a cup of gasoline each and will take a runner three miles. The boots get about 70 miles per gallon.

does not sound complicated either.... god my gears are spinning right now... must find more info :)

[DigiVista]

That's an awesome invention, but I would have thought that they could have been spring powered for a similar effect... and also a lot less dangerous and messy.

[Case]

Your talking to a person who street luge's danger is fun :)

"Taking a step down will compress air in the shoe--as in a typical sneaker, said Enikeev, who was a designer on the project. But then, a tiny carburetor injects gasoline into the compressed air and a spark plug fires it off. Instead of fastening a seat belt, the institute's test runner, Marat D. Garipov, an assistant professor of engineering, strapped on shin belts at a recent demonstration. Then he flicked an ignition switch."

well thats one hint closer...

[TMR]

its not really the same thing but maybe you could use a hydraulic fork from a bike. smth like this
w ww.srsuntour-cycling.com/SID=sif70c11d345a34cf212ac9f36f234c8/index.php?screen=sh.detail&tnid=1623
you have to mae a third w

thats how i would try make this

gl cya

PS: sry for posting the link like this but its not like im doing advertisment or posting porn

[reapies]

Too bad this isn't going to do much good for our environment...

[megan2008]

That's an awesome invention