An other buoyancy based idea

[jeffc]

How do you keep the light liquid separate from the heavy liquid?
Each time the ball went thru the light liquid it would get coated with light liquid, it would than move thru the heavy liquid mixing the two.
Also you need to come up with some kind of valve a ball can go thru with out leaking.

There will be some mixing, but liquids will separate on their own back to natural state based on density.  It is helpful if the difference in density is greater so that the separation happens quickly.

[Bulbz]

The only solution I can find for this at the moment, is this.

Basically... Use a super strong doughnut magnet, to distort the fluid level.

[hansvonlieven]

Now that is quite an interesting idea. Well done Bulbz. Something like this might even work. Question is how stable are ferrofluids?

Hans von Lieven

[Bulbz]

Now that is quite an interesting idea. Well done Bulbz. Something like this might even work. Question is how stable are ferrofluids?

Hans von Lieven

Perhaps a few more magnets, placed clockwise after the position of the magnet that I already illustrated. I not sure that it will be expensive though, magnets and Ferro Fluid can be a bit on the pricey side.

Glad you like the idea Hans, thankyou for finding the time to view it 

Cheers.
Steve.

[mondrasek]

Bulbz,

I agree, very interesting solution!

I once played with a ferrofluid demo toy.  It was two dispensing syringes attached at the end where the needle could be.  So the plungers were at each end.  The center area between the two plungers was filled with ferrofluid.  So when you pushed in on one plunger the other would push out.  The demo part was a small magnet that you could place on the center junction of the syringes.  With this magnet in place it was impossible to push either plunger.  The explanation was that the magnetic field caused the ferrofluid to act as a solid.

If the above it true, the ferrofluid near the magnet would become "solidified" and would not allow the balls to move through.  Can anyone confirm or refute this concern?

M.