Alberta Engineering Students Develop Large Electric Toothbrush
by Home grown innovation proposed as solution to the province of Alberta’s growing dental problems.
A group of academics from the College of Engineering at the University of Alberta have developed a new device that they hope will solve the province’s tooth-rotting crisis. The team that developed the device consists of four undergraduate engineering students, who have dubbed their invention the “LET”, or ‘Large Electric Toothbrush.’
Image via Wikipedia
“I was daydreaming in class one day,” says team-member Charlie Lewis. “I was hung over from the previous night’s festivities and stuff and the idea, like, just hit me in the face! Large Electric Toothbrush! The details are secret because we’re, like, looking into patents and stuff. But the idea is pretty easy to understand, even for me.”
Another member of the team, Don Weiber, was more forthcoming with the details. “It’s essentially a large toothbrush, powered by electricity. Because it is so large, it runs at 480V, and you require a special 3-phase service to power it. The power we’re looking at is in the range of 1000 horsepower, or 746 kilowatts.”
Asked if this idea was actually feasible or cost effective solution for consumers, or if the group had consulted with any dental professionals to verify if the device would be safe to use, Weiber explained the group’s methodology. “No, of course not. We’re at the undergraduate level at the U of A for crying in the sink. Nobody cares about the feasibility or practicality of these sort of projects. It’s all about having a good time. And with a 1000 horsepower toothbrush, what’s there not to like?”
The students have created and tested their first prototype, and demonstrated it to a select few members of the press. They did not allow photos to be taken, however, citing patent reasons.
The device itself consisted of a large motor and transformer mounted on a large platform and connected via pulley to the jumbo sized brush head, which was approximately 19cm across. After one of the students turned on a massive switch, the brush started spinning and slowly accelerated and till it got up to full speed. One of the students demonstrated the use of the brush by sticking his teeth onto the brush. The student was subsequently rushed to the hospital after his gums started bleeding profusely.
Weiber commented afterwards, “we still have some bugs to work out, but we do feel that the theory is sound. We are, in fact, beginning work on a portable version that you would be able to load into the back of a 2 tonne truck, complete with a gasoline powered generator. Stay Tuned!”
Liked it
