Original Year	1993
# of pieces	225
Categories	Other: Universal Sets
Dimensions	various
Models	Car Forklift Cherry Picker Log Loader

8042 Pneumatic Universal Building Set

This blue universal set, released in 1993, is the best of the pneumatic universal sets in my opinion. The models are varied and unique and represent remarkably complex construction considering the relatively small number of parts. There are full instructions for 4 different models, the final of which can be motorized with an optional motor

This was the first universal set to include more than one pneumatic cylinder and switch. The second cylinder was one of the newer small diameter actuators.

In the car, the pneumatic pump also acts as rear suspension. It has steering and an opening canopy. The forklift steers as well as lifting and tilting the forks. The personnel lift has outriggers, steering, and a lift which features a wonderful mechanism to keep everything level. Finally, a log loader is included which features steering, a boom which lifts, and a claw which opens.

I find the cherry picker the most interesting, and it is the model I chose to keep assembled for my display of this set.

1^st Model: Car
This little car has front wheel steering and a pneumatic system which opens the front canopy. The model itself is not particularly noteworthy, but the use of a pneumatic pump as a shock absorber is clever. This model does not use the small pneumatic cylinder.	Click to download the LDraw file of this model. Model by Benjamin Wendl
Steering The front wheels can be steered using an overhead "hand of god" wheel. The wheel drives a set of 14 tooth bevel gears. The second axle drives a pinion. The pinion drives the steering rack. The steering mechanism itself uses control arms and toothed links.	Click for an animation of the steering in motion.
Pneumatic Canopy The rear axle features a trailing arm type suspension. The axle actually passes through the hole in the translating end of the pneumatic pump. This is one of the very few cases in which this hole is actually used. The opposite end of the pump is pinned to structure. The result is that the spring acts as a rear shock absorber. Depression of the suspension builds pressure in the system. A large pneumatic cylinder lifts the front canopy for access to the front seat. The pneumatic switch is located on the roof.	Click for an animation of the canopy in motion.
2^nd Model: Forklift
There have been a lot of forklifts over the years so it is hard to make one which stands out. I actually find the looks of this one quite appealing. Functionally, the vertical lift capability is too small to be useful for much and the model is very front heavy. The pneumatic pump is on the rear end. The switches are stacked on the right side and control the two pneumatic functions.	Click to download the LDraw file of this model. Model by Benjamin Wendl
Steering The rear wheels can be steered using an overhead "hand of god" wheel. The wheel drives a set of 14 tooth bevel gears. The second axle drives a pinion. The pinion drives the steering rack. The steering mechanism itself uses control arms and toothed links.	Click for an animation of the steering in motion.
Pneumatic Lift The forks can be lifted via a large pneumatic cylinder. A 4-bar linkage keeps the forks parallel to the ground during lifting. Because of the way the cylinder is oriented, the total amount of lift height is small. The mechanism is capable of going higher, but the cylinder runs out of travel and bottoms in the extended position.	Click for an animation of the forks lifting.
Pneumatic Tilt A small pneumatic cylinder drives the tilt of the forks. The tilt angle range is fairly scale compared with a real forklift. However the small output capability of the cylinder, combined with the already front heavy design of the vehicle, make the total lifting capability small.	Click for an animation of the forks tilting.
3^rd Model: Cherry Picker
I like this unique model very much. It would be over a decade before another cherry picker would be available. The model steers, features rear outriggers, and raises the rear arm via a very clever mechanism. The pneumatic pump is just behind the cabin and the switches are located on the right side of the frame.	Click to download the LDraw file of this model. Model by Benjamin Wendl
Steering The front wheels can be steered using an overhead "hand of god" wheel. The wheel drives a set of 14 tooth bevel gears. The second axle drives a pinion. The pinion drives the steering rack. The steering mechanism itself uses control arms and toothed links.	Click for an animation of the steering in motion.
Pneumatic Lift This lift is cool, and you may have to stare at it for a wheel to grasp the kinematics. The animation should help. The main power comes from a large pneumatic cylinder which is pinned to the frame at the bottom. The lower set of links is a 4-bar linkage made from vertical beams at each end, a long beam at the bottom, and an axle with connectors at the top. Thankfully, the statics are such that the axle is always in compression so it does not pull apart. The upper set of links is a very similar 4 bar linkage. In this case, the final link is the cradle which remains level throughout lifting. The real magic comes in the interaction between these two linkages. The pneumatic actuator actually attaches to the upper set of links. The lower set just follows along for the ride and maintains parallelism. Therefore, none of the weight is actually supported by the lower set of links. An angled toothed link joins the upper and lower links. The angle of this link ensures that when the actuator is retracted, the system is properly stowed with everything parallel to the ground.	Click for an animation of the lift in motion.
Pneumatic Outriggers A pair of outriggers on the rear bumper are driven by a small pneumatic cylinder. Because their footprint is actually narrower than that of the rear wheels, they do nothing whatever to stabilize the vehicle, but they look cool. And in the end, isn't that all that really matters?	Click for an animation of the outriggers in motion.
4^th Model: Log Loader
A log loader is a rare Technic commodity. This one is a little goofy looking but fairly functional. It features steering and two pneumatic functions. The pneumatic pump is just behind the cabin and the switches are stacked on the left side of the frame.	Click to download the LDraw file of this model. Model by Benjamin Wendl
Steering The front wheels can be steered using an overhead "hand of god" wheel. The wheel drives a set of 14 tooth bevel gears. The second axle drives a pinion. The pinion drives the steering rack. The steering mechanism itself uses control arms and toothed links.	Click for an animation of the steering in motion.
Pneumatic Boom The rear main boom can be raised via a large pneumatic cylinder. The lift mechanism is just a simple cantilevered beam. The jib angle actually changes slightly during lift. This is due to the fact that the two vertical arms of the 4-bar linkage are different lengths. You can see this angle change in the animation. The animation also shows the retraction force of the actuator is enough to lift the back of the vehicle off of the ground.	Click for an animation of the boom in motion.
Pneumatic Claw A claw on the end of the jib can be opened and closed via a small pneumatic cylinder. The two sets of teeth are linked together via a set of spur gears which keeps them synchronized and drives them in opposite directions.	Click for an animation of the claw in motion.

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