--- instrument: Hydraulophone family: woodwind_hydraulic packet_mode: v5_l1_concept authority: concept_only readiness: L1 concept packet --- # Hydraulophone Design Study ## Design Thesis This V5 L1 packet frames a hydraulophone as a water-driven acoustic instrument, not as a dry pipe organ or a generic fountain. The sound source is the interaction between pressurized water jets, player-controlled apertures, and resonant or radiating structures that convert hydraulic flow into audible tones. The first packet stays non-dimensional. It names the subsystems and evidence gates needed before any fabrication, pressure, tuning, or safety claim can be made. ## Mechanism The instrument receives water from a controlled supply. Water exits through a set of playable jets or finger-hole apertures. The player covers, uncovers, interrupts, or redirects jets to change the hydraulic state and sound. Future versions may use a key or valve mechanism, but this L1 packet does not define keyboard geometry, jet count, pressure range, flow rate, or note layout. The acoustic mechanism is `pending_measurement`. Candidate behaviors include flow interruption, water/air cavity excitation, edge interaction, turbulence noise, and coupled resonators. None is released as a validated model. ## Subsystems ### Water Supply And Pressure Control - Provides a stable and safe water source. - Pump, reservoir, regulator, relief, filter, and drain choices are `pending_measurement`. - Pressure and flow values are not released in this packet. ### Jet And Finger-Hole Interface - Defines where the player interacts with water flow. - Jet shape, aperture geometry, spacing, guard shape, and tactile surface are all `pending_measurement`. - Any future key mechanism must be treated as a wet mechanism with separate safety and maintenance review. ### Acoustic Coupling - Converts water-flow interaction into audible sound. - Resonant cavity, tube, edge, baffle, or radiator choices are `pending_measurement`. - This packet does not claim scale, tuning, bore, pitch, or mode behavior. ### Drainage And Splash Control - Captures water after interaction and returns or drains it safely. - Drain path, splash guards, sanitation, and floor protection are first-order design gates. ### Frame And Service Access - Supports wet plumbing, playable jets, and any resonator surfaces. - Must allow inspection, cleaning, drying, and leak checks without destructive disassembly. ## Parametric Intent Future design tables should separate measured values from design choices: - `water_supply_status` - `pressure_control_status` - `jet_interface_status` - `finger_hole_or_key_status` - `acoustic_coupling_status` - `resonator_strategy_status` - `drainage_status` - `splash_control_status` - `sanitation_status` - `frame_service_status` All fields are currently `pending_measurement`. This repo does not infer dimensions, pressure values, flow rates, tuning, or acoustic geometry from prose, images, memory, or external examples. ## Authority Boundary - Concept authority: README, design notes, estimated BOM, and decision record. - Measurement authority: none yet. - CAD/DXF authority: none yet. - Hydraulic authority: none yet. - Tuning/acoustic authority: none yet. - Safety certification authority: none yet. Future concept images may describe mood, play posture, or water-flow intent, but they must not become sources for jet geometry, pressure, flow, hole layout, resonator geometry, pump selection, drain sizing, or tuning. ## Measurement Gates Promotion beyond L1 requires: - A safe water-loop plan with supply, relief, drainage, splash, and sanitation controls named before testing. - A single-jet coupon that records flow behavior without claiming a final note. - A player-interface test for wet grip, comfort, splash exposure, and control. - An acoustic coupon that separates water-noise, resonator behavior, and any pitched response. - A maintenance review for cleaning, drying, leak inspection, and storage. - A safety review for water pressure, slipping, electrical isolation, and public interaction. ## Risks - Water pressure can create unsafe spray, leaks, or unstable handling. - Wet interfaces can become slippery or unsanitary. - A visually pleasing fountain-like layout may not produce controlled musical sound. - Drainage and splash control may dominate the mechanical design. - Any electronics, pumps, sensors, or lights near water require separate safety review before inclusion.