A lot of questions about how a resilient alteration to the natural castoring angle of FTC
is achieved. It has to be a resilient input to maintain the fundamental characteristics...
don't forget that point..
In the Magnetic clutch the rotor is driven by a small geared motor [ like a windscreen
wiper motor] This supplies a rotating torque potential to the rotor. The output shaft is not
active until an electric current is applied to the windings, when this occurs the fine steel
particles cause lines of magnetic interaction and apply a drag between the turning rotor
and the disc on the output shaft. As the voltage is increased , torque transfer increases.
So you have a pure variable torque that you can apply to the steer of the castoring
wheels... as required. The output shaft is used to supply the directing and/or positioning
moment to the castoring wheel/s pivot axis/axes. The unit I am using is only 3 by 3
inches . Above 10mph the wheels are generally not altered by the low speed magnetic
clutch. and are directed and positioned by dynamic forces alone. A potentiometer driven
by vehicle speed supplies variable voltage to the windings and linkages connect the
torque to direct the wheels .
is achieved. It has to be a resilient input to maintain the fundamental characteristics...
don't forget that point..
In the Magnetic clutch the rotor is driven by a small geared motor [ like a windscreen
wiper motor] This supplies a rotating torque potential to the rotor. The output shaft is not
active until an electric current is applied to the windings, when this occurs the fine steel
particles cause lines of magnetic interaction and apply a drag between the turning rotor
and the disc on the output shaft. As the voltage is increased , torque transfer increases.
So you have a pure variable torque that you can apply to the steer of the castoring
wheels... as required. The output shaft is used to supply the directing and/or positioning
moment to the castoring wheel/s pivot axis/axes. The unit I am using is only 3 by 3
inches . Above 10mph the wheels are generally not altered by the low speed magnetic
clutch. and are directed and positioned by dynamic forces alone. A potentiometer driven
by vehicle speed supplies variable voltage to the windings and linkages connect the
torque to direct the wheels .
*
The vehicle in the Videos is a prototype and is not intended to be otherwise. A prototype vehicle
must be arranged to allow easy alterations and to test various principles. There have been many
prototypes. The system requirements are now well established and designs for production
versions are fundamentally simple to implement. The system is quite simple and basically the
cost to manufacture this vehicle above the cost of a similar non tilt vehicle is aprox US $2,500 .All
components "off the shelf"..[ note ... This is now reduced to $500 in October 2007]. for the ultimate
performance version
The costs to manufacture any vehicle depends on the volume and the style. Careful design can
lead to ease of construction in a limited run. Obviously, the more basic the vehicle can be made the
cheaper it can be to the buyer. Here I believe is the answer.
This vehicle doesn't need "spin" to sell it..... its fundamentals will sell it. I have some top industrial
designers doing work on the body style, and they are doing it because the concept has them
interested! I will show you some styles when I get them
must be arranged to allow easy alterations and to test various principles. There have been many
prototypes. The system requirements are now well established and designs for production
versions are fundamentally simple to implement. The system is quite simple and basically the
cost to manufacture this vehicle above the cost of a similar non tilt vehicle is aprox US $2,500 .All
components "off the shelf"..[ note ... This is now reduced to $500 in October 2007]. for the ultimate
performance version
The costs to manufacture any vehicle depends on the volume and the style. Careful design can
lead to ease of construction in a limited run. Obviously, the more basic the vehicle can be made the
cheaper it can be to the buyer. Here I believe is the answer.
This vehicle doesn't need "spin" to sell it..... its fundamentals will sell it. I have some top industrial
designers doing work on the body style, and they are doing it because the concept has them
interested! I will show you some styles when I get them
*
| "FUNDAMENTALLY FLAWED" is a harsh expression I use on these pages to criticise other systems competing in the context that I have clearly defined.... a commuter vehicle context. A conventional car is not "fundamentally flawed" in itself to a major degree except in the obvious technical crudeness of it [ which in its original context was an advantage], but in the context of this moment in our history, its use as a commuter to carry one or two is without question fundamentally flawed. Tilting a vehicle does not in itself make it "OK ". The point of tilt is fundamentally to reduce track width. Some argue that a motorcycle is less flawed than anything. True... in a certain technical context, but drastically flawed to the extent that it kills and maims its best friends, and so discourages more widespread use. We are all discovering that to live in harmony with our Planet means that anything other than "ideal" is "fundamentally flawed". Recognising and striving for this ideal reality can be a lot of ... FUN !!..... |
| Newsflash Lightweight FTC vehicle in Cape Town , South.Africa. Video clip shows Frank Bokhorst testing manual FTC tilt control lightweight electric powered vehicle!!! |
| News Flash !! Skateboarders realise the advantages of FTC!!! |
| NEWS FLASH Toyota Video. Press release says " driver shifts body weight to tilt vehicle" details as to how this vehicle actually works are not yet available and so it is not yet possible to assess any infringement on my Patent [pending] |
| The " I SWING" as previewed by Toyota recently is only half of their story. Below you can see the stretched version... their full story . But even their full story is only half of it. Many onlookers were impressed by the elegance of the I SWING as it swooped onto the stage . I was impressed because it looked very familiar to me. Doubts were expressed about its use at speed on a public road, but the extracts from a Toyota Patent [ as seen below] indicate the overall plan that Toyota has in mind. The vehicle performs with style on the open road and can shrink to a "mobility vehicle" as required. The Patent shows only the retracting mechanisms... with no mention of any tilt control system . |
Many of your questions have
already been answered in the
pages of Yahoo Group Tilting.
already been answered in the
pages of Yahoo Group Tilting.
| Thanks for your many enquiries. On this page I'll add info as requested... if possible . Recent improvements must remain confidential. |
| Stretching it? |
UPDATES
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| CLICK ON IMAGE TO SEE VIDEO |
Some of the information on this page is
superseded by new systems. The principles
remain valid. R and D is constantly
improving vehicle performance and reducing
costs to manufacture
superseded by new systems. The principles
remain valid. R and D is constantly
improving vehicle performance and reducing
costs to manufacture