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Re: Rear steering

To: john robinson <john@engr.wisc.edu>
Subject: Re: Rear steering
From: Ed Van Scoy <edvs@idt.net>
Date: Thu, 25 May 2000 15:08:09 -0700
Craig said his "blow-over" was due to over-correction to the side gust with too
much input to the front wheels & too little help from the fin. When I looked at 
his
"car" last week he had re-done the steering to 50% of the previous "quickness" 
and
enlarged the fin to add more steering action.
Ed


john robinson wrote:

> Howdy,
>           I think the problem that might occur is either too much or too
> little input from the fin, too little will do nothing, and too much may tip
> the vehicle over...
>
> At 10:39 AM 5/25/00 , you wrote:
> >Why stop there? Do like Breedlove & add a fin on the roof that moves with the
> >steering input (wheel) and helps to turn the car with air pressure.
> >Ed
> >
> >
> >"Hyatt Engineering Ltd." wrote:
> >
> > > OK, how about if I steer with both the front and rear wheels, and
> > propel the
> > > car with neither (middle wheel drive, see the attachment) !
> > > The rationale is:
> > > Directional stability is maintained by the front and rear wheels if the
> > > middle driving wheels are spun or locked up
> > > The wheelbase is lengthened without the usual compromise in chassis
> > > stiffness associated with the extreme span from front to rear wheels in 
>the
> > > conventional arrangement
> > > The engine (most of the mass) is far forward, and the center of 
>aerodynamic
> > > pressure is rearward so it is self correcting and inherently stable at
> > speed
> > > The drivers tank is at "zero energy state", with the engine, fuel, battery
> > > and other sources of potential energy in the other tank
> > > The loading of the steering wheels (relative to the driving wheels) is to 
>a
> > > considerable extent adjustable by jacking them without moving the center 
>of
> > > gravity
> > > I call the steering "telemark" style, in that the curve is carved by front
> > > and rear wheels turning in opposite directions, just like you do when
> > > downhill skiing on cross country skis (the telemark (sp?) technique)
> > > Of course we will never know if it works, if it remains illegal.
> > >
> > > Greg
> > > PS John, I was planning on doing this with the tanks I bought from you 
>last
> > > year, which turned out to be from the F-84F (the USAF museum is just down
> > > the road from me, the ultimate resource for such info)
>
>               John Robinson, Mechanician
>    Mechanical Engineering University of Wisconsin
>                  1513 University Ave.
>                   Madison, Wi. 53706
>                      608-262-3606
>                    FAX 608-265-2316
>         Current World Land Speed Record Holder
>                  Bonneville Salt Flats
>             H/GCC 92 cu.in. 1980 Dodge Colt
>                    131.333 MPH set 1995
>                    136.666 MPH set 1996


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