Va Tech RIDE project

[R.I.D.E.]

This was the conclusion portion of the 88 page document after they worked on it for one year.

"The hydraulic pump motor has a significant potential for vehicular use. However to properly evaluate the capabilities and reliability of such a system will require more refinement of the prototype. Machining issues, leakage and assembly must be refined before peoper tersting can take place.

After such issues are resolved, the overall concept of the design should provide cheap and economical vehicular transportation which should rival the fuel efficiencies of the electric hybrids."

Their biggest problem with machining was the milling machine itself, as well as their limited machining experience.

The design requires critical tolerances of close to 1 thousandth inch, between the pistons, cylinders and the interface of the cylinders and main journal, especially in a real world functional pump motor with pressures as high as 5000 PSI.

I found out at the last meeting that they did not have any welding capabilities. This crucial factor caused them to spend almost 100 man hours working on the master cylinder and the two slipper cylinders, where the condition of their obsolete CNC machine (not even liquid cooled, and chattering) caused the tolerances to exceed the design specifications by a factor of 10.

I could have made the same parts using a simple lathe and welding two basically tubular parts together in a matter of less than 3 hours.

Sadly my on hands help with the Tech team was prohibited so they would be "on their own" for proper grading.

I believe, based on conversation with the Professor, that they will continue working on the design next year, with the current configuration as the starting point, and hopefully better equipment available.

I have made arrangements with a local machine shop owner, who does sub contract work for NASA to build my own prototypes, based on the engineering analysis of the Tech team, which was totally positive, with the exception of their acknowledged equipment limitations. The local machinist has over 30 years experience and no equipment issues.

To test for efficiency, I intend to build a simple portable model that uses two accumulators. Pressurizing one accumulator and running the fluid through the prototype to another accumulator will provide exact measurements as to the energy losses in one cycle through the pump motor.

Once efficiency has been determined then that percentage can be added to the charts to determine vehicle mileage potential.

regards
gary