mt2man
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Jul 17, 2014 12:24:51 GMT
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Hey not sure where to put this but seeing as it will end up as a readers other modifications build I may as well put it here! I am doing my HNC in mechanical engineering and soon to start my second year, a requirement is to document a project. I need to come up with 4 or 5 problems and solutions, but just ideas will be good as I can make a problem out of it  haha I thought I may as well do it as something that will benefit me! My current ideas are; 1) My first problem is that I am a car enthusiast who loves modifying my cars, the main modification being lowering the vehicle, this can make getting a car jack under the car very difficult and involves driving onto wood to get the car high enough for a jack. My solution for this is to install a hydraulic or pneumatic jack to the car, so by the press of a button you can easily lift the rear of the car off the ground, allowing you to get jacks under or to work on the vehicle at this height. 2) My second “problem” is that I wish to lower my Vauxhall Midi van but there is no off the shelf available lowering solutions, to overcome this I could modify it to statically lower it. Or I could look at installing air ride which is pneumatic controlled shocks which give you fully adjustable height control of the suspension. It doesn't really have to be a unique idea, it can have been done in the past (ie I know having jacks built into cars isn't a new idea but building it would be fun and lots to document on, ie corner weights, cog etc) You don't even have to build it but obviously the report would be better if I did, I can weld and fabricate so anything really! Can bring electronics into it but mainly into mechanical/engineering ideas. I done a similar project plan a couple years ago for my BTEC which was a essentially a classic car window demister which could be activated by a text from a mobile so the windows have demisted by the time you get to the car (I had a leaky Opel Kadett at the time haha) Anyone got any ideas or tips? Jack |
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Jul 17, 2014 14:15:14 GMT
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Last Edit: Jul 17, 2014 14:16:37 GMT by joem83
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Jul 17, 2014 16:36:07 GMT
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Exhaust gas filled airbag to do the lifting with instead of getting the jack under it?
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mt2man
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,364
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Jul 17, 2014 17:51:19 GMT
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Cheers for the replys! Hydraulics is a route to go down when it comes to research but I feel air will be a lot cheaper!
As for the exhaust air bag idea I've seen that done with 4x4s and it looks cool! But not sure I could make it into a project and doesn't make working under the car possible haha
Still need a few more ideas, something that will be cool to build! Haha
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Jul 17, 2014 18:15:30 GMT
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Design a mechanism,whether powered or not, to get big wheels with off rd tyres on and off the back door of a 4x4.
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Jul 17, 2014 18:24:19 GMT
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Built in jack were around years ago - AFAIK from late 1930's to 1950's. They were unpopular as often seized by the time you wanted to use them !
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mt2man
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,364
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Jul 17, 2014 18:31:59 GMT
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I've never had a problem getting a wheel off the back of the disco so not sure what you mean really? But something car related would be great As for the jacks yeah I've seen them used in pit stops but that's usually a airline attached to the rear of the car which raises all 4 corners I could install like scissor jacks with a handle attachment for the winding up and down but I like the idea of just doing it by the button, would need a fail safe of some sort as I don't like the idea of getting jacket up as I'm driving haha |
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Jul 17, 2014 19:47:23 GMT
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Why not work on the idea of design & development of an ultra low profile jack that can then be used on numerous cars rather than a system for just one car ?
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Jul 17, 2014 19:54:30 GMT
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I've never had a problem getting a wheel off the back of the disco so not sure what you mean really? But something car related would be great As for the jacks yeah I've seen them used in pit stops but that's usually a airline attached to the rear of the car which raises all 4 corners I could install like scissor jacks with a handle attachment for the winding up and down but I like the idea of just doing it by the button, would need a fail safe of some sort as I don't like the idea of getting jacket up as I'm driving haha Getting off not a problem...getting them back on .. Bearing in mind most punctures happen usually when it's dark,raining and the flat is deformed and covered in yuck,and the back of the car is full,so you can't just throw it the back ........ Or is that just me? ............... |
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mt2man
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,364
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Jul 17, 2014 20:47:27 GMT
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Ultra low profile jack is a good idea actually! I could build that up with the several broken jacks I have haha. Although again low profile jacks are readily available so I'd have to come up with something cunning and a little different And yeah I can see what you mean now about getting them back on, they can be very heavy! Perhaps a roof rack mounted pivoting arm that hold the wheel at the correct level to secure to the back or something? My disco has had the rear of the truck cut off so I can't really mock anything up haha My other idea was documenting an engine conversion in my mini, I want to fit a GA16 from a Nissan Almera in a custom subframe and having it as a project for my Hnc would give me a good deadline to keep me motivated I guess! |
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mt2man
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,364
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Jul 17, 2014 20:50:39 GMT
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Another idea was to buy a 50cc mini quad bike and convert it to radio control by fabricating and wiring up a wiper motor to control the steering (via a servo, potentiometer, relays and my left over TV car transmitter and receivers) and a normal servo for throttle control, third switch would have to be brake controls and having a large 50cc radio controlled vehicle that could actually be controlled via remote whilst car on it (or in a trailer behind perhaps haha) but althought a fun project I'm not sure how I could make that a feasible "problem and solution" haha
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Jul 17, 2014 20:52:31 GMT
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I made a bench-top hydraulic press for my BTEC project. Cheap and simple to design and construct, and a very handy bit of workshop equipment to boot.
I made a frame from bits of angle iron, and installed a bottle jack that I got off eBay to provide the force.
Other ideas for the initial brief included a bicycle wheel truing jig and an electrolysis (de-rusting) tank. Practical classics did an article this month on how to make your own blasting cabinet, too.
Good luck!
Dave
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1986 BMW 628csi, 2003 Alfa Romeo 147, 1992 Jaaaaag XJ40, 1982 BMW R100 cafe racer.
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mt2man
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,364
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Jul 17, 2014 21:05:41 GMT
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Hydraulic press sounds good actually, I need to de arch some leaf springs so it would be handy to have aswell! Keep the ideas coming guys, giving me good ideas |
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air ride or hydros will give you a lot of room to document and investigate the engineering challenges, even if you don't implement it. Things like the different types of bags, struts, bag-over-shock, whether you need to relocate the shocks, etc etc... then there is the different compressors, and the cost/benefit trade off of PSI / CFM / power draw / size etc... oh and the whole hard line v flexible plastic lines... Doing air ride right isn't cheap mind  |
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mt2man
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,364
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Yeah that's what I was thinking! Would be a lot of research to do and I really want to air ride one of my vehicles soon anyway so it would be very handy research! |
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I'm currently installing air ride on my Olds. Design and fabricate spring cup deletes / adapters, relocate front shocks, hard lines, the lot... If you have any questions, shout.
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mt2man
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,364
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Jul 18, 2014 10:42:33 GMT
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Do you have a build on here? been searching for build threads but can't seem to find much on installs |
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Jul 18, 2014 17:47:58 GMT
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taking a slightly different direction (for a bit of diversity  ) modification to a mobility scooter - to allow it to go up stairs. Would bring in general gear design, bearings, and some funky mechanisms |
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You're like a crazy backyard genius! |
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taking a slightly different direction (for a bit of diversity ) modification to a mobility scooter - to allow it to go up stairs. Would bring in general gear design, bearings, and some funky mechanisms Even kerbs are a challenge for my full sized (Class 3 / DVLA Q registered / taxed) mobility scooter. Going down is bad enough but no chance climbing one so I reckon this is an excellent idea. As far as a jack for low vehicles is concerned I think something that you could "insert" any jack whether trolley, bottle, scissor etc could be the way to go. If a car is low normally then it's going to be even lower when tyre punctured so something that could be kept in the boot would be useful. What about an adapter that was like a mini forklift so the tines went either side of the wheel ? A variation on this idea -  This is a clever idea as well -  Paul H |
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haha
)