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Old 07-30-2011, 04:53 PM   #171 (permalink)
orbywan
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Tucson, AZ
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aerohead View Post
'been working out details on the mechanisms.
*I've done the 'easy' forward bellypan section for the drivers side.The upper side of the pans will double as the runways for the trailing roller supports of the side-panel frames.
*The pans will require cantilever support.I will use aluminum angle underneath which will appear as a flow fence,although fences would not be necessary.
*I moved the trailer outside to attempt better photos.
The series of images reflect the trailer going through a full jack-knife range of motion.
*The lazy-C frame,to which swing-panel frames are attached is always parallel to the integrator frame on the back of the truck.When you look at the C-frame orientation,it is mimicking the integrator.
* I've left out the 2nd degree of articulation at the C-frame as depicted in the Prius trailer thread.Tongue weight is growing steadily and I'm going to omit any feature which isn't 'mission critical' to aerodynamics.
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*The last series of shots are of the bogey and roller which travel the prismatic face of the trailer.
* When I get the pan on the passenger side I can work out the roller support.
* The passenger side pan will require a trap-door for the landing gear to rotate and fall through when the trailer is de-hitched.
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* The integrator itself will require articulated panels to deal with pitch and roll.
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*This morning I purchased the aluminum for the second forward pan and 5/8ths square tubing for the panel frames,along with some more steel pre-forms.
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* If time avails itself I will race-drill all the frames to add lightness.
*Plenty ahead of me!
Looks like some serious 'angle of dangle' engineering going on there. I can't wait to see it done. I'm working on the belly pan(s) for the RV, wow, I thought the boat tail was involved! Holy Canole. Lot of guess work involved as far as how is the best way to do it. My grandmother would have called that 'by guess and by golly'. Ha. Luckily there's only one articulated part involved. We're root'in for you Phil, go for it!

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