|
Exciting Project
I just logged on and saw your project......... GREAT!! I've built many things over the years including aircraft, and have been contemplating something very like this. My own concept involves front wheel drive, and rear steering........... I know it sounds crazy, but years ago I resolved the problem of stable rear steering when building loaders on reversed truck chassis. By using natural body roll in a corner to provide counter force, you can create positive dynamic stability. The reason for rear steering is that the rear wheel can be completely enclosed beneath the body work, which means that the front wheels which are now not steering, can be completely shrouded over, creating a perfect unbroken teardrop. The entire drive train, seats, and such would be built onto a floor pan of welded aircraft tubing and fiberglass, and crash protection and roll over protection would be incorporated into it. Ingress and egress would be by lifting the actual teardrop body work like a clam shell, so there would be no door openings. Engine.......... a vertical shaft V twin Honda powered by propane. with a large disk on the crankshaft. The disk would run against a rubber roller, as on a snapper lawnmower, and by moving the engine left to right, the gear ratio would change........ Take it over center, and you have reverse. This drive system has been used on some pretty massive equipment........ I've even seen antique farm tractors that used it (quite large and heavy). The rubber roller would be installed on one of those cheap chain drive differentials in place of the chain sprocket.
|