Aerocap version 3

[t vago]

My excel files? I can make them available, I suppose, though they're nowhere near what one could consider to be "user friendly." As for using Excel like that, it's just a different form of programming. With as many calculations as there are, cut and paste become your friends. The forming calculations are just mx+b -type equations, too... a metric butt-ton of mx+b -type equations.

[sgtlethargic]

Originally Posted by t vago

My excel files? I can make them available, I suppose, though they're nowhere near what one could consider to be "user friendly." As for using Excel like that, it's just a different form of programming. With as many calculations as there are, cut and paste become your friends. The forming calculations are just mx+b -type equations, too... a metric butt-ton of mx+b -type equations.

How about a simplified version so I can get the idea and go from there? And/or point me to where I might learn this?

[t vago]

*dust* *dust* *cough* *cough*

Dusting off this old thread...

Work on the version 3 aerocap has started today. I have the aluminum frame made up, and will start cutting and mounting ribs tonight, after I write this post. I have decided to remove the canvas portion of the existing tonneau cover assembly. This is different from the version 2 aerocap, where it simply fit over the existing tonneau cover assembly without having to remove any of the tonneau parts.

Pictures will be forthcoming.

[t vago]

Got as far as marking up the first rib, then I had to quit for the night. In the meantime, I have some pictures of the frame base.






The idea for the frame is to allow a rapid initial construction and installation, while giving enough space and material to install an articulated hinge in the near future. The idea behind using an articulated hinge is so that, while the entire aerocap moves rearward and up, the aerocap will also tilt so that the rear raises up, and the aerocap front will avoid contact with the rear of the truck cab. The entire aerocap will be able to move up and out of the way enough to provide useful access to the truck bed.

The aerocap will eventually use the latch provided with the existing tonneau cover, to latch the cap shut.

[California98Civic]

Looks like progress, hey.

[aerohead]

I like your hinge idea.
My Craftsman drill press has a setup like that for the belt drive assembly cover up top.As it lifts it articulates 'rearward' as it gains elevation.Very easy access to all the 'guts.'
Charles Farmer,my speed-freak neighbor in Krum uses a similar articulation for the canopy of his Bonneville streamliner.
Some of the Bede aircraft have also used it.
I think you'll love it.

[t vago]

Some more progress today...






All ribs have been cut. Three ribs are glued on. I had a minor setback involving using erroneous data to cut two ribs - fortunately, I could catch the error and save the two ribs.

[freebeard]

I guess I'm too late. maybe not.

I think you lost something between v3 and 3a. The thing I liked about it was that the cab sprung more or less vertically off the top rear corner of the bed. I'd have left that and flattened the top of the curve.

To suppress vortexes forming off the bed corners.

[t vago]

Originally Posted by freebeard

I guess I'm too late. maybe not.

I think you lost something between v3 and 3a. The thing I liked about it was that the cab sprung more or less vertically off the top rear corner of the bed. I'd have left that and flattened the top of the curve.

To suppress vortexes forming off the bed corners.

If I'm reading this right, that sounds an awful lot like a normal bedcap.



The above is the original v3 side profile. If I would flatten the top curve, that would cause the cap to more closely resemble the cab shape.

Or am I not understanding this correctly?

[aardvarcus]

Glad to see this being built!