Design Challenge - June 2010

POPE DESIGN

The vehicle used to mount the cab suspension system was a concept super-duty dual-engined, dual articulating tractor meant to pull a train of bowl scrapers. I designed it back in 2002, with strong historical influence from Versatile’s huge articulating 26-ton eight-wheel drive 1080 Big Roy, along with Kinze’s articulating dual-engined 640 Big Blue. Both were oneoff American-built tractors from the mid- and late 1970s.

The basic premise of my solution to tackle WBV is a cab mounted on top of four apposing tubular linear motors that keep the cab level at all times. These are joined to the cab platform and tractor frame with large, oversized ball joints. All four tubular linear motors point into each other so there is only tension and compression stress on them.

An accelerometer that measures x, y and z directions of the tractor’s vibration would be mounted on the chassis. Information would be sent to a micro controller that would tell the four motors to move in the opposite direction to counteract the machine vibration. Because there would therefore be a very minute lag time when the vibration changes frequency, it would not be possible to reduce all of the vibration, but it could dramatically reduce most of the engine, cooling package and hydrostatic pump vibration.

A second accelerometer would be mounted inside the cab. This would already be isolated from engine, cooling package and hydrostatic pump vibration by the accelerometer mounted on the chassis, and would act like a suspension system for the tractor on rough terrain at any speed. Again, the accelerometer would constantly measure the x, y and z movement of the cab. This information would be sent to microcontrollers that tell the four motors to move in the opposite direction to counteract the machine’s movement on rough terrain. The accelerometer would also keep the cab level from side to side while driving across slopes with up to an 18° grade.

When the tractor powers down, all the tubular linear motors completely compress and the cab lowers into a resting position, with the motors requiring no power to support the cab.

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BIOGRAPHY

I would have to say just about 100% of my Matchbox and Tonka toys were trucks and construction equipment. Basically I have been fascinated with heavy equipment for as long as I can remember.  I received a B.S. for Industrial design at University of Bridgeport and I have been an industrial designer for 15 years. The last 12 of those years have been specializing in heavy equipment. I have worked on projects for several different OEM’s while I was employed at Teague and later as a design consultant. I’ve had the pleasure to work on projects from a 400 ton dump truck to a powered wheelchair. I also have a bad habit of designing conceptual construction in my spare time.

CONTACT DETAILS

Email: contact@pope-design.net Tel: +1 201 343 9065