sensors & systems - Industrial Technology Magazine

More documents

Recommendations

Info

SENSORS & SYSTEMS Autosport Performance at high speeds Position, pressure and temperature sensors are key in an improved motorbike suspension design The 2008 Thunderbike motorcycle championship represents a new beginning both for Alto Performance Racing and for the sport. With its unique Vyrus 994cc bike featuring a front swing arm suspension system with hub-centre steering, the Alto team is pioneering a design conceived decades ago that modern materials, production technologies and electronics systems have now made a race winning reality. Unlike conventional motorbikes with front forks which suffer from inherent handling problems caused by deflection and stiction plus a tendency to ‘dive’ under braking, the aluminium swing arm separates the steering and damping systems to offer much improved handling as the trail and the steering angle remain constant in all conditions. As with all levels of competitive autosports, monitoring dynamic data and interpreting results is fundamental to performance improvement. At the test track and on race days, Alto uses sensors from Variohm under extremely arduous conditions to acquire fast and precise feedback for race critical parameters that include front/rear suspension position, front/rear brake pressure and throttle position along with tyre and ambient air temperatures, barometric pressure and engine speed. These real-time readings combine to pin-point information delivered from the bike’s CANbus network by telemetry to data loggers that determine exactly how a machine and rider has responded to the intricacies of the track and provide the race team with essential statistics for continuous design and set-up improvement, and race winning performance. The ruggedised Autosports version of Variohm's ELP series slimline linear position transducers are used for the suspension ride-height feedback during braking, cornering, track bumps and undulations. The compact sensors conductive plastic track is fully sealed to IP67 and fast replacement is assured with optional ‘pop’ mountings. High linearity and excellent positional repeatability combine with a very wide temperature range and mechanical life in excess of 25 million operations to provide a highly reliable position feedback transducer. The bike’s throttle reading is measured with a Vertex 13E series, 14-bit resolution angle sensor. This highly durable and compact 13mm diameter sensor is IP69 rated and the non-contact Hall-effect and magnet design yields an almost limitless life. Within the Vyrus application the programmable 0-360° electrical angle is calibrated in-situ to provide highly accurate and repeatable power feedback. The throttle reading can even provide the race team with precise details of when control is momentarily lost due to unexpected track bumps affecting the riders grip. Dynamic, high speed information EPT series 1200 pressure sensors provide dynamic and high speed brake pressure information from a very rugged yet compact high strength stainless steel packaged design. Measuring up to 400bar, the hermetically welded, thin film measuring cell and high level output circuit technology ensures this sensor is suitable for the demanding shock and vibration levels experienced within the application. The sensors help confirm when and how the bike is losing traction and detect the minute compression changes in front and rear suspension. The bike’s unique front swing arm suspension system with hub-centre steering design can be attributed to two mechanical engineering students in the 1980s as a graduation project with additional development carried out by the Italian Bimota Company and later by Vyrus of Rimini. The history should also include thanks to the British engineer Jack DiFazio for the hub-centre steering system he developed in the 1970s and even to the 1920s Neracar motorcycle that attempted to improve the limitations imposed by front forks for combined steering and suspension. It is true to say that these previous designs suffered from production quality and weight problems but as materials and manufacturing technology moves on there is strong optimism that hubcentred steering could make a big difference to the motorcycle racing industry and even prove a safer and more durable design for road bikes. Northampton based Alto Performance Racing, led by brothers Ben and Aarron Shaughnessy with rider Phil Read, raced in the same competition last season with a traditionally front forked Laverda 750cc and finished in third place with fifty percent podium positions. For this year’s Thunderbike series, which is based upon strict power-to-weight ratio rulings, the team and rider will remain the same – so the new chassis and steering design has a definitive benchmark to compete against. Ben Shaughnessy, the Alto Team technical director who has always had a passion for hub-centre steering and took six months off from his ‘day job’ running the team to develop the design says: “This is a genuine attempt to race and demonstrate this technology to its natural winning conclusion, and to show that motorcycle forks and frames are truly old fashioned and in need of newer technology. Thanks to our mostly British based sponsors like Variohm, who have provided world leading engineering and technology solutions, we have the best possible chance to succeed.” MORE INFORMATION: Enter D485 on the enquiry card or visit ‘latest issue stories’ at www.industrialtechnology.co.uk for further details. You can also find more stories from Variohm-Eurosensor and more news on sensors 48 INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY • May 2008
More details: Write in 490 on the free information card Pressure sensor technology from 1 mbar … 1000 bar Pressure Transmitter Type 694 Mechanical pressure switch Type 604 Pressure transmitter OEM Type 511 Relative and differential –0.5 … 0.5 – 50 mbar The pressure transmitters of type 694 series incorporate a proved ceramic cantilevered beam technology. They deliver adjusted temperature-compensated sensor signals (voltage or current outputs). They are ideal for registering low air flow in air conditioning systems and for the measurement of fine pressures in environmental, laboratory and cleanroom applications. Relative and differential 0.2 … 50 mbar The type 604 pressure switch is used as a P flow switch in ventilation ducts for the control of filters and fans, and in primary and secondary control systems for the control of air dampers. The 604 pressure monitoring switches are also ideally suited to protect heating coils from overheating and for monitoring industrial air cooling circuits. Relative –1 … 0 – 600 bar, absolute 0 … 1 – 25 bar Type 511 pressure transmitters meet the highest specifications for longevity, accuracy, temperature stability and EMC characteristics, making them suitable for an extremely wide range of demanding industrial applications. Huba Control AG Unit 3 Network Point Range Road Witney Oxfordshire OX29 0YD Tel +44 (0) 1993 776667 Fax +44 (0) 1993 776671 info.uk@hubacontrol.com www.hubacontrol.com More details: Write in 491 on the free information card 49
Page 1 and 2: www.industrialtechnology.co.uk Indu
Page 3 and 4: COMMENT & ANALYSIS Industrial Techn
Page 5 and 6: More details: Write in 50 5
Page 7 and 8: More details: Write in 70 7
Page 9 and 10: WE’VE INCREASED OUR PRODUCT OFFER
Page 11 and 12: www.industrialtechnology.co.uk diff
Page 13 and 14: More details: Write in 130 on the f
Page 15 and 16: Dry faster, at less cost. WindJet
Page 17 and 18: KF 170 - now with continuous stroke
Page 19 and 20: Connectors for the food Industry Sp
Page 21 and 22: Food Hygiene & Safety The plain tru
Page 23 and 24: Bellows - Huco Flex B flexible coup
Page 25 and 26: web elasticity, bobbin rotational i
Page 27 and 28: AZ_TopPult_a4_4c_engl.indd 1 12.11.
Page 29 and 30: Enclosures, Cabinets & Fans Warning
Page 31 and 32: Control panel design software gets
Page 37 and 38: Springs meet challenging aerospace
Page 39 and 40: Integrated motor delivers accurate
Page 43 and 44: Adhere LCD adhesives make displays
Page 47: Look no further for great deals on
Page 51 and 52: New Products SENSORS & SYSTEMS Cost
Page 53 and 54: Looking for the Ultimate Sensing &
Page 57 and 58: John Richardson’s ENGINEERING DIA
Page 59 and 60: New Patented Product from WDS Ultr

sensors & systems - Industrial Technology Magazine

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?