21-06-2012, 01:18 PM
AUTOMATIC REVERSE LOCKING SYSTEM USING DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
INTRODUCTION
PROBLEM DEFINITION
EXISTING MECHANISM
A differential is a device which is used in vehicles over a few decades and when a vehicle is negotiating a turn, the outside wheel travels a greater distance and turns faster than the inside wheel. The differential is the device transmitting the power to each wheel, allows one wheel to turn faster than the other. It splits the engine torque two ways, allowing each output to spin at a different speed. The differential is found on all modern cars and trucks, and also in many all-wheel-drive (full-time four-wheel-drive) vehicles.
These all-wheel-drive vehicles need a differential between each set of drive wheels, and they need one between the front and the back wheels as well, because the front wheels travel a different distance through a turn than the rear wheels. Part-time four-wheel-drive systems don't have a differential between the front and rear wheels; instead, they are locked together so that the front and rear wheels have to turn at the same average speed. This is why these vehicles are hard to turn on concrete when the four-wheel-drive system is engaged.
FEASIBILITY STUDY
The objective of a feasibility study is to test the technical, economic, behavioral and operational feasibility of developing a new mechanism. This is done by investigating and generating ideas about the same. The proposed project must be evaluated from technical viewpoints first, and if technically feasible its impact on the environment must be assessed. If compatible operational and technical aspects can be devised, then they must be tested for economic feasibility.
TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY
The assessment of technical feasibility must be based on an outline design of project requirements in terms of the mechanism used and the drives and components used to execute the above said mechanism. The components used should be correctly utilized and the drives also should be exactly used to execute a technically feasible mechanism.
ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY
Economic feasibility deals with the analysis of costs against benefits (i.e.) whether the benefits to be enjoyed due to the new mechanism is worthy when compared with the costs to be spent on the older mechanism. The cost is observed to be cheaper when it is produced in a mass production than produced in a small amount.
OPERATIONAL FEASIBILITY
Operational feasibility analysis is performed to check whether the proposed mechanism is operationally feasible. The mechanism is effective and performs the process desired in very effective manner and thus overcoming the drawbacks found in the already existing mechanism. In future any sort of alterations can be made in the project as per the requirements as modification and enhancements in the system is found to be easier.
COMPARISON WITH OPEN DIFFERENTIAL
The just-mentioned characteristic of the Torsen differential may be best appreciated in comparison with the inherent torque transfer characteristics of an 'open' or conventional differential. The drive axles associated with an open differential are interconnected by a bevel gear set designed to divide equal torque between drive axles. This arrangement will not support any substantial torque difference between the drive axles and, as a consequence, offers very little resistance to differentiation.