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In this paper, the conversion of a production sport utility vehicle (SUV) to a hybrid electric vehicle utilizing a through-the-road parallel hybrid configuration is presented. The uniqueness of this design comes from its ability to decouple the front and rear drivetrain to simplify the packaging of underbody components. The Hybrid Theory utilizes a 2.0L, 4-cylinder engine that supplies 101kW (135hp) to the front wheels and a DC motor that supplies an additional 53kW (70hp) to the rear wheels to achieve the competition goals of a 25% improvement in fuel economy, a reduction in Green House Gas (GHG) emissions, as well as maintaining stock performance. The effects on drivability, manufacturing, fuel economy, emissions, and performance are presented along with the design, selection, and implementation of all of the vehicle conversion components.

In this paper, the conversion of a production SUV to a hybrid electric vehicle with a drive system utilizing a planetary power-split transmission is presented. The uniqueness of this design comes from its ability to couple the advantages of a parallel hybrid with the advantages of a series hybrid. Depending on operating conditions and recent operating history, the drive system transitions to one of several driving modes. The drive system consists of a planetary gear set coupled to an alternator, motor, and internal combustion engine. It performs the power-split operation without the need for belt drives or clutching devices. The effects on driveability, manufacturing, fuel economy, emissions, and performance are presented along with the design, selection, and implementation of all of the vehicle conversion components.

The objective in this research is to investigate the effects of variable blank holder force (VBHF) on the material formability, due to its effect on the strain path. It is found in a recent study [9] that VBHF does not significantly affect the overall trend of the strain path. This strain path in deep drawing process is linear for the materials in the flange and under punch face, and is roughly bi-linear for the material around the punch nose. The second segment of the strain path in the punch nose region is plane-strain. VBHF, however, affects the strain ratio ρ1 = ε2/ε1 of the first segment of the bi-linear strain path. These effects, especially ρ1, on limit strain were studied using M-K method. A strain path dependent modified forming limit diagram (MFLD) was calculated based on the actual strain path. It is found that the MFLD is strongly dependent on ρ1.

The objective of this investigation was to determine if the HVOSM accident simulation software could be used to model a vehicle with a modern McPherson strut type front (or rear) suspension system. HVOSM has previously been validated for simulation of double A-arm suspensions. To accomplish this task, kinematic models of both the McPherson strut and the double A-arm suspensions were evaluated using data from two vehicles with similar track width, wheel base and weight, but with the different suspension systems. The results of the study indicate the wheel track on a vehicle with a McPherson strut suspension system more closely follows the motions assumed in the development of the HVOSM models. Therefore, a user of HVOSM can utilize data from a vehicle with a McPherson strut suspension system and be confident the simulation is at least as accurate as if the vehicle had a double A-arm suspension.

The wear characteristics and, therefore, the failure rate of a gerotor are highly dependent upon the minimum radius of curvature of the generated shape of the working chambers. The paper shows that the minimum radius of curvature may he increased without increasing the overall size of the gerotor or substantially decreasing the pocket displacement. The design parameters that affect the radius of curvature are: the radii of the fixed and moving pitch circles, the radius of the generating pin, the distance from the center of the pitch circle containing the generating pin to the center of the generating pin, and the ratio of the pitch circles. The paper includes an equation for the pocket displacement as a function of these design parameters and the input angle. The paper also presents important relations between the curvature of the generated shape, the displacement, and the package size.

This paper provides a review of the applicable thermodynamic cycle and performance considerations when the rotary-vee mechanism is used as an internal combustion (I. C.) heat engine. Included is a simplified kinematic analysis and studies of the effects of design parameters on the critical pressures, torques and parasitic losses. A discussion of the principal findings is presented.