Sports, Adaptive or Otherwise

Posted on: Sat, Jul 4 2009 1:21 PM

Posted by: ArkanzanWheeler Posts: 584

TotalMechanic:

I like the idea of having two drive wheels instead of having a trike with only one real driven wheel. (I understand why they do the single drive wheel with split axle: No need of a diff.)

 

But that is the thing, I do not want a diff.  I want both drive wheels independant of each other so when I turn I can apply the brakes on one side or push more on just one side to make it turn, similar to a tank track but with wheels.  The rear caster wheel is just there for balance.  The tricky part is getting the gears working together I think...

Posted on: Mon, Jul 6 2009 5:35 PM

Posted by: TotalMechanic Posts: 52

 I agree a diff would be bad: Heavy and costly.

I also have a desire to create a FWD hand trike.

An idea I came up with as an alternative to a diff: Use a driven freewheel/cassette with the center directly attached to a solid shaft-this drives the left wheel yet allows for freewheeling. To the right of the first freewheel the solid shaft is welded to a tube that then mates up with the the hub for the right wheel that has a freewheel mechanism (But no sprokets.) There are some structual details to work out but the basic concept would allow for easy, chatter free turns and be relatively light and inexpensive. I am not sure it lines up with your dual drive idea, (Which I like btw. It would be quite agile!) but it may give some food for thought.  

Are you aiming to do MTB style or road?

Total

Posted on: Mon, Jul 6 2009 7:17 PM

Posted by: ArkanzanWheeler Posts: 584

 I have an idea of a differential that might work for a trike, it mightbe hard to explain but I will give it a try...  Use 2 axle shafts with CV joints so you can turn the wheels, on the diff side of the shaft have tappered spines that almost meet in the middle of the trike.  Put the gears on a "slide" (with internal teeth that match up to the axle shafts) that is controlled by the steeringshaft.  When you turn the left the slide will slide over onto the left axle only, turn to the right and it will slide over to the right axle only, but while going striaght the slide will be contacting the teeth on both axles.  By having the tie rod ins on the back side of the gears controlling the steering it will help with making a shaft or fork to control the slide.  That is just my idea that works in my head, use what ever part you like...lol.

As for my dual drive idea it would be more of a road bike since it would be short and there fore unstable on rough terrain but it would not be hard to make a longer version.  It is one of those ideas that might change depending on the parts I find and what I feel like as I am making it.