Basic Utility Vehicle -- Phase II
Technical Contact: Dr. John Lamancusa
The Llama Team:
Matthew Staymates Mark Turner
Nicholas Moss Peter Stepanoff
Lauren Meledandri
Overview:
A prototype basic utility vehicle (BUV) was completed in Spring of 2004 for use as a flexible piece of equipment to transport goods or passengers over a variety of terrains. The BUV is needed in non-industrialized regions such as Africa and Latin America. Phase I was sponsored by the Institute for Affordable Transportation (www.drivebuv.org). The organization's goal is to provide impoverished nations with equipment that will aid in their development. Phase II of the BUV project will complete the prototype through several design improvements.
Phase I Project Results:
Objectives:
The main objective of Phase II is to complete the basic utility vehicle to ensure departmental use for campus deliveries. The prototype requires improvements to the following areas:
Phase II Design Selections:
Steering: Steering rack
Conceptual Actual
The steering rack fits nicely into the current frame structure of the BUV and lends itself to a very robust system that will attach to drag links placed on each of the tire spindles. Each drag link will have two adjustment holes for the tie rod to achieve the proper number of steering wheel turns lock to lock (full left to full right). The cost is $160.00 for a rack and $65.00 for a double-jointed knuckle for attaching the steering column to the rack. The advantage of this design is its ease of installation, few moving parts, and small size. The input of the rack in conjunction with the double-jointed knuckle can be set at almost any angle with respect to the horizontal. This ensures proper steering column alignment and also allows great flexibility in installation.
Drivetrain Alignment: Single Mounting Plate for Engine and Gearbox
The motor and transfer case are mounted on a removable 1/4” steel plate. This helped the team properly align the CVT and aids the routine maintenance of the powertrain. Easy access to the powertrain is always advantageous when performing routine maintenance on a vehicle. This solution allows the engine and transfer case to detach from the BUV. The plate is bolted to the frame using a set of mounts attached to the rear swingarm.
Shifting Mechanism: Push-Pull Cable Style
The shifting mechanism uses a push-pull cable as used with ratchet style car shifters. This allows the gear selection lever on the gearbox to be rotated using a single cable. There is a spring loaded shift lever with detents mounted under the bench seat with a large milled aluminum shift knob enabling the user to easily locate the lever.
Phase I Phase II
New brake and throttle pedals were created for Phase II and a new smaller master cylinder was purchased. The master cylinder was mounted forward of the brake to function properly and throttle pedal is spring-loaded and uses the original throttle cable.
Seating: Bench Seat
A used bus benchseat was donated and fit perfectly on last year’s bucket seat mounted brackets. The new seat was painted tan and is hinged on the front to permit the seat to folded forward for access to the shifting mechanism and the engine.
Floor Boards: Aluminum Diamond Plate with fenders and front bumper
The floorboards are 16-gauge aluminum diamond plate with integrated fenders. There are triangular running boards to the left and right of the benchseat to increase accessibility and a tube steel front bumper was fabricated and bolted to the frame.
Dump Bed: Composite Board dump bed with removable tailgate
After discussions with the project sponsor, composite board was selected to replace the pressure treated dump bed from Phase I. There is a removable tailgate, stainless steel corner supports/guards and a dump locking pin on the driver's side of the vehicle.
Final Product for Phase II:
