[ausev] Clutch-less Porsche 914

[Brian Lasseter]

On Thu, Dec 4, 2008 at 1:04 PM, The Mullins <ckmullins at earthlink.net> wrote:
> Yes, I know that the clutch is also a safety device, but surely there's
> another way that doesn't weigh 30lbs and diminish performance! Or is there?

Well... you can shave down most of the flywheel so that it does not
weigh very much.  Mine weighs around 8lbs now that the ring gear and
most of the bulk of the metal has been removed.   Here are pictures of
a clutchless design being made, the clutch springs are the red things
in the 2nd to last picture...
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Lab/4429/cl3.htm


As for safety devices... DC controllers will fail in an "all on" mode.
 So... you have to have some sort of safety device to prevent you from
being in a "Speed" like situation where the car is going and not
stopping.  (Your brakes will not stop an electric motor at full tilt.)
 A clutch is convenient in that it will physically disconnect the
motor from the wheels, meaning that the motor will just spin, and
you'll be able to stop at your leisure.  Various electrical
disconnects can work too... provided that you can reach them from your
driver's seat.

Here's an Anderson disconnect you'd hide by your seat or something...
http://www.evparts.com/prod-CN9551.htm

Or here's this novel method of using the old clutch pedal to control
an Anderson electrical disconnect...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnOzaTRsB2g


-- 
TTFN,
Brian "Lasso" Lasseter

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