In 2003 a team was started at the Eindhoven University of Technology to participate in the international Formula Student competition. The Formula Student competition is an international design competition in which students from all over the world design and compete with a single seater race car.
A concept of the transmission might be a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The advantage of a CVT is that there is no power interruption at the driven wheels unlike with a conventional stepped gear transmission. This means smooth corner entering and a higher acceleration than with a conventional gear box, particularly since the engine speed can be a kept at power-optimal level.
The Suzuki Electronically-controlled Continuously Variable Transmission (SECVT) is a commercially available CVT which is implemented in a Suzuki Burgman 650 motor scooter. The CVT is electro-mechanically actuated and uses a v-belt for the transfer of the engine feasibility for power.
The implementing the SECVT on the URE05 race car of University Racing Eindhoven (URE) is investigated in this Bachelor Final Project. A reversed engineering study should clarify the functionality of the CVT.
A 3D CAD model of the CVT is produced for a correct documentation of the parts of the CVT. Besides this, an analysis of the forces on the CVT belt is made to verify if the strength of the belt is sufficient in the present application. The actuation speed of the SECVT is tested on an unloaded test bench at the facilities of Drivetrain Innovations (DTI). Finally some recommendations are made to improve the performance of the CVT.
URE wanted to build a more lightweight car, because less weight results in a faster car. In their search for strong, lightweight materials, they decided to start using carbon fiber. The car was designed with a monocoque made from carbon fiber and a steel tubular space frame in the back to house the engine. This resulted in a weight loss of 25 kilograms.
Source/Author: Eindhoven University of Technology 10-2008
