AM Shifter Question

[mikemat]

Originally Posted by Tom Line

Consider using spring return cylinders. That way, when you lose pneumatics, the cylinders will automatically shift into neutral.

We have done the same when we wanted a transmission to shift into neutral. We tried it in 2010, but found we didn't like the drag on the kicker (the kicker had to spin the shaft to unroll our winch line).

Seconding the spring returns. I think you may be annoyed if you take the cart off the trailer and have to find a battery, boot the cart, and let it pressurize just to disengage the wheels (or you could disengage all 4 by hand, which probably involves sending someone under the cart) so you can get out of the 30 degree Michigan winter.

[1502]

Yes, we're planning on using spring return mainly for safety. That way if something bad happens and we would have to cut power we could still move it or if there is a malfunction in the drive we could disengage the motor with a kill switch that would be on its own circuit.

[Brian Ha]

We actually wanted to try this for this year's competition. We thought that having a neutral might be advantageous when balancing to allow our alliance partner to just push us up. We unfortunately decided to stay with all gears and didn't make a neutral. Although i would love to see how this turns out to see if it works (I don't see any reason why it wouldn't)

[1502]

Originally Posted by Brian Ha

We actually wanted to try this for this year's competition. We thought that having a neutral might be advantageous when balancing to allow our alliance partner to just push us up. We unfortunately decided to stay with all gears and didn't make a neutral. Although i would love to see how this turns out to see if it works (I don't see any reason why it wouldn't)

Shall do. As soon as it's done and all. I know CD would probably be interested in seeing the final project

(Should be done and have pictures (maybe even a video) on here sometime before next build season LOL)

[1502]

Another question: does anyone know how much force a spring return cylinder for this shifter has when pressure is released?