9 replies to this topic

[SalutGilles 1]

It's time again for me to introduce improbable and impossible ideas which, because of my lack of tech. knowlege, actually work in my head.

here goes (yes, I slept through physics)

Now, the gearbox in an f1 car is fine, but there is always a compromise between accelaration and top speed. what if that could be solved. Could the differential be equipped to change it's ratio, perhaps centrifically, to, in effect, provide two or more differing final drive ratios? at the start, the differential would tone down the ratio, and the car would launch like a rocket. once it got up to speed, though, it would give the gearbox a better top-end ratio.

In a sense, it would be like having two gearboxes. would it work? i'm sure it isn't legal.

And...could air-intakes for the engine be located in the car's undertray? would that voilate the flat-bottomed car? if it was possible, you'd still get the "ramming" effect of the current air intakes, but the floor intakes would do wonders for grip, as the car would be sucked to the track.

that's all for now...

[Ray Bell]

An extra ratio or two in the gearbox will weigh less and complicate less than a 2-speed diff...

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Life and love are mixed with pain...

[Limey]

There will always be a compromise between acceleration and top speed. Maximum speed at Monaco is lower than at Silverstone so the top gear ratio is set to reach that speed at peak revs on the fastest section of the track, probably two-thirds to three-quarters along that straight. The remaining gears are set allowing for the rev drop going from one gear to the next so that the engine is still in the power band, the ratio of slow to faster sections, and other factors. That is one reason why gearboxes have gone from 5 to 7 ratios. The use of a two speed differential with 4 or 5 gears may have merit but there are weight and complexity factors to be considered.

An intake under the car would tend to suck up a lot of dirt requiring a filtering system that could absorb more horsepower than is gained.

[SalutGilles 1]

Originally posted by Limey:
[B] The use of a two speed differential with 4 or 5 gears may have merit but there are weight and complexity factors to be considered.

B]

so I'm not completely crazy!!

of course, you'd never be able to take my ideas and strap them onto a car straight off, but at least the idea is somewhat logical

[PDA]

I would also tend to expect extra gears in the gearbox to be as effective, and lighter. BTW, the change from one to the other could not be automatic, but, according to current rules, must be triggered by the driver.

Tyhe flat bottom rules force a flat bottom between the front axle line and the rear. Also, the middle bit has to be the plank. For these reasons, the underfloor air intake is probably not on. It would be possible to have it in the side pods, but I expect the designers have tested various options and found that the overhead intake gives the least drag

[desmo]

See the thread: Evacuation Alert for my take on drawing air from the underside of the car. I figure it would cost some horsepower but might allow faster lap times nevertheless.

[SalutGilles 1]

But if the undertray intake was going to cost hp, there could also be a regular intake, the floor scoops acting merely as aerodynamic devices.

And if the differential was centrifical? that would neither be automatic or manual, it would just happen

[MN]

I am looking at my Mid-Ship Lotus Europa now.
(1/24 model ha ha ha)

Guess what I see at undertray, just befor the engine.... two large holes, they look nothing but airintakes!
I'm not too sure if it would violate F1's flat bottom reguration.

Separate gears for starting.... hmmmmm.... again I don't know but,
DBW(drive by wire) is very sophisticated mechanism, it does many different functions, it can give you traction control effect that might help standing start.


[This message has been edited by MN (edited 03-22-2000).]

[SalutGilles]

my concern is mainly in slowish corners on faster tracks. the car is geared for top speed, and a lower gear, first or second, depending, will just yield wheelspin. but if the differential is, at that speed, "geared" for acceleration, but perhaps not power, the response would be quick and neat. as the car accelerated, the differential would then change, and favor top end speed.

but who knows?

[davo]

At different times I thought teams had produced "3 shaft" gear boxes. Not being a g/box designer myself I am happy to stand corrected but wouldn't it be possible to do some thing similar to what is being talked about with this concept??? Alternatively the "3 shaft" concept doing something else?