top of page

<

>

Diwheel: A two wheeled, pedal powered vehicle

Creative Fields

Engineering

 

Course or Client

ENGS 146 Computer Aided Mechanical Design

 

Completion Date

Spring 2015

 

Skills

SolidWorks Professional Certification         Mechanical Design

SolidWorks Simulation Tools                          Machining

TIG Welding                                                Milling, Lathing                          

Challenge: To design, build and race a pedal-powered diwheel as the culminating project for Computer Aided Mechanical Design.

Winner of the 2015 ENGS 146 Diwheel Competition

Received the Best Fits and Finishes Award

 The Bevel is in the Details

  Team: Bevel's Advocate

 

   With head-turning styling, seamlessly smooth acceleration, and that indescribable, but incredibly potent diwheel allure, the Bevel’s Advocate is one of the most desirable diwsheel rides on the market. At an applied rider torque of 26 lb-ft, converting to 5.5 lb-ft[2] on each wheel, this diwheel accelerates from 0 to 5 mph in under 10 seconds.  Helping to make Bevel’s Advocate’s sublime driving dynamics possible is a rigid, open chassis that features advanced hardened steel and Thayer machine shop manufacturing and welding techniques.  The suspension is derived from hoop spring between the offset drive wheel several inches above the center of mass and the front guide wheel, and the custom made rear differential maintains smooth turning for tight maneuverability.  Standard aluminum bike brakes are effective at bringing the Bevel’s Advocate down from extreme diwheel speeds, and the anti-gerbilling mechanisms provide both stylistic additions as well balance and over-correction protection.

 

 

 

    Sporting a 135° reclined rider angle, and optimized for riders from 5’2” to 6’4” Bevel’s Advocate is balanced at equilibrium with and without a rider.  At 31.5” in width this diwheel has a 0° turning radius.  With four speed shifting, acceleration at the start line is smooth, and avoids unnecessary torqueing on the drive mechanism by allowing the rider to build momentum and speed as they shift into higher gears, instead of always starting in their race gear.

Above | Competion Day

My Contribution 

 

   I flourish working on teams.  I am often looked to as a leader and creative influence, but I am a team player at heart and often support my teammates to develop their own leadership.  On this project I was the point person for project management and making sure my team finished several days ahead of the other teams, so that we could test, break and fix any weakness in our design before competition day.  I designed, prototyped and built the steering and braking system. I MIG welded the chassis frame, and built welding jigs for prcise alignment, especially of the drive and differential system.  I co-designed our differential and came up with wild ideas to push our team to think beyond prior art.

Check out our final report for

  • SolidWorks simulation studies

  • Engineering drawings

  • Bill of materials

  • Detailed descriptions of key assemblies

  • Manufacturing & assembly

Manufacturing & Assembly

Pictorally.

Videos

| Differential in motion.                                               | Plasma cutter making gussets.                   | Maneuverability testing.

Competition Day

Above | ENGS 146 Class | Spring 2015 on competition day.  Bevel's Advocate in black with orange accents.

Below | Left, the team with Professor Diamond. Center, Silas making the final turn. Right, Diwheel preparing for the plunger challenge. 

bottom of page