Cockpit Internal Template Query

[tmw35]

Hello,

I'm having a bit of trouble interpretting rule T4.2, more specifically the 50mm slot down the centre of the template. This says it is for the steering column, but does that include supports and bracing?

I know the cockpit internal template has been querried to death over the last few years, but I can't find anything on this specific query, and I'm assuming several teams must have done this/had issues with its, so I wanted to get some advice.

I've attached a screenshot of what we're planning to brace the column with the template and slot superimposed (we're doing double UJs with a brace in between). Yellow and green parts are fixed braces/supports, black is rotating steering column. View is from the driver's seat, with the steering wheel removed.

602

From your exerience, is this kosher?

Thanks

[Jay Lawrence]

That looks to be approximately ok... best bet is to email the rules people for a clarification.

The rule necessarily includes supports and bracing because if it didn't there'd be nothing to stop you putting a brace across to the column from half way up your steering bulkhead or something, and trapping the driver (so the theory goes).

Also, you should introduce yourself and your team. #inbeforeclaude

[Bemo]

If the bracing/attachement of the column pass through the 50mm slot you're fine. But in your picture it looks like it is extremely close to the template. You shouldn't design that closely to the tamplate as you have to consider manufacturing tolerances, welding seams etc. It is quite painful if you come to the competition and have to change the attachement of your steering column because of that stuff. In CAD you should always have a couple of mm space to templates and percy. The best way is to design them bigger as they are and design in CAD like this was the size you have to fulfill. You will be surprised how close you will get at some spots anyway...

[tmw35]

Also, you should introduce yourself and your team. #inbeforeclaude

Apologies, where are my manners....
I'm Tom, and I'm currently (a relatively inexperienced) chief engineer for Full Blue Racing (University of Cambridge)

Thanks for your input guys. In terms of it being close, this was only a quick rough CAD model I put together to illustrate what I meant, and the template position was set with clearance from the floor mounted steering rack, so in reality it would be a fair bit lower at the driver's end

I had assued this would be okay as I saw some similar things at Silverstone last year, but I didn't question it at the time, and I wanted a second opinoin before we started putting torch to metal!

[Gr8Flux]

To further expand on this question, referencing (http://www.fsae.com/forums/showthread.php?12027-Cockpit-templates&highlight=template) I have another question. A previous chassis design of ours had the rack and pinion above the legs and the template would hit the rack and pinion as it is right in the middle and 8 inches behind the pedals, yet the year it competed had the same template rule. Will the template be moved around a rack and pinion as well, or was it a fluke they got through?

A picture of said column is attached: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/gJa7xN_NdDRz0y7VJzVZSZJWX8ozxeTIa7X3DyngoJU=w777-h585-no

Thanks!

[Pat Clarke]

Scott,
The template was specifically introduced to get rid of the 'shinbreaker' racks we were seeing.
The template will not be moved around the rack housing.
It is likely the year your car competed was the introductory year, when cars were not excluded but given a points penalty.
That freedom was for only one year.

Pat Clarke

[Ahmad Rezq]

Gr8Flux

IMO the main 2 reasons of the vertical template are :
- To make sure that there are no obstacles that would hurt the driver legs in case of any failure.
- To check that there is enough room for the driver to evacuate the car.

I can't imagine that the attached picture would pass the template test.

You can check this video from FSG TV about template test
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hLNttGSDpE

[Gr8Flux]

Thanks for the quick response Pat and Ahmad! That's what I suspected, though I wanted to confirm given I'm iterating my suspension off this car's.

[Pat Clarke]

Scott, I hate that bloody template rule.
A more simple way to overcome the 'shinbreaker' situation would have been to simply decree the Steering rack must be ahead of the drivers feet.
This would have avoided the fat cars we have , give suspension designers far more freedom and made the 'two or three pedals' choice more involved. It would also have avoided some of the dreadful steering solutions we currently see.
After all, we have the 5 sec exit rule to ensure there is sufficient space in there :-)

Pat