New this year? -> 3.4.14 Driver's Leg Protection

[Nate Notta]

Can someone confirm that this is a new rule this year, and everybody is in fact shielding their steering column CV joints, steering racks and rockers with solid shields?

Thanks I appreciate it very much...


3.4.14 Driver's Leg Protection
To keep the driver's legs away from moving or sharp components, all
moving suspension and steering components, and other sharp edges
inside the cockpit between the front roll hoop and a vertical plane 100
mm (4 inches) rearward of the pedals, must be shielded with a shield
made of a solid material. Moving components include, but are not
limited to springs, shock absorbers, rocker arms, anti-roll/sway bars,
steering racks and steering column CV joints.
Covers over suspension and steering components must be removable to
allow inspection of the mounting points.3.4.14 Driver's Leg Protection
To keep the driver's legs away from moving or sharp components, all
moving suspension and steering components, and other sharp edges
inside the cockpit between the front roll hoop and a vertical plane 100
mm (4 inches) rearward of the pedals, must be shielded with a shield
made of a solid material. Moving components include, but are not
limited to springs, shock absorbers, rocker arms, anti-roll/sway bars,
steering racks and steering column CV joints.
Covers over suspension and steering components must be removable to
allow inspection of the mounting points.

[BeaverGuy]

It is a new rule this year, and not only in Formula but Baja too. I mentioned it a few times to teammates early in the design process and the pretty much just ignored it and said they'ld get to it later, but now that they have the car done and are driving I have no clue if they have actually sheilded all the components.

[drivetrainUW-Platt]

steering system? every car I have ever seen had at least the shafts exposed and the box???

what we talking for solid material, thin guage alum or steel or what?

anyone else take this rule into effect?

[Greg H]

I assume that the housings that come standard with our steering u-joints will work, and they just don't want you to get pinched up in the swivel components.

[Psychosis]

i think it implies that rubber gaitors over steering CV joints arent good enough anymore

[Nate Notta]

Hmm I wonder why this wasn't cleared up earlier? We always have rubber boots over our rack and steering column CV's, but this rule states that we need "a shield made of a solid material"... so if rubber boots qualify as solid, what was the point of them specifying ... made of a solid material? I don't think there was a risk of teams using liquid or vapour shields.

So based on that I think they must mean rigid, i.e. steel or carbon fibre.

[Homemade WRX]

bring aluminum foil and some duct tape...or just alumized tape...
I'm wondering about to what extent they want covered...

[Dr Claw]

I'd vouch for saran wrap, or packing tape..

I want our guards clear - i want to see the column when it's moving for a visual inspection. If that thing is behind a sheet of aluminum, your never going to be able to see cracks or predict/prevent a failure.. I dont like this rule, but we are going to use some acrylic or polycarb tubing as our guards

[Marshall Grice]

Neoprene seems solid enough to me...

My guess is that they're specifically disallowing the teams that run the ujoints with out covers or have drivers legs pressed up against the springs. I know most teams usually have these things sorted out but some don't.

[Michael Royce]

"Our Nig" has nothing on you guys!! If you have a question about this rule, all you have to do is ask instead of whinging!

A number of teams have asked questions on this topic, and I have just posted some of these questions and the answers in the FAQ section of the official SAE website at:

http://www.formulasae.org/forums/formula/dispatch.cgi/r...r_s%20Leg%20Protectn (http://www.formulasae.org/forums/formula/dispatch.cgi/rules/docProfile/100114/d20060428170523/No/3.4.14%20Driver_s%20Leg%20Protectn)

[Marshall Grice]

Posting the FAQ before we start whining might prevent us from whining...

Thanks for clearing it up for us though.

[Michael Royce]

Marshall,
Point taken. We do now have the FAQ's, which is something new for this year. For the 2006 competitions we are now on question #367 (in effect 487 questions due to multiple questions per submission etc.) Choosing which questions to post as FAQ's is a challenge. We did not realize that this particular topic would raise so much consternation.

[Kirk Feldkamp]

Would it be prudent to add a FSAE FAQ section on this site for Mr. Royce and the rules committee types to use? I don't know many people that actually go to, or even know about, the formulasae.org site. I'm pretty sure most everyone comes here for fsae questions.

Just a thought.

-Kirk

[CMURacing - Prometheus]

maybe another sticky...most forums these days have 3 or 4 stickies at the top of the discussions relating to stuff like this

[Steve Yao]

Kirk,

Though FSAE.com has been a steady and reliable forum for the community as long as I have been in FSAE, it is not sanctioned, maintained or administered by SAE. As such, the rules committee will not rely on it for communication of official policy/updates. While I agree more people read these forums, SAE cannot rely upon fsae.com when they have no control over it.

If FSAE students are unaware of the formulasae.org, they should. IIRC it is stated in the rules that teams should periodically check the newletters and SAE website for updates. This is the job of the advisors or team captains.

-2 cents


Originally posted by turbotwig:
Would it be prudent to add a FSAE FAQ section on this site for Mr. Royce and the rules committee types to use? I don't know many people that actually go to, or even know about, the formulasae.org site. I'm pretty sure most everyone comes here for fsae questions.

Just a thought.

-Kirk

[Kirk Feldkamp]

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em? http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

I don't see this as an issue of control. These forums are obviously recognized by the powers that be, otherwise Michael Royce wouldn't swing by and post every once and a while. If the official rules types were given a moderator position on a "rules" section of the forum that would seem to be a great benefit to a lot of teams. That section could consist of topical FAQ's and would be a fantastic area to hold rules discussions with the people making the decisions (e.g. for the throttle position change proposal).

I'll see your 2 cents and raise you a nickel.

-Kirk

[Steve Yao]

heh. My issue with control actually has to do with physical ownership in addition to moderation. I don't know who runs the forum, where is it hosted, or who is paying for the bandwidth, but what guarantee does SAE have that the site would always be available.

I don't believe fsae.com should replace formulasae.org unless those issues are sorted out. Of course, if the committee had the time and inclination, nothing is keeping them from posting here in addition to the official site. Which is probably what you might have been trying to get at. Though I am sure Mr. Royce et al, have more than a few things to juggle without having to double post every SAE communicae.

...and we totally jacked this thread... http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

[Kirk Feldkamp]

...swiped it like candy from a baby.

Oops?

-Kirk

[mark zhai]

I emailed the rules committee awhile ago about 3.4.14. Basic answer: put something around your nuts, bolts, sharp 90 degree edges, etc. If you can catch your leg on something protruding, cover it up. And something in between shock/spring/suspension components.

[Marshall Grice]

emailed the rules committee awhile ago about 3.4.14. Basic answer: put something around your nuts,

...can't...stop...laughing