Fuel Tank Side Impact Protection

[Allen]

Hey,

So I am a little confused about what it means to have side impact protection on the fuel tank. I saw Guelph, Texas A&M, Binghampton (sp?) with fuel tanks that were not in the side impact protection structure, but instead had small tubes or non side impact tubes protecting it. Is this going to be acceptable for this year's Formula West? It's a lot easier for us to put the tank behind the driver, but it's also behind the roll hoop. We have several .5 x 049 tubes structural tubes that protect it, but I don't know if it is kosher with the rules. Thanks for your help!

-Allen

[Allen]

Hey,

So I am a little confused about what it means to have side impact protection on the fuel tank. I saw Guelph, Texas A&M, Binghampton (sp?) with fuel tanks that were not in the side impact protection structure, but instead had small tubes or non side impact tubes protecting it. Is this going to be acceptable for this year's Formula West? It's a lot easier for us to put the tank behind the driver, but it's also behind the roll hoop. We have several .5 x 049 tubes structural tubes that protect it, but I don't know if it is kosher with the rules. Thanks for your help!

-Allen

[terra_dactile]

hi allen,
for specific questions as the one you have posted, you should send it directly to the rules comittee, they will answer you by email,

sincerely,

Jude Berthault
ETS Formula SAE
Steering System Leader
Brake System R&D

[Nihal]

Here are pictures of some of the cars that we were wondering about, the pics are courtesy of Leon from WWU:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v399/00scrub/DSC00632.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v399/00scrub/DSC00134.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v399/00scrub/HPIM0699.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v399/00scrub/IMG_0450.jpg

and also this car:
http://www.brunelracing.co.uk/media/formulastudent2003/4.jpg

[jsmooz]

Seeming as our car (Michigan - Dearborn) is in the third pic I'll respond.

If you look closely you'll notice that every pic posted has the fuel tank within the major structure of the car. If you do this you sshouldn't need any other protection. I think what you are confused on is the rules are stating that if you mount you fuel tank outside of the main structure of the frame you need to protect it so that, in the event of a crash/impact, the tank won't easily be punctured or ripped off.

Our tank sat behind the driver smack dab between the main roll hoop sides. You can't get any more protected than that.

[SeanM]

The rules only specify extra side impact protection for gas tanks and such that are placed outside the main structre for example if you want to put it in a side pod. the Side impact structure for mounting the gas tank outside the main structure has to be the same as the side impact structure for the drivers compartment.

[Ben Beacock]

As Guelph's 05 car is on there as well, you'll notice that the filler cap is connected with flexible clear tubing. the 04 had a rigid tube welded to the tank, which did not pass tech with the filler neck past the major frame of the car. We had to weld a rather large brace around the filler cap to protect from side impacts.

[Dave A Cote]

So does that mean a flexible filler neck is allowed outside the major structure of the frame and a rigid filler neck is not allowed?

[Dave A Cote]

We were thinking of something like this, if we could simply do this with flexible tubing, that would be great

http://homepage.usask.ca/~dac172/filler%20neck.jpg

Dave

[JuicedH22]

Just out of curiosity. how did you get that accurate of an engine model?

[Dave A Cote]

There was a iges model of a F4 floating around a couple years ago. It was pretty crude so I used it for dimensions and drew this block up in Solidworks. Not more useful, just prettier.

Dave

[JuicedH22]

hmm, is that compatible with Solid Edge? and if so, could I talk you into sending me the .par file???

[Dave A Cote]

I am not sure if it is compatible or not, I have never used solid edge. I have been considering a Solidworks drafting company so I am trying to make a good render of our 2006 FSAE entry.

Dave