Steering Wheel

[Hansel]

Does anyone have an idea what an "almost circular shape" is?

[Hansel]

Does anyone have an idea what an "almost circular shape" is?

[Sam Zimmerman]

I think this is one of the rules that they are going to clarify, although I am not sure why the rule even exists.

[Charlie]

Basically the rule about the steering wheel being level to the front roll hoop can be circumvented with a flat-top or no-top steering wheel. But the spirit of the rule is violated when the wheel is turned. So I believe that is what the confusion & clarification is about.

[jack]

judging by UoW's wheel, it doesnt have to be all that round...

[Eddie Martin]

We have a slightly flat top to our steering wheel and when ever we have gone through tech the inspectors have turned the steering wheel to check if it clears at any angle.

In the rules it says that the steering wheel must be below the hoop at any angle.

I think the clarification was so that people don't bring square steering wheels.

[masterlurch]

hey I've a problem with my steering wheel.

my basic shape is a 5mm aluminium board. and now I need a material, that I can use for the handhold. it should be lightweight and rugged.

can anyone help me

thx

[J. Vinella]

Bent aluminum tube would work.

Many teams have adopted carbon fiber as their main material for the steering wheel. With the wheel being relatively high in the car I would agree you need to be looking for something lightweight. How "rugged" (area under the amorphous region http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif ) does this material need to be is debatable. I have seen wood work very well and look esthetically pleasing.

[Schraubär]

Don't you think 4mm alu would be stiff enough?

In my opinion there are many different materials which could be used:
-wood for example balsa
-hard foam
-some sort of modeling clay
-resin
-alu
-...

It depends on different factors what to use. Do you want to shape a ergonomic form, or do you want to have a constant geometry? You could build a core made of balsa and then add a few layers of synthetic material to make it "grippy" and waterproof...

[Schraubär]

I need some clarification on this rule:

"The steering wheel must have a continuous perimeter that is near circular
or near oval. "H"�, "Figure 8"�, or cutout wheels are not allowed."

Now i have seen many teams with a flat top and bottom steering wheel, which stands in contrast to the "continuos perimeter" thingy.
We would like to go with a flat top and bottom wheel because it's lighter and you get a better view on the instruments.
What do you think?

[A Richards]

It would still be a constant perimeter even if you had a flat top and bottom. Our steering wheel got questioned in 2005 and we got told that in future send them through a model for clarification. I suggest that you do this. Model up the wheel that you want and send a copy off to the rules committee. If they approve it then you have nothing to worry about.

I could only find one picture of our wheel from that year and it is in the picture below. It probably was pushing the boundary of the rule just a bit.


http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa249/deakinracetechnologies/CalderParkTest01007.jpg


Ashley Richards
Deakin Race Technologies
Team Manager

[Steve O]

Their big concern is the open steering wheel designs where if you hit something and it pulls the steering wheel you could get your hand caught in it...hence the continuous perimeter. As Ashley has stated, a flat top and/or bottom is still continuous perimeter.

figure 8
http://hess4less.com/catalog/images/drag%20wheel.bmp

First of all I know this is wii controller but still demonstrates the point! This is a cutout and if you cut the bottom off, it would be an H

http://www.alpus.com.tw/images/wii%20accessory/Steering%20Wheel.jpg

Hope that helps

Steve

[Schraubär]

Thx for clarification guys! Of course you are right with the continuos perimeter... i don't why but i associated perimeter with diameter http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif