Hydraulic motor sizing - weird project

[oldnslo]

cmaas,
Salt water does add another layer of concern or complexity. I believe that every wheel motor I have ever seen has cast iron housing so corrosion protection will be required.

Why could you not make two wheel chain drive. Separate drive motor for each wheel with chain final drive. Could provide gear reduction so use smaller lower cost motor and also keep them out of the water.

I would definitely make this a true 2 wheel drive since driving out of water one tire should easily be on a little mud and spin out.

Good luck on cost being less than three times your estimate and five times longer to build. This is how most of my projects end up...

Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving

 

[cmaas]

cmaas,
Salt water does add another layer of concern or complexity. I believe that every wheel motor I have ever seen has cast iron housing so corrosion protection will be required.

Why could you not make two wheel chain drive. Separate drive motor for each wheel with chain final drive. Could provide gear reduction so use smaller lower cost motor and also keep them out of the water.
I would definitely make this a true 2 wheel drive since driving out of water one tire should easily be on a little mud and spin out.

Good luck on cost being less than three times your estimate and five times longer to build. This is how most of my projects end up...

Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving

Two wheel chain drive would work. It make things a little worse for corrosion - now I would have wheel hub and bearings, sprocket and chain added to the mix. Though I can get stainless steel chain and I can make stainless sprockets. (when I looked into it ss sprockets were stupidly expensive. Maybe there's an alloy version that would work). Short duration salt water submersion is really no different than salt water splash so the motor would still be subject to corrosion. Fresh water rinsing is really a good idea. I have toyed with the idea of setting up a permanent rinse system at each wheel. Just quick connect the garden hose to it after a trip. But like you say the gearing would be a real benefit to chain drive so I am not discarding the idea completely yet.

I'm starting to think something like two 45cu in wheel motors run by a 6cu in gear pump might be what I build this system around. I could belt drive the pump off the 3,000 - 4,000rpm propeller drive shaft and engage it using an electric clutch.

Got any thoughts on using an oil cooler? I'm thinking that they must restrict the flow somewhat but haven't been able to find out anything about that. I would like to reduce weight wherever I can and if I can carry less oil by using a cooler I'm willing to consider it.

Happy Thanksgiving to you too!

 

[oldnslo]

Oil colors are for low pressure return line so sized correctly they only add 20 - 30 PSI. But again not sure how these stand up to salt spray though.

I believe Hydac has a decent website for their heat exchanger product line and are focused on the mobile industry with both DC electric & hydraulic motor fan drives. This could provide some idea on size and weight Vs heat rejection capabilities. The huge factor is how many HP or BTUs do you need to remove the oil. Starting point Rule of thumb is figure 20 - 25% of input power.

 

[MossRoad]

One more question... why do you need the barge to drive on land?

 

[cmaas]

One more question... why do you need the barge to drive on land?

Lots of good reasons. Starting with in the Summer it's a lot easier to find a parking spot at the launching ramp parking lot than to find dock space. At both ends of the trip. In winter the barge will be out of the water in bad weather so I don't need to worry about it getting banged up at the dock or what's happening to it if its hanging on a mooring in a storm. And no bottom paint or scraping barnacles.

It means we can basically drive to the store on the next island over and not have to lug bags of animal feed and groceries etc. up and down the dock ramps.

That's what I tell my wife anyway. Really the deal is you can pick up one of these little electric Fiats pretty cheap. They are a blast to drive. I wouldn't be surprised if I could beat a Porsche 911 to 50 unless he dropped the clutch. Besides I think this project is going to be a really fun and interesting challenge.

Happy Thanksgiving

 

[LouNY]

I like your barge idea.
But would it be easier to install long folding ramps on the barge.
Unfold when grounded out drive the car off, hook to the barge and tow it like a trailer to the parking lot.
You would need a small power source to power the ramps in and out and possible a winch to pull the barge to the car when it was safely secured.

 

[cmaas]

I like your barge idea.
But would it be easier to install long folding ramps on the barge.
Unfold when grounded out drive the car off, hook to the barge and tow it like a trailer to the parking lot.
You would need a small power source to power the ramps in and out and possible a winch to pull the barge to the car when it was safely secured.

Your idea has merit for sure. My goal is to drive from my house to the grocery store on another island and back home without getting out of the car, except to go into the store. We're trying to figure out ways to keep living on a remote island as we get old. And a helicopter isn't in the budget.

The picture is of us bring the Fiat over a few of days ago on a steel barge I built. That barge mostly gets used for a hay trailer these days.

 

[cmaas]

I have tested the Fiat powered barge in the water. Now it's time to start on the hydraulic wheels.

I plan to use two hub mounted motors on the front wheels. You can see the retractable leg with hub motor in the photo. Those hub motors need to have speed and forward/reverse control for each motor.

I'd like to have a control for those motors with me in the car but can't really drag those hydraulic hoses in there. I'm hoping I can use a switch (joy stick?) that controls a proportional valve. Is that how its done?

 

[Patrick Herd]

Dana Brevini have proportional control valves which will do what you want and can be electronically controlled remotely: Mobile valves HPV310 Series | Brevini Fluid Power I can probably help you find a Brevini project engineer near you. Disclaimer: I'm not an employee, just a happy customer.

 

[cmaas]

Dana Brevini have proportional control valves which will do what you want and can be electronically controlled remotely: Mobile valves HPV310 Series | Brevini Fluid Power I can probably help you find a Brevini project engineer near you. Disclaimer: I'm not an employee, just a happy customer.

Thanks! I will have a look.