Two-horspower collector's item (an automotive forerunner)

[kenvlach]

Chariot with scenes from the life of the Greek hero Achilles
Etruscan, Archaic, 2nd quarter of the 6th century B.C.
Found near Monteleone di Spoleto in 1902
Bronze inlaid with ivory; total height: 51 5/8 in. (131.1 cm); length of pole: 82 1/4 in. (208.9 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Rogers Fund, 1903 (03.23.1)

http://www.metmuseum.org/special/greek_roman/viewone.asp?item=26&view=l

 

[GregLocock]

Why does the axle poke so far out?

It's not a trick question.

Cheers

Greg Locock

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[MintJulep]

To get sufficient stiffness in the bearings to prevent undesired changes in camber and toe angle.

 

[WGJ]

The engine mount look like they'll take quite a variety of power units.

Bill

 

[patprimmer]

Bill, I agree, but they are strictly limited to a 2 horse power rating.



Regards

eng-tips, by professional engineers for professional engineers
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

 

[WGJ]

I see. Perhaps they could be boosted somehow?

Avenues for investigation:

- higher calorific value fuels
- improving the coeff of friction between the power units and the road
- afterburning the increased waste gasses as a result of the higher cal value fuels
- a sharp stick


Bill

 

[kenvlach]

Maybe optional wide rims for soft terrain?

 

[MintJulep]

I'm sure many of you have seen this before - the not entirely true, but not entirely false story that links modern railroad track gauge to Roman chariots.

http://www.snopes.com/history/american/gauge.htm

 

[MintJulep]

And another useless but interesting piece of trivia:

The Japanese word for rail car is transliterated as "sharyo" shar-y-o, which is pronounced remarkably similarly to chariot.

 

[MacGyverS2000]

I would hate to think where the air would have to be blown into to make these forced induction... :-(

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[NickE]

If more torque were necessary do you think that the 2 horse power drive attachement could be modified to accpet a 2 ox power drive?

Nick
I love materials science!

 

[Comcokid]

Just to think that: what we need today they had a long time ago. A completely "Green", non-polluting, environmentally friendly, low-carbon footprint, low-impact, and pure organic mode of transportation made from 100% recyclable materials. And, your not dependent on foreign oil!

 

[MacGyverS2000]

@Comco:

No air conditioning, you're positioned right behind the power plant's exhaust, "fueling" took an hour in a grass field, no theft deterrent, and you couldn't leave it in the driveway unattended for months on end.

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[Fabrico]

Why does the axle poke so far out?

It's not a trick question.

Thinking the same thing. I figured either: a) the track width is adjustable for different uses, or b) someone cleaning it a thousand or two years ago put them back on the wrong way and changed history.

 

[dickon17]

Regarding the axles. My guess is this allows for a soldier to stand with a foot on each side of the wheel. This way 3 people can be carried.

 

[NickE]

The axle doesnt spin, the wheel spins on the axle, and likely a bronze bush lubricated with animal based solids lubricant.

In highly aggressive driving conditions, it would be advantageous to attach the ancient equivalent of the spinner hubcap to the axle, if they were attached to the wheel when utilized in heavy traffic may cause undesireable effects on the users vehicle, as opposed to the defeding vehicle.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinner_(wheel)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chariot_tactics

 

[Peter7307]

In some version of close quarters racing (and battles as well) the trick was to get your chariot along side that of the opposition so that the axle was slightly ahead or behind the axle of the other chariot.

A quick side ways move pushed the axle of one chariot into the wheel spokes of the other thus damaging the wheel and putting the opposition out of the running.

This assumes the opposition had not also thought of the same trick.

Bodacia (spelling?) was reputed to have had long blades fitted to the revolving hubs of her chariot to scythe through the rampaging hordes of the attackers.

Pete.

 

[MikeHalloran]

If you think the powerplant is non- polluting, you're a city kid.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[cibachrome]

Looks like a two track system still in use today. Sometimes you want the wheels in the horses track (ie. on grass), sometimes (as in mud) you don't. With the same end pins, all you need to do is flip the wheels on the axle spacer.

There are some zoomable pix at the Met muzeum.

 

[waross]

I thought that the shaft extensions may be used to install the 4 HP option.
Re the oxen upgrade; That may exchange draw bar pull for velocity with the same or reduced HP.
Anyone have a current Hp to Op conversion chart?
Yours
Bill