ME 4182 Midterm Presentation GT Racks October 5, 2005

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ME 4182 Midterm PresentationGT Racks October 5,
2005

• Manuel McMillanHyun LeeJapheth NelsonAndrew
  MrasekBrian CollinsRyan Glenn

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Objectives

• Project Selection
• Problem Statement
• Design Partition
• Patent Search
• Conceptual Designs
• Selection Analysis
• Proposed Direction

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Project Selection

• Roof mounted rack systems are popular since they
  offer the range of versatile carrying
  capabilities.
• Items such as bicycles, canoes, kayaks, camping
  equipment, snow sport gear, can be carried using
  the appropriate rack attachment.

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Project Selection

• Roof racks work great in most cases however
  their utility is limited by parking garages.
• .especially when transporting bicycles.

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Problem Statement

• There exists a need for a roof mounted bicycle
  carrier that will minimize the overall height
  added to a vehicle to allow the use of parking
  garages.
• Alternatives to roof mounted bicycle carrier
  systems currently available
• Hitch mount racks,
• These requires a user to own a vehicle with a
  tow hitch or the user must have a tow hitch
  installed.
• Trunk mounted removable racks,
• do not restrain a bicycle safely if the rack
  is not installed properly.

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Design Partition

• Attach Bike Carrier to Rack System
• -design attachment system to place trough rail
  onto standard rack system.
• Load and Secure Bike
• -bicycle must be supported fore and aft while
  ends while maintaining torsional rigidity.
• Lowering/Raising Mechanism
• -bicycle must lower easily, safely in a
  controlled manner.
• -bicycle should not damage car roof when
  lowered.
• -bicycle should be able to be lifted back to
  upright position for easy and stable
  loading/unloading.
• -place stress on rack and not on bike.
• Lock Lowered Bike in Position
• -keep bike from bouncing/traveling during
  driving

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Bounding Parameters

• Average vehicle height 57.0
• Garage height ranges between 66 and 7
  considered allowing a range of 21.0 to 27.0
  above the vehicle.
• Handlebars range from 18.0-25.0

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Patent Search

• No space saving bike racks were found during
  the patent and product searches.
• 2 Helpful patents were found related to assisted
  lifting of bicycles.

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Conceptual Designs Ratchet Concept
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Conceptual DesignsRoller Assist Concept
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Conceptual DesignsRotisserie Concept
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Selection Analysis
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Final Design Direction

• Rotisserie concept scored the highest when
  evaluated against other concepts.
• Final direction will build on the existing
  strengths and incorporate positive features from
  other concepts.

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• End Presentation
• Any Questions?