Re: [ST] Counter Rotating Brakes

["Emile Nossin" <Emile@xxxxxxxxxx>]

>From: Matt Knowles
>Seems like an awful lot of unsprung weight. I'm no physicist but it 
>also seams like if you have the wheel rotating in one direction there a 
>gyroscopic effect on the axle. Rotating the disc in the opposite 
>direction seems like it would also have a gyroscopic effect. It seems 
>like it would be additive rather than that they would cancel each other 
>out.

That's the whole point, Matt. A normal wheel including brake disc
always has precession, which is the "gyroscopic effect" you are
talking about. You can counter precession by a rotation in the
opposite direction. I'm guessing you think "gyroscopic effect"
is some kind of magical "stabilizing" (more like resisting) force,
but it is actually the precession force of a rotating mass that
causes a gyro to stay relatively stable in space.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precession

It's a bit like these helicopter types:
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/images/AIR_Ka-50_Black_Shark_lg.jpg
http://www.raf.mod.uk/downloads/wallpaper/chinook_04_1024.jpg

The two counterrotating blades take care of the normally one sided
torque as well as the precession problems, so no 90 degree tailrotor
is needed (which still doesn't solve all the effects though which
make heli flying so hard).

The only weight added with the counterrotating brakes is the gear
system. Still, the advantages of the system probably outweigh
the disadvantages of the extra weight by far, especially in racing.
Braking and handling are significantly enhanced I think, I'm curious
to see how this will develop further. Just imagine you'll be able to
safely apply much more agressive steering input with much more precision,
more stability, much less effort and not have any precession induced
leaning during wheelying (which is what happens all the time in racing),
no wobbling, no headshaking... Sounds good to me (if I'd be a racer).

Emile
www.piloot.com

_______________________________________________
Triumph Sprint ST/RS mailing list
Send list posts to ST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Change your list options at www.Triumphnet.com