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Show SELECTIVE ANTI-SWAY-BAR SYSTEMS: FUNCTION, SAFETY, AND CONVENIENCE FOR THE OFF-ROAD ENTHUSIAST James Fonnesbeck (Professor K.L. DeVries) Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Utah Sport utility vehicle safety requires anti-sway-bars to increase on-road stability and control. When off-road, anti-sway-bars pre- vent movement in the wheels to match terrain, which can cause traction loss. Common remedies for this loss of traction can be expensive, cumbersome, and/or dangerous. A selective anti-sway-bar system allows for safety on-road, as well as off-road performance. The goal of this project was to design and build selective anti-sway-bar systems with in-cab control. The systems engineered are exceptional in that they are 1) selec-tive from inside the cab of the vehicle, which means no getting dirty or struggling with manual disconnects. 2) They can be con-nected and disconnected at anytime (though there are exceptions in the operating specifics). 3) They allow for maximized movement in the vehicle's articulation, allowing for the desired traction as well as being simple to install and having the capability of being inexpensive. Due to patent potential, specifics of the designs cannot be shared at this time. The biggest overall improvement in the designs was the change from an exclusively electro-mechanical system to an electro-fluid-mechanical system. Results of testing on completed systems thus far have demonstrated success and have exceeded preliminary expectations. It is expected that further testing will continue to yield favorable results. |
