discussion on Torsion bar for flippac on an engineering site

[austintaco]

I found this while looking for info on adjusting the alignment of the flippac lid.

http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=326280

This may have been posted before, but if not, enjoy. Is this someone on Expo?

I still didn't find info on adjusting the lid alignment

 

[trump]

LOL! The mind of an engineer is a busy, busy place.

What do you mean by adjusting the lid alignment?

 

[Martyn]

Alignment:
The hinges are bolted to the main shell and the lid.
Access to the bolts is via holes in the inner shell.
Lift the lid to a vertical position
Loosen the bolts on the side that needs to be moved
Re-tighten bolts

 

[austintaco]

Thanks again, Martyn!

My lid has shifted so that it closes with more overhang on the driver side. To get it to line up, I have to tug on the lid while my wife does the passenger side clamp.

I'll take Martyn's advice and get that lid straightened out. Pun intended.

 

[4xdog]

I don't quite get some of his assumptions. Maybe there's more than I realize, but 500 lb as the weight pivoting on the hinge seems high. And 95% of the deployed weight acting on the torsion bar also seems very high -- I thought that was mostly a static load borne by the hinges and the hood prop rods, not the torsion bar.

To aid flipping open of top a torsion bar seems a simple and reasonably well-engineered solution. The op seems to be expecting more of that torsion bar than I apparently am...


Don

 

[r_w]

LOL! The mind of an engineer is a busy, busy place.

6 places of precision based on a bad assumption. We used to call them paper engineers, now I guess they are keyboard jockeys.

No common sense, never actually picked up a tool or tried to do what they are building. All engineers need to work as journeymen, mechanics, maintence, etc. for what they are designing before/during their schooling.

I learned WAY more working on the farm or in the engineering shop than I did in class on how to be a real engineer.

Sorry, rant off.

But I, too, have marveled that the torsion bar failures are as low as they are. It is a pretty insane job they are trying to pull off--if this was .gov work and you could spend $1000+ each, sure, but to do it on a budget?!?