Page Comparison

2 BAR LINKAGE SYSTEM

• Image RemovedImage Added

  Link to a gif showing a similar system: https://gifs.com/gif/r83AgW

• Pros:

  • Relatively simple mechanism

    • Two rods connected by an internal pin. At the end points are mounted to external pins

    • To lock it in place an intermediate brace piece can sit under the internal pin connection (as shown in sketch below)

      • 

      • Note the physical connection from the brace piece to Link B can take many forms

        • A manual pin that slots into Link B

        • A pin that pushes against a “single direction locking arm” (see sketch below for clarification)

        • 

  • Minimal Less mounting space required compared to other concepts

    • Only need two mounting areas for the external pin connection (one on the trunk, the other on the side panel)

• Cons:

  • Can only lock at one height

  • Will need additional components to have a supported closing of the trunk

    • i.e. in its current form you must manually close the trunk to prevent it from slamming

SINGLE SLIDING BAR MECHANISM

• A single bar is mounted to two external mounting pins

  • One is on the trunk

  • The other is mounted to a shaft that it can slide along

    • 

    • As noted above, to lock the mechanism the bottom mount must be secured in its position along the shaft

      • This can be done through a manual pin system

• Pros:

  • Relatively simple in nature

    • Only requires shaft, single linkage and external pin mounts

  • Allows for locking at variable heights

  • Could (relatively) easily integrate a supported closing mechanism

    • At the very end of the shaft would need something to slow the velocity of the bottom mount

  • Adaptable

    • Allows for the ability to become a motorized system

    • Can just as easily work as a manual system

• Cons:

  • Will need lots of horizontal room for the shaft

  • Securing may not be easy to do in a way that doesn’t require manual input

  • May weigh more than other designs due to the shaft

MOTORIZED COMPRESSED AIR SUPPORT STRUT

• Similar mechanism to conventional cars

• Will work in a similar manner

  • Two attachment points, one on the trunk another on the side

  • When opening the piston will extend, pushing

    • At apex the compressed air supports the piston, preventing it from contracting and the trunk

    up

    • closing

  • When closing, the force you exert will be greater than what the compressed air within can resist

    • Causing the piston

    will

    • to contract

    , pulling

    • and the trunk

    down

    • to close

• Pros:

  • Allows for automatic opening and closing of the trunk

    Can also provide

    supported

    close of the trunk

    Should still allow for manual opening and closing of the trunk

  • May be more lightweight compared to other solutions

• Cons:

  • Probably will need to purchase this

    • Potentially be more expensive

  • Will be another element that draws power from the battery box

  • Will need power and control wire connections

    • May be hard to find one that has the exact specifications we need

    • If we get ones that are too highly overspecced, it will take a higher than normal amount of force to close the trunk

  • May be hard to integrate these factory components (which are designed for specific makes and models of production cars) into our custom car

    • Mounting may be an issue

SCISSOR JACK MECHANISM

• Top of scissor jack will mount to roof, bottom of scissor jack will mount to side panel

• Will work as conventional scissor jacks do

  • Threaded bar is spun

    • Clockwise or counterclockwise spin will cause jack to raise or lower

• Pros:

  • Can have automatic opening and closing of trunk (if a motor is used)

    • Users do not need to physically open the trunk

  • Can support the roof at a variable angle

• Cons:

  • If a motor is used, this is another element that will draw power from the battery box

    • Also will add additional weight (on top of the scissor jack itself)

    • Will require power and control wire connections

    • Would be hard to integrate a manual operation of the scissor jack

      • Physically moving the motor’s axle may cause grinding of internal motor gears

  • If no motor is used (manual operation only) this would be physically strenuous

  • Will need horizontal space for the threaded bar to extend into