Twin 250 for Formula Car

The Twin 250 Formula project lives on at the University of Idaho through the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Formula champions competition.The engine design combines two 250cc 4-stroke motorcycle enginges, with one output for both leaving the same crankcase. The engines are oriented 180° from one another, so that the moment caused by one rotating crankshaft is corrected by the other crankshaft rotating in the opposite direction.

Background
Dr. Edwin Odom started planning the project in 2012, and in 2015 students Dustin Clelland and James Founds started phase one of the twin 250 cc design. Clelland and Founds modeled a design which eliminated the chain drive, reduced the size of the engine envelope (shown top right), and corrected the moment caused by the rotating crankshafts.

Problem Statement
It is desired to have an engine-drivetrain combination consisting of two 250cc YZF motorbike engines. The engines mount in opposite orientation from one another in order to cancel moments caused by the reciprocal motion inside the running twin engine. The clutch output leads to a sequential manual transmission, then to a ring and pinion, through a limited slip differential, and finally to the wheels. The twin 250 project has many unknowns (linkage, rear differential alignment, strength analysis, weight distributions, etc.), but the end goal is to have a well-designed and analyzed plan for manufacturing, ordering, and installing the engine system in the formula car.

Project Goals

 * Utilize as many stock (existing) parts as possible from previous projects.
 * Design a safe and functional crankcase and rear-end.
 * Complete fatigue analysis on the entire design.
 * Manufacture and install the engine system in the formula car.

Updating Previous Design
Starting spring semester of 2017 students Zhengsong Xia and Sammy Stuhlman started phase two of the project. With engine orientation and output design outlined the team is focusing on designing a crankcase for the engines, a driveshaft, and custom fitting a ring, pinion, and differential into one rear end. Return to contents

Spring/Summer 2017 Design
Crankcase parts and assembly.

Clutch Side of Engine Case

Gear Side of Engine Case

Stress Analysis of Engine Case

Team Members
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 * ZhengsongXia: I’m am a student at the University of Idaho that is graduating with my Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering in summer 2017. I'm from China. After four year studing at University of Idaho, I learnd a lot of knowledge from UI general course. Even though it was really hard to compelete my Engineering degree, but I really enjoy it. In the future, my future work will keep focus on the vehicle engine design or jet engine. Also, My another dream will travelling round the world
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