Transportation has become a very important part of everyone’s lifestyle. Greater efforts and initiatives are being undertaken to come up with new and improved methods of travelling.
Automobile companies all over are investing exorbitant amounts of resources to bring out the best, cutting edge transportation solutions. However, resources are not the only element needed to bring out an innovation.
A bunch of college students have decided to work on a low cost rural Utility vehicle for their final year project.
At CarTrade.com, we decided to bring this project to the public eye and showcase the potential of these engineers, who studying in the Final Year of Diploma in Automobile Engineering, have invented a multi utility Go-Kart for the uneven road conditions of the rural areas keeping utility and practicality as its highlights.
Multi Utility GO-Kart: Purpose behind it
This multi utility Go-Kart has been designed keeping the rural road conditions in consideration. It can be used for public as well as goods transport. The frame work done it is very strong and makes it able to carry great loads. In order to increase the torque potential of the engine, it has been re-bored from its stock dimensions.
Applications of this vehicle can be varied by modifying the ground clearance of the vehicle. It can be used for ploughing in fields and other agro based activities, while it also can be used as an all terrain vehicle with a substantially raised ground clearance.
The most common form of a non-racing buggy consists of a tube frame because it is sturdy and simple to construct and repair. The use of steel tubes for frame gives it’s a better wall thickness along with superior strength. The engine displacement can be selected according to the different applications. It ranges from the pint sized 50cc to massive 7000 cc, which are used in professional racing.
The transmission options for these buggies are both manual as well as automatic. Even this depends on the displacement of the engine used. However, there is no fixed relation between them.
Multi Utility GO-Kart: Technical Specifications
| Engine type | 4 Stroke, Single cylinder,Air cooled with OHC |
| Displacement | 110 CC |
| Compression ratio | 9.0:1 |
| Maximum Power | 7.0PS/7000 RPM |
| Maximum Torque | 7.85NM/5000 RPM |
| Ignition | CDI |
| Air filter | Viscous type paper element |
| Starting | Self start |
| Wheel base | 1238mm |
| Tyre Size | 90/100-10 53J |
| Wheel type | Alloy |
| Brakes | Drum brakes 130mm dia |
| Suspension | Front, bottom link with spring loaded hydraulic damper |
| Rear, spring loaded gas shock absorber and a spring loaded shock absorber fitted to engine | |
| Clutch | Spring type auto clutch |
| Gear box | V-Matic |
| Battery | 12V, 5Ah |
Multi Utility GO-Kart: Design and Construction
The engine and the other materials which were used for this project were acquired from a scrap yard. The chassis of this vehicle consists of a frame built by welding two scooter chassis along with supporting frame work. A modified engine has been used. Its pistons have been replaced from the stock ones to the bigger ones as the cylinder has been bored.
Some additional supports have been given to the engine in order to keep it an elevated position.
The drive shaft had been milled and turned to increase its functionality as well as the finishing of it. The construction of the body had been kept simple as it is fixed with the help of nuts, bolts and allen screws.
In order to get rid of vibrations, two shock absorbers have been fitted in the middle of the frame. The front section of the vehicle has been affixed with 4 shock absorbers. A chain and sprocket arrangement is used to connect the two forks; this linkage also helps in steering the vehicle.
For the aesthetic appeal, the vehicle was painted in a glossy paint along with a primer coat to prevent the iron from getting rusted.
The engine doing work presently on this vehicle is a tweaked version, thus the performance parameters of this engine were a lot better comparatively. The new engine delivered a fuel efficiency of 30 - 35kmpl.
Multi Utility GO-Kart: Cost Analysis
| Material used | Quantity | Cost in Rs |
| Engine | 1 | 12175 |
| Chassis | 2 | 4250 |
| Fork | 2 | 1050 |
| Shock absorber | 6 | 1150 |
| Sprocket | 2 | 550 |
| Chain | 3 | 375 |
| Rim and brake drum front,rear | 4 | 1250 |
| Round pipe | 4 | 2800 |
| Steering wheel | 1 | 200 |
| Electrical accessories | NA | 2750 |
| Battery | 2 | 1800 |
| Tyre and tubes | 4 | 1100 |
| Bedding clamp,nut and bolt screws | 1 set | 585 |
| Consumables | 300 | |
| Labour | ||
| Lathe and welding works | 15250 | |
| Paint work | 250 | |
| Milling work | 1450 | |
| Transportation | 4250 | |
| Total in Rs: | 51535 | |
Conclusion
This is a simple yet an effective project in which students have put efforts in arranging everything right from scratch by getting an old engine, frames, getting fabrication work done etc. Not to forget that they are students and do have difficulty in arranging the required amount (more than Rs.50000 was spent on this).This model was displayed in few technical fairs including the one in Visvesvaraya Technological museum Bangalore where it has been awarded second price for innovative ideas of automobile engineering students.
The intention of this article is to give an insight into projects that are done at college level in automobile engineering. In general, most of the people, after graduation, tend to stick to their day to day work requirements/commitments. If people continue to keep the innovative spirit always and invest resources on innovative efforts, then it would help the country to progress at faster rate.
