ANALYSIS OF THE ASPECTS THAT DETERMINE THE SELECTION OF THE DRIVE SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE DRIVEN BY COMPRESSED AIR

Abstract

Urgency of the research. Activities in the field of compressed air drive unit design are the subject of research into alternative energies for automotive drive. The competition mentioned in this article is intended to stimulate universities and high school students to make material outcomes in this area of research. These activities bring new, sometimes unconventional solutions to problems that can potentially bring about solutions applicable in technical practice. Target setting. The aim of this article was to map out possible ways of realizing a drive unit of a vehicle that is driven by compressed air. Based on an analysis of the most commonly used ways of solving this problem, the article indicates the direction of development of such a drive unit. Actual scientific researches and issues analysis. Research in this area consists in designing a drive unit that would allow dynamic driving at low compressed air consumption. This requires the perfect mastering of the theoretical knowledge about recirculation in compressed gas as well as the optimization of the power parameters of the unit by appropriate design of the basic construction component - linear pneumatic drive. Uninvestigated parts of general matters defining. Only one group of transformation mechanisms is analyzed in the article that allow the compressed air drive unit to be constructed. The research objective. The aim of the research is to provide a theoretical and mathematical basis for determining the optimum parameters of a compressed air propelled vehicle unit as well as its application for the construction of new vehicles for competition. The statement of basic materials. The basic material for the creation of the article was taken from the bachelor thesis of the co-author of the article [3], from the contest proposals and other sources available in the library and magazine materials as well as from the prepared study materials for the students of the Technical University of Kosice, Slovakia. Conclusions. Conclusions of the article lead to the determination of the appropriate concept of transformation of linear motion of the pneumatic drive to rotational in order to achieve the best results in the next year of the International Aventics Pneumobile Competition.