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Rationale
The
work output of a healthy person for a period of half an hour is
about 225 W (0.3 hp). HPV performance depends on using as much of this energy
for propulsion as possible. This implies that energy losses in the mechanical
systems associated with propulsion must be made low. In the early
days
of bicycle development, the ball bearing was invented to reduce energy losses
at the wheel axles, the pedals, and at the rear sprocket. Some ten to twelve
bearings are used in a typical bicycle drive chain. Prior to the development
of ball bearings, plane metal sleeve bearings were used. Some modern wheels
use sealed needle roller bearings or sealed ball bearings. In this laboratory
the effect of various factors on the energy losses in a front wheel bearing
will be studied. The effects of bearing type, lubricant, ball race tightness,
rotational speed, and the moment of inertia of a set of front wheels will
be explored.
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