Electric scoop??

easy-does-it · Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2008 9:44 am Post subject: Electric scoop??

Was wondering if anyone tried it?

Especially on low vehicles, a small motor to raise/lower the scoop or the whole radiator???
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ElusiveStranger · Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2008 10:38 pm Post subject:

I'm toying (in my mind) with a linear actuator or solenoid. A windscreen motor might be sufficient if there wasn't much airflow (speed)
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gazman · Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2008 2:36 am Post subject:

You could have it controlled by a temp sensor in the radiator.....
the hotter the car the lower the rad Grin

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easy-does-it · Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2008 8:23 am Post subject:

jp · Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2008 11:08 am Post subject:

I was thinking of a spring loaded set up where at low speed the spring would keep the scoop up then as you pick up speed the air would push against the scoop forcing it down, at least then you wouldn't forget to put the scoop up when you get to a speed bump/ onto your driveway (assuming you're not hitting either at speed of course Eeeek

)

You'd obviously want a decent spring (maybe from a car boot) and hinge or maybe bearing set up to make it work properly.

Just one of my many thoughts.. air suspension is the best solution though

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easy-does-it · Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 8:07 am Post subject:

That's a pretty cunning idea.........and yes air suspension would be the way, if i had the cash

...

Hmmm thinking electric window set up to raise and lower,but having 'wings'* on either side of the scoop so once it's down the window motor isnt taking the strain......

* it's my idea and it's patent pending Laugh Out Loud

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'76 bay going superfly TDI

ElusiveStranger · Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 8:40 am Post subject:

Wings as in tabs, chain maybe?

Now if you want to use a bit of lateral thinking a coat hanger, microswitch and make a 'feeler' which mounts on the front beam...
_________________
The advice you receive on here is worth the paper it's written on.
Your experiences are worth shed loads to others, including the f'ups - live and learn.
Wouldn't YOU rather learn by someone else's mistakes? So would they.

'78 Bay, 2 litre 091 box, EJ20 NA & the ashtray's on the 'right' side.
I don't lean forward for hills any more Grin

Bugger, missed out on "Live fast, die young"

Bugsy_malone 666 · Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 11:48 pm Post subject:

I'm steering clear of rads underneath the van ever since my little issue as seen in other threads, I dont think any sort of safety mech would have saved my scoop, so I'm going to reinvent the wheel and go rear mount and make it work.

However back to having rads and scoops underneath.

I think this is going to need a few ingenius ideas working together to make it better than the sum of its parts.

for the radiator(s) use sometihng like a radiator out of a rover 825, its a large rad but the cores only about 1/2" thick, combine this with about 4 yamaha R6 radiator fans and you have a really low profile cooling system that should fit sucessfully above chassis rail height.

The idea of having a hinged rad isnt a bad idea either, what you could try and work on is a mechanism that a scoop and radiator mounts on which works in a couple of ways:

Electically actuated so that as temp increases the rad lowers slightly on the back edge and the scoop drops on the front edge so effectively you get more through flow, but the mechanism needs to be designed in such a way so that it has springs in part of the mechanism (strong ones) so that if anything comes incontact with the scoop it pushes the mech back on the springs without damaging anything.

when chatting to 13 window at vanfest he was saying about having skateboard wheels along the front edge of the scoop so should you come accross anything it will just push the scoop up without damaging anything, an enhancement on that would be to have ball type wheels that work in any direction.

as for moving your mech, how about something like a sunroof motor setup, vw corrados use the same style mech i think ( on a slightly diff scale) to push up a small boot mounted spoiler by 2" or so like porsche 911s to aid aero dynamics.

just some ideas there.
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richbaker78 · Teacher of Padawans Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 1298

i guess the other main thing to ask is how much efficiency will be gained by having a scoop a few inches lower? i suspect not huge amounts unless you go to the extremes.

wouldnt it be nice to hire a wind tunnel for a weekend and get some proper answers!

Bugsy_malone 666 · Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 2:26 pm Post subject:

jp · Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 2:53 pm Post subject:

Apparently there is only one wind tunnel in the country (MIRA) ! I have inquired about the cost of hiring it for the day Eeeek

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1971 Devon Bay with 1800 Ford Turbo Diesel Engine (wip)
1983 VW Golf GTI Campaign
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2013 Scirocco TDI GT

Bugsy_malone 666 · Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 7:26 pm Post subject: