Specifications

CT Corsair Final Report May 2, 2014
17
develop the equations, the free body diagrams were drawn to include the cam, pushrods,
platform and central spring joint. The diagram depicts the analysis of one motor, as the loading
for each motor is assumed to be identical.
In this diagram, Point A is the platform pivot point, Point M is the motor output shaft, is the
weight of the platform assembly, is the force of the pushrod, is the length from Point A to
the pushrod, is the length of the cam, is the angle between the pushrod and the cam, is the
angle between the platform and the pushrod, is the angle between the horizontal plane and the
cam and is the motor torque.
The moments were summed about Point A and Point M.
(Equation 5)
(Equation 6)
Solving Equation 5 for the push rod force and substituting the results into Equation 6, an
equation for the vertical lift torque requirement is developed.
(Equation 7)
The value does not represent 1240lbs, but rather 413lbs which is one third of the total weight.
This assumption was made since the weight will be equally distributed over the platform. Equal
distribution of weight can be assumed because the pilot will be centered on the simulator
platform.
It is important to note the relationship depicted between , , and by Equation 7. The
relationship between these three angles is not linear due to the non-linear motion of both the cam
and simulator platform. To better understand this relationship, a 3D model of the simulator was
created in Autodesk Inventor.
Figure 16. Autodesk Inventor simulating vertical lift: less than zero (pictured left), equals zero
(pictured center), and greater than zero (pictured right). This simulated the relationship between
the cam (green), pushrods (red), and platform (blue)