• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.40 no.11
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• pp.979-986
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• 2016

The tripod shafts of constant-velocity joint are used in both the trains KTX and KTX-sanchon. It is an important component that connects the motor reduction unit and the axle reduction unit in a power bogie. The tripod shaft not only transmits drive and brake torque in the rotational direction, but also slides in the axial direction. If the drive system is loaded with an excessive torque, the fuse part of the shaft will be fractured firstly to protect the other important components. In this study, a rig was developed for conducting torsion tests on the tripod shaft, which is a type of mechanical fuse. The tripod shafts were subjected to torsional fracture test and torsional fatigue test on the rig. The weak zone of the tripod shaft was identified, and its fatigue life was predicted using finite element analysis (FEA). After analyzing the FEA results, design solutions were proposed to improve the strength and fatigue life of the tripod shaft. Furthermore, the deterioration trend and time for failure of the tripod shaft were verified using the hysteresis loops which had been changed with the advancement of the torsional fatigue test.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.40 no.12
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• pp.1067-1076
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• 2016

This paper describes the development of a hybrid-powered wheelchair (HPW) for the elderly. The proposed HPW has novel mechanical and control features compared with conventional powered wheelchairs. An ergonomic back-braking mechanism was designed in order to stop the wheels easily. In terms of control features, the HPW remarkably reduces the muscle power required by combining various assistive functions, such as wheel torque assistance, friction/inertia compensation, gravity compensation, and the one-hand driving algorithm. For wheel torque assistance, strain gauges were attached to the hand-rim in order to measure the wheel torque applied by a human. Gyroscopes and an accelerometer were attached to the wheel and chair respectively for friction and inertia compensation. An inclinometer was attached for gravity compensation and the one-hand driving algorithm was included for patients who can only use one hand. The one-hand driving algorithm controls the angular velocity of the uncontrolled wheel by using a gyroscope and pressure sensors attached to the bottom of the seat. Finally, the performance of the proposed motion assisted algorithm was verified through various experiments.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.45-53
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• 2022

In order to improve the emission of diesel engines, natural gas-diesel dual fuel combustion compression ignition engines are in the spotlight. In particular, a reactivity controlled compression ignition (RCCI) combustion strategy is investigated comprehensively due to its possibility to improve both efficiency and emissions. With advanced diesel direct injection timing earlier than TDC, it achieves spontaneous reaction with overall lean mixture from a homogeneous mixture in the entire cylinder area, reducing nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) and improving braking heat efficiency at the same time. However, there is a disadvantage in that the amount of incomplete combustion increases in a low load region with a relatively small amount of fuel-air. To solve this, sensitive control according to the diesel injection timing and fuel ratio is required. In this study, experiments were conducted to improve efficiency and exhaust emissions of the natural gas-diesel dual fuel engine at low load, and evaluate combustion stability according to the diesel injection timing at the operation point for power generation. A 6 L-class commercial diesel engine was used for the experiment which was conducted under a 50% load range (~50 kW) at 1,800 rpm. Two injectors with different spray patterns were applied to the experiment, and the fraction of natural gas and diesel injection timing were selected as main parameters. Based on the experimental results, it was confirmed that the brake thermal efficiency increased by up to 1.3%p in the modified injector with the narrow-angle injection added. In addition, the spray pattern of the modified injector was suitable for premixed combustion, increasing operable range in consideration of combustion instability, torque reduction, and emissions level under Tier-V level (0.4 g/kWh for NOx).