Pz III&IV suspension problems

[Dag]

[QUOTE=JosefII]power = torque x engine rpm. nothing to do with fuel.

as it happens i do have a degree, but know nothing about tanks, perhaps if you people kindly lend me the titles and authors of these books i could chase this up.. sounds interesting..

Hi JosefII, I have to apologies as I forgot one important thing: I replied to a contribution from Claus but because it was listed straight after your contribution it was a bit misleading. I did not intend to question your knowledge....ok?

[Dag]

Now, if the reduction of power causes one track to slow down, what must happen to the other other track to keep things in balance? It must speed up. Otherwise you have created new laws of mechanics. Have you?


Jukkaj,

Maybe I misunderstand your comment but this is actually not what happens.

On a T-54/55, which has the same steering system as an IS 2 (in principle).
When the brakeband is engaged (Steering lever in position 1), the track slows down and you turn with a large turning circle .But the other track just moves on with the speed defined by the selected gear.
If you move steering lever into position two, the appropriate track stops (because the steering clutch is also disengaged). Again, the other track just carries on with the speed defined by the selected gear.

Because of the latter you have to increase the revs to pull the tank around, not so much on hard ground but you still have to do it.

On a T72 it is different as this tank does have a totally different drivetrain.

Dag

If you move both steering levers into position 1 you slow down, both in position 2, you stop.

[jukkaj]

Dag, your description of the T-54/55 system matches my description of the IS system. In my opinion it is not regenerative.

Claus, my Spielberger is in English. And Claus, please tell me how a track receiving more power is not speeded up provided the drag etc. remain equal? I.e. if you are driving on an even road in your car and depress the throttle pedal deeper does your car accelerate, decelerate or neither? Apparently it has no effect as your suggestion of regen implies...

Josef, there are plenty of torque curves in Spielberger´s book. E.g. Ford GAA has much better torque characteristics than Maybach designs.

[cbo]

Claus, my Spielberger is in English.

OK, why dont you look up his definition of regenerative steering and post it here, with the relevant page number. Then we can compare definitions and see if the translation is good.

And Claus, please tell me how a track receiving more power is not speeded up provided the drag etc. remain equal?

But the drag etc. does NOT remain equal in a skid turn. It increases dramatically. I'd agree with you, that the track recieving more power would have to do something with that power and it does; It drags the outer track across the ground.
If you look at your drawing of the IS system, you ought to notice that it is impossible for the outer track to speed up. When turning, it is locked in a fixed ratio with the inner track. If the outer track speeds up, the inner track will too and the tank will go through the turn faster - which is the whole point of a regenerative steering system.
You do realize, that by your argument, the German Panther tank does NOT have a regenerative steering system, because it functions on the same basic principles as the geared system of the IS and Pz38t steering drives?

I dont think you quite appreciate the forces necessary to drag a tank track sideways, even on level, hard ground. Try to push a normal car sideways, so the wheels skid like the tanks tracks does when turning. Then consider that your average car has a ground contact surface equal to the palm of your hand x4 - something like 0.02 square meters. A tank can easily put 1.5 meter square of steel or rubber on the ground - pr. track!

I.e. if you are driving on an even road in your car and depress the throttle pedal deeper does your car accelerate, decelerate or neither? Apparently it has no effect as your suggestion of regen implies...

I fail to see your point? A more proper analogy would be what happens if you drive on an even road, then pull the handbrake (i.e. you skid the braked wheels). If you maintain the same throttle position, what happens? You slow down! In order to overcome the added resistance of skidding your car, you need more power to achieve the same speed as before.
Another car analogy would be what happens if you go 100 km/h in 5. gear, then change down to the 2. and maintain the same throttle position. Your cars engine would not maintain the same RPM, it would turn extremely fast, in fact, it may turn so fast it break. The reason is the power transferred from the driving wheels of your car to the engine, just like power is transferred from inner to the outer tracks of the tank when turning - except that the power consumption by the outer track is so great that nothing will break in the process