They've received some R&D (and TV) money to build some prototypes, but
that's a drop in the bucket compared to the money needed to build
something that will win a competitive military contract. They've also
sold some custom-built vehicles for mines and have had a couple
contracts to build vehicles for movies, but it doesn't look like they
have anything like a production line for an established product with
sales channels.
Product manufacturing, sales, marketing and support are 80% of any
product company, so they've got a long way to go based on what I've seen
from them. They've had a couple interesting ideas, but technical ideas
alone will never defeat the well-established product companies that they
need to compete against in various markets. They look like a classic
"technical solution looking for a problem" ... the worst possible
approach for building a successful company.
Frank P.
On 12/17/2010 1:34 PM, HV wrote:
I can see how the gaps would be a magnet for catching stuff.
I just happened to be wondering about the Howe& Howe tank, because I
saw a program about it a few days ago. I saw that they had those cable-
linked tracks. But they apparently haven't sold any tanks, so where
are they getting their funding? They have some expensive machinery and
lots of employees.
Kevlar and rubber "band tracks" have been used in some light armored
vehicles, eg the BV 206. Not sure if anyone has done kevlar and steel.
On Dec 17, 10:57 am, Frank Pittelli<[email protected]> wrote:
That's how the tracks on T001 worked in 2001. Two bicycle chains were
riveted to each tread and a friction wheel was fitted between them.
Howe-and-Howe replaced the chain by a steel cable for their track
design, welding the steel cable to steel U-section treads.
The fundamental problem with such an approach is that strong pointy
objects can get stuck between the treads. In 1:6 scale, sticks and
nails are a problem. In full scale, 1/2" re-bar stuck in the ground
would probably stop Ripsaw (the Howe-and-Howe vehicle) dead in it's tracks.
Friction TTS and cogged TTS do not suffer from such drawbacks and have
been shown to be the most effective track type over all terrain types
and conditions. If Howe-and-Howe really want to win some military
contracts, they should "re-invent" the TTS at full-scale, using kevlar
and steel belts instead of the steel cables.
Frank P.
On 12/17/2010 9:11 AM, HV wrote:
I came across a different way to make tracks from bicycle chain. The
chain is used to hold the cross-links, but matching bicycle sprockets
are not used to drive the tracks. A friction wheel contacting the
cross-links can be used to drive the track, or a sprocket with teeth
engaging the gaps between links.
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