Hello,
I just had my old car (Nissan Pulsar N15) running out of registration and rather than just sending it to the wreckers, I'm wrecking it myself to give some parts a second life (fixing it to make it roadworthy again would be too expensive.)
I was thinking about turning the engine and gearbox into a self propelled hydraulic power pack - compressor - generator (I already have a fair bit of parts coming from tractors and others; pumps, belts, generators, rams, ...)
I first thought about welding the diff locked, in the gearbox, connect one drive shaft to a rear axle and the other drive shaft to the generator (inverter technology) and the hydraulic pump on the power steering pulley. The compressor is the engine itself, two cylinders as engine, two cylinders as compressor.
Then, I found another rear axle, about same size and reduction. So I thought, why not making it an articulated 4WD rig. It is a 110hp engine so, even running on two cylinders (no other load on the engine when moving,) with the 3.1:1 reduction of the axles, I can tow a trailer without trouble (tell me if I'm dreaming)
In order to drive the alternator and hydraulic pump, I'd turn the crank pulley into a PTO, using the power steering pump to actually, well, just steer the rig.
Now, comes the actual questions
First, how much load can I put on the other end of the engine (the crank pulley side) without stressing it too much? I don't know much about the stress limits in an engine but I guess the crankshaft wouldn't appreciate to have to deliver 50hp thru the pulley end when the flywheel isn't loaded at all. But again, I could be wrong.
Secondly, would I be better off using a custom pulley and drive my pump and generator with belts (which would make it easier to correct the rpm's of each) or should I better make a coaxial coupling to avoid lateral stress, eventually using a rubber coupling?
Thank you for any other point of view or advice.
Ben
