Special equipment with high permeability is of great interest not only for military and security officials, but also for civilian structures, tourists, etc. Such machines allow you to get into remote corners, inaccessible to other equipment. Manufacturers of special equipment are trying to respond to such requests from potential customers and from time to time present new developments in this area. It is noteworthy that in addition to the recognized leaders with new developments, new companies based on enthusiasts are entering the market. A great example of this is the Sherp all-terrain vehicle, designed by engineer Alexei Garagashyan.
More Information: https://www.esc.guide/sherp
A. Garagashyan is widely known among fans of snow and swamp-going equipment. Over the past few years, this specialist has offered several projects of machines with high throughput rates. In addition, one of these developments, the Sherp all-terrain vehicle, has even reached full-fledged serial production and is being commissioned by various customers. Due to the characteristic appearance and high performance, this machine attracts the attention of specialists and amateurs of special equipment, and also from time to time becomes the topic of publications in the press. So, in early February, the high performance of the Sherp car was marked by the Top Gear team of authors.
At the heart of the Sherp project is the experience of operating various all-terrain vehicles and several original ideas. The author of the project applied already worked out solutions in this area, and also borrowed some ideas from the equipment of other classes. Finally, original sentences were used. A similar combination of existing and new ideas, as shown by the demonstration materials, allowed the machine to provide uniquely high mobility characteristics in rough terrain and water. The cross-country ability of the Sherpa can be compared with tracked vehicles, and in some cases even surpasses them.
The main means of achieving high performance is the original wheeled chassis. In one of the interviews, A. Garagashyan noted that the all-terrain vehicle, first of all, consists of wheels, and the engine, transmission, etc. - only minor elements. Proceeding from this logic, the author of the Sherp project used wheels with large-size ultra-low-pressure tires. Large wheels give the Sherpa all-terrain vehicle a distinctive appearance, and also affect the layout of the other units. Another interesting feature of the undercarriage is the lack of a suspension in its usual form.
The main element of the all-terrain vehicle chassis is four wheels with tubeless ultra-low pressure tires. The tires are sized 1600x200-25 to provide the required performance. When creating the required wheels, it was necessary to solve several important issues related to the interaction of the wheel and tire. Tires of ultralow pressure have a characteristic disadvantage: they can be disassembled during deformation, for which additional means of fastening should be used. For use on the Sherp all-terrain vehicle, new wheels were developed to ensure proper tire retention. In addition, their design eliminates sticking of dirt or freezing of ice.
According to reports, in the early stages of the project, the builders of the all-terrain vehicle had to face some problems related to the design of the available tires. For use on the Sherpa, it was necessary to independently modify the tread of the existing tires, cutting off unnecessary elements and making new recesses. Modified tires were rigidly mounted on the disks, without the possibility of quick dismantling.
To provide the required characteristics of the wheel tire inflation system is used. Maintaining the desired pressure is carried out by supplying exhaust gases and is carried out centrally. When starting the engine for the initial pumping of the wheels to the working pressure, about 15 is required. By changing the pressure in the wheels, you can change their characteristics and change the permeability of the machine accordingly.
Unlike many other all-terrain vehicles, the Sherp has no suspension in the conventional sense. The axles of all four wheels are rigidly attached to the body and do not have the ability to move in a vertical plane. Instead of a mechanical suspension, an original system was used, called A. Garagashyan pneumo-circulatory. All four wheels are connected by a common pneumatic system responsible for pumping. Such lines are made of pipes of relatively large diameter, which ensures the free movement of gases from one tire to another. When driving a wheel on an obstacle, the tire is deformed, the pressure in it increases, however, the gases are redistributed along the remaining wheels.
The main advantage of the so-called. air-circulating suspension is maintaining contact with the surface when driving on different routes. So, when driving over an obstacle, the wheel literally covers it and maintains normal contact, rather than hanging the car. However, such a system is not without flaws. A soft stroke is provided only at low and medium speeds. When accelerating to high speeds, the air-circulation system cannot dampen all vibrations caused by an uneven surface.
The use of large wheels, as well as their role as the main element of the machine, affected the design of other units. The Sherp all-terrain vehicle received a box-shaped case consisting of straight surfaces and inscribed in the space between the wheels. The front part of the hull, which accommodates the driver's cabin, is formed by an inclined frontal part consisting of several elements, as well as diverging sides. Behind the cabin provides a cargo platform to accommodate passengers or other payloads. Above the wheels on the sides are provided the wings of a curved shape, interconnected by bridges. All main body units are made of steel.
In the central part of the body are the engine and the main elements of the transmission. The basis of the power plant is a Kubota V1505-t diesel engine with 44,3 horsepower. The engine is connected to a five-speed manual gearbox. As conceived by the author of the project, the Sherpa transmission is responsible not only for transmitting torque to the wheels, but also for controlling the machine. For this, in the earlier versions of the project, a differential from a KamAZ truck, from which two onboard shafts departed, was connected to the gearbox. On the latter, ventilated brake discs were installed, as well as chain gears. The shafts of the differential and axles of the wheels were connected with the help of chains. Also considered the possibility of using other systems. On the serial all-terrain vehicles are established mechanisms for the rotation of its own design, based on the friction.
To control the car is proposed to use the gas pedal and clutch, gear lever, as well as two levers connected to the hydraulic actuators of the on-board brakes. Thus, the turn of the car is carried out “tank-wise” - by braking the wheels on one side. This allows the all-terrain vehicle to turn around almost in place, however, is associated with some power loss on the heating of individual elements, and also imposes certain restrictions on driving.
The hull of the Sherpa all-terrain vehicle is divided into two main parts. The front compartment provides two seats for the driver and passenger. Serial ATVs are equipped with automotive-type seats with seat belts. When this chair is mounted on the front of the engine cover. Between the seats are handbrake levers and gearbox control. The driver’s workplace has two pedals and two levers, as well as a set of control devices and other controls.
Due to the impossibility of using the side doors, Sherp received other means for landing in the cabin. The windshield of the car is installed in a hinged frame. For planting glass should be lifted. In addition, it can be kept in this position and during movement. Opposite the passenger seat in the front sheet of the body provides a hinged door-ramp. For added convenience, there is a tubular footboard at the bottom of the frontal part of the body. Side windows of the cabin are also made in the form of lifting blocks and can be fixed in any desired position.
Rear cargo area is designed as a compartment with the ability to install seats or other equipment designed for the transport of payload. Access to the cargo compartment through a hinged door. It should be noted that the lower part of the cargo compartment, related to the hull, is unified and is used in both versions of the all-terrain vehicle. Top equipment, in turn, is different.
In the configuration "Standard" all-terrain vehicle "Sherp" gets a few arcs and textile awning. For a comfortable stay in the cab, the car also receives a liquid heater. There is also a modification "KUNG", characterized by the use of rigid metal insulated van. Inside this body is a soft interior with the ability to change the configuration. In particular, tourists get the opportunity to spend the night in the right place, using a bed measuring about 2100х1100 mm. The total volume of the passenger compartment - 3 cubic meters.
The dry mass of the Sherpa all-terrain vehicle is just 1300 kg. The length of the car is 3,4 m, the width is 2,5 m, the height is 2,3 m. The ground clearance depends on the tire pressure and can reach 600 mm. The normal load capacity of the machine is defined at 500 kg. With such a load, the all-terrain vehicle can move on various surfaces without a significant reduction in maneuverability. Due to a slight decrease in these characteristics, the weight of the load can be increased to 1000 kg. It is possible to tow a trailer weighing up to 2,4 t.
Used engine allows the car to accelerate on a good road to 45 km / h. When towing a trailer, the maximum speed drops to 30-33 km / h, however, in this case the patency is significantly reduced. Sealed housing allows the machine to overcome water obstacles by swimming. By turning the wheels, the speed on the water reaches 6 km / h. In the basic configuration, the Sherp is equipped with a fuel tank on the 58 l. At the request of the customer, four additional tanks with a capacity of 50 l can be mounted in the wheel disks.
An all-terrain vehicle can move on various surfaces, including those with low bearing capacity, to float and overcome various obstacles. So, the possibility of climbing the wall up to 1 m height and overcoming the 35-degree slope is announced. Special pride of the developers is the "ability" of the machine to rise from the water on the ice. Due to the special configuration of the undercarriage all-terrain vehicle is able to get out of the water, not only on the slopes of the coast, but also in other difficult conditions.
The low weight of the car in combination with ultra-low pressure tires and low specific load also provide a sufficiently high maneuverability for the all-terrain vehicle. Under the control of an experienced driver, the car is capable of turning almost on the spot, making sharp turns or entering a controlled drift. Maneuverability, maneuverability and the ability to navigate gives the Sherp very high mobility in various landscapes.
To date, the Sherp all-terrain vehicle has passed the full range of tests and has reached mass production. Machines are built on the order of those or other buyers. Potential customers are offered two basic machine configurations that differ in the type of cargo compartment. In addition, some additional options are offered. For an additional fee, an all-terrain vehicle can be equipped with an autonomous air heater, a generator for 60A, 90-watt diode headlights, additional fuel tanks, etc. There is also a special trailer for the transport of an all-terrain vehicle, which is a single-axle trolley with a towing device.
In the configuration "Standard" all-terrain vehicle will cost the customer 3,85 million rubles. Due to a different body version of the "KUNG" is on the 250 thousands more. Additional systems installed at the request of the customer, also affect the cost of the finished machine. For example, an additional tank for the wheel will cost 13 thousand rubles, and the trailer will have to pay 268,8 thousand.To date, a sufficiently large number of Sherp all-terrain vehicles has been built, which are actively used by various customers. In addition to customers, this technique is also used by the development team. From time to time A. Garagashyan and his colleagues organize trips in different regions of the country, during which they overcome difficult routes using their own equipment. In support of the high performance of the Sherpas, videos made during the hikes are regularly published.
Not long ago, the Sherp all-terrain vehicle became interested in foreign experts, which led to the emergence of a real shaft of publications in the foreign and domestic press. Just a couple of days, an interesting project gained fame not only among a narrow circle of fans of snow and swamp-going equipment, but also among the general public. It is possible that these publications in the media will become a kind of advertising and will affect the number of new orders, as well as to some extent help the further development of the project.
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