Technic New Parts - Please Help

PlanetaryHub

Hello,

Having played extensively with LEGO Technic as a youth (I still have the original 853 Car Chassis Technical set), I now find myself playing with LEGO Technic with my son! I am a vehicle design engineer by trade and this combined with the time spent playing with LEGO Technic resulted in an idea for a new Technic compatible part. After this idea had knocked around in my mind for some time and refused to go away, I decided to design in properly using 3D CAD and present it to the Lego Group to see what they thought.

I put together the following video and sent it by e-mail to the LEGO Group several months ago, but I have had no success in getting them to take an interest in the proposal:

VIDEO: >>>>> https://www.youtube....h?v=93H82WU8txM <<<<<

My design cannot be submitted through the LEGO Ideas web site, because new part designs are specifically excluded. However if I can get to at least 10,000 views on YouTube (the LEGO Ideas review threshold), I think LEGO Group may be prepared to give serious consideration to producing these new parts. If you like the idea please help by sharing this video on social media, in forums and with friends.

Thank you for your help.

PlanetaryHub

Sorry, I forgot to include this in my first post.

The key design features are:

1) Planetary gear train built into a standard 56x34 rim - the gear train provides a 3:1 speed reduction and a corresponding 1:3 increase in torque. The output torque is generated at the internal gear and transmitted directly to the rim and from there to the tyre or track, therefore it does not pass through any axles.

2) Integrated 14 tooth track drive sprocket - increases potential applications, the rim flanges provide lateral support on the underside of the track segment plates. The sprocket is hidden when a tyre is fitted.

3) 4-point universal mount - this is designed to accommodate: rigid axle, rigid axle with steering, suspension or suspension with steering set-ups, all utilising standard components. The pivot point is positioned to allow the use of either a one part universal joint or a 2 part cardan joint.

4) Rolling element bearings - provide authenticity, tight rim location with little free play and also give low rolling resistance.

MattsWhat

What's the ultimate aim, that lego pay you when they use it? Hmm.
Also, I think the fact that it has bearings will be it's downfall. Lastly, getting to 10,000 views on YouTube is far easier than getting to 10,000 on ideas - I can't imagine lego would give that any credence at all to be honest. 

PlanetaryHub

Thanks for your comments MattsWhat.

My ultimate aim is to add a set of parts to Technic that allow realistic functional models to be built, "authentic" in LEGO speak. I love building things in LEGO Technic with my son that demonstrate engineering principles; learning that occurs through play is fun. These parts produce a planetary hub that is close in design to real world parts, that is why I included rolling element bearings.

I agree that views on YouTube is not the same as votes on Ideas, if only I could, I would have put this on Ideas - what else can I do?

MattsWhat

You could design a vehicle with this as an integral part then put that on ideas. Lego have previously used new parts (at least colours and prints) in lego ideas sets.

Bludchylde1

Agreed with MattsWhat on the YouTube views thing. 10,000 votes on Ideas means 10,000 people think it is worthwhile. 10,00 YouTube views just means a bunch of people saw it.

As for the idea itself, I personally think it is unnecessary and over complicated. From the video I honestly don't see anything this does in actual functionality that people can't already do with Lego parts.

PlanetaryHub

Thanks for your idea MattsWhat, unfortunately the LEGO Ideas Guidelines state:

"We cannot produce new LEGO parts molds, new cloth or other non-brick elements within the scope of LEGO Ideas, and therefore we don’t accept projects that include these items. Existing parts in different colors are okay, as well as new stickers or printed parts." ( https://ideas.lego.com/guidelines )

Fauch

building a set around this may help indeed, the description sounds totally alien to me and the video helps a bit, but I can't really see all the potential of the piece.

PlanetaryHub

Fauch, thanks for your feedback.  I guess if by description you mean, "planetary wheel hub", then on reflection it is probably meaningful for engineers but not very helpful to others.  Your idea of demonstrating a vehicle built with the planetary hubs is good, I will have to look at 3D printing some prototypes...

Fauch

I meant the 2nd post

PlanetaryHub

Hi Fauch, Is this any better, I have added links to the elements in the Brickset database?

Key design features:

1) Planetary gear train built into a standard 56x34 rim ( http://brickset.com/parts/6065490 ) - the gear train provides a 3:1 speed reduction and a corresponding 1:3 increase in torque.  The output torque is generated at the internal gear and transmitted directly to the rim and from there to the tyre or track, therefore it does not pass through any axles.

2) Integrated 14 tooth track drive sprocket ( http://brickset.com/parts/4582792 & http://brickset.com/parts/4566742 ) - increases potential applications, the rim flanges provide lateral support on the underside of the track segment plates. The sprocket is hidden when a tyre is fitted.

3) 4-point universal mount - this is designed to accommodate: rigid axle, rigid axle with steering, suspension or suspension with steering set-ups, all utilising standard components. The pivot point is positioned to allow the use of either a one part universal joint ( http://brickset.com/parts/4525904 ) or a 2 part cardan joint ( http://brickset.com/parts/4610374 & http://brickset.com/parts/4268659 ).

4) Rolling element bearings - provide authenticity, tight rim location with little free play and also give low rolling resistance.

xwingpilot

@PlanetaryHub As a fellow engineer I appreciate your design - it looks like a really neat integrated solution. As others have said though, it's quite a lot more complicated than the parts TLG currently uses to drive and articulate wheels.

Galactus

I love your design and the fact that it isn't constructed as one piece, but built out of smaller parts. I do wonder however, what the wear would be on the (plastic?) rolling element bearings. My guess is that this could be a deal breaker for TLG to realise this design.

About the YouTube views: I think likes are a better representation than views, but still not the same as supports on Ideas.