Leanders Brothers Racing Uses IronCAD to Design More Durable Clutch New Clutch Design ready for July 8th FHRA Nitro Nationals ATLANTA, GA. July 05, 2007 – On July 8th, Leanders Brothers Racing will compete in its first complete FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) racing weekend since the rainout of the FIA’s May 28th debut event. Leanders will be using a new clutch unit designed in IronCAD that provides enhanced heat dissipation to make the clutch more durable. Its unique construction also allows for easy maintenance between races. Team Leanders’ custom clutch is one of many pieces that Leander's chief engineer, Jörgen Leanders, has created using IronCAD's unique design software.
There are no bolted facings on Leander's SFI-approved clutch, which is what improves heat dissipation during races and makes maintenance easier. Pit crews have a limited time to inspect and replace parts before the next race, so serviceability is important. Even clutch arms can be removed or changed without having to disassemble the unit. Additional technological advances include using four floater plates in the three-disc clutch, which add additional heat dissipation and ensure all contact surfaces in the clutch are equal. “Our clutch is a result of experimentation with different designs, something we couldn't have done without IronCAD. I started with no CAD experience at all,” said Jörgen Leanders, “IronCAD's ease-of-use allowed me to catch on quick. It helped me capture the best design through trial and error. I was never locked into a single design. If I wanted to make a change, it was possible, no matter how far along in the design I was,” he continued. Leanders Brothers Racing will run a 10-inch clutch with three discs this season, which it plans to market among other racers within their FIA class. An 11-inch clutch unit is also under development. It will be available with and without a ring gear, which is used to transfer torque from the starter motor pinion to the flywheel. “The Leanders Brothers usage of IronCAD is an excellent demonstration of the flexibility and freedom of IronCAD to design the way the user envisions,” says Cary O'Connor, IronCAD's marketing director. “With IronCAD, Jörgen can take advantage of the parametric capabilities of IronCAD to build constraint driven variations of the clutch design and is still free to make changes that do not abide by the constraints using IronCAD's direct face modeling abilities,” he continued. The first complete FIA racing event for Leanders Brothers will start July 8th at the FHRA Nitro Nationals in Finland. Since their top-ranking finish in last year's competition, Team Leanders has been featured in many magazines, including Machine Design's recent article: "Beating Plowshares into Dragsters”. About IronCADBased in Atlanta, GA, IronCAD is a leading provider of 3D Design Productivity Solutions that deliver the highest levels of customer satisfaction and productivity. Solutions that can be used either standalone or as complimentary collaboration solutions of a broader PLM initiative. Its flagship product IronCAD has won many industry awards for its innovative technology and leads the industry in its ease of use and design productivity. IronCAD products are being used successfully by thousands of customers worldwide. For more information on IronCAD, call 1-800-339-7304 or visit www.ironcad.com. About Leanders Brothers RacingBased in Alfta, Sweden, Leanders Brothers Racing is a leading European drag racing team dedicated to the promotion of the sport and the enjoyment of the spectators. Winner of the 2006 FIA European Drag Racing Championship, Leanders is the current grand champion. Leanders Brothers Racing has been a top FIA contender since 2000, finishing top three in the Top Methanol Funny Car class of the FIA European Drag Racing Championship with the exception of 2004 where they ended in second place. For more information on the Leanders Brothers Racing, call +46-271-102-04 or visit www.leandersbros.se. |
