Power Cube Conceptual Design

Pump

• Examine Hydraulic Calculations for size required
• 9 spline coupler is favored so it has good grip while allowing for quick disconnection without any set screw
• Pump power matches power of the engine
• Suction hose sufficient according to Hydraulic Calculations
• Attaches directly to tank
• Should be low cost - $100 18 hp - under $6/hp
• Typically has to be Clockwise (CW) to match the engine, which is counterclockwise
• Attaches using SAE 2-bolt mount using a standard SAE pattern
• Uses a self-made pump mount to facilitate use of widely available parts. Ours uses 2" Sch 80 pipe (about 1-7/8" inner diameter, and about 2.5" OD) with welded construction. This allows us to make a relatively short coupler.
• We trim the engine shaft length to about 2" to reduce overall length by 1.5"
• Welded coupler allows us to minimize length for optimal geometry, whereas standard mounts are longer and not guaranteed to have matching hole pattern even though they say they do
• Coupler is a welded 1" to the 9 spline (5/8") shaft. This is welded from a cut off 1" coupler with 1/4" key + 9 spline coupler.
• The coupler is welded by putting in a "coupler aligner piece" and welding, then taking the coupler aligner out

Cooler

• Contains a mounting mechanism for the cooler, such as a grate
• Must have sufficient cooling for the engine in the power cube. See Hydraulic Calculations

More

See Power Cube Genealogy for version.

Summary: the design is a scalable, modular, self-contained power unit of 28 hp with a structural frame that makes the Power Cube a plug-and-play component for building other machines.

The basic design requirements follow OSE Specifications and include:

• Modularity - decoupling of power unit from machine
• Modularity - bolt together design
• Modularity - integrated structural steel frame makes the Power Cube either a standalone unit or structural part of another machine
• Stock parts - uses easily-findable parts and stock steel
• Modularity - consists of 11 modules that can be built in parallel
• Lifetime design - bolt-together construction and quick couplers allow for ease of disassembly
• Scalability - unlimited Extensive Scalability is feasible by using more Power Cubes in parallel. Tp date, up to 3 Power Cubes have been used on a single machine. See Stacking 3 Power Cubes.
• Modularity - quick couplers are used to connect the Power Cube to other devices
• Product Ecology - can be powered by the OSE Gasifier, is the core of a MicroTractor, and can be used to power or build other and larger machines. Can be stacked for bulldozer duty.