When JCB decided to attempt to capture the World Land Speed record for a diesel powered vehicle they knew that they would need to be innovative and creative in finding solutions for virtually every area of the vehicle’s design from the power plant to the suspension. They believed that they could utilise two of their JCB 444 diesel engines delivering a massive 1500 BHP to power the “Dieselmax” over a measured mile to a speed never before attained by a diesel powered vehicle where power is actually transmitted through the roadwheels. The Dieselmax would require new thinking in terms of the four wheel drive system, steering and suspension. Variohm-Eurosensor are delighted to be able to report that the JCB team chose their ELP position transducers for real time monitoring and control of the suspension system.
Two miles doesn’t seem a great distance but the Bonneville salt flats are hard on a vehicle travelling at 300 mph. This is particularly true of the shock and vibration experienced by all parts of the suspension system. Variohm feel that it was a real vote of confidence when the design team specified their ELP units. These Conductive Plastic units offer an absolute analogue output which is both stable and reliable even under the most arduous conditions. They are frequently used in F1 racecars and GP motorcycles, neither of which experience the hammering that the units on Dieselmax are going to see.
JCB are rightly proud of their leadership of this exciting British project and Variohm-Eurosensor are pleased to have even a minor association with it.