Heavy Truck – Maximum Off-Tracking

Overview: Computes the Maximum Off-Tracking of articulated vehicles.

Entry into Module:

This module of the program is normally entered by clicking on the REC-TEC block in the upper left of the REC-TEC Window causing the drop-down menu to appear. Place the cursor on the Heavy Truck block and click on Maximum Off-Tracking on the sub-menu to initiate this module.

Under certain circumstances, the user may choose to use the Files block instead of the drop-down menu approach. Selecting any file with a .MOT extension in the Dialog box accessed from either the Open Single File or Open Multiple Files block opens this module.

Selecting AutoLoad [ON] from either the Setup Menu or the AutoLoad Icon on the upper right side (third line) of the REC-TEC Window automatically loads the two-vehicle scenario that was on the screen when the module was closed, either individually, or when the program was closed. With AutoLoad [OFF] on the main REC-TEC Window, modules will start without loading a file.

Data Entry:

This module contains the following data entry blocks:

Maximum Off-Tracking

· Steer Radius – Vehicle Steer Radius

· Tractor (WB) – Tractor Wheelbase

· Number of Trailers – Number of Trailers (0 to 3)

· Distance 0 (+/-) – Distance from the rear axle of Tractor (Towing Vehicle) to Articulated Point #1. Negative number indicates Articulated Point is forward of Drive Axle

· Trailer 1 (WB) – Trailer #1 Wheelbase (Kingpin to Center of Trailer Wheels)

· Distance 1 – Distance from the rear axle of Trailer #1 to Articulated Point #2

· Dolly 1 (WB) – Wheelbase of Dolly Converter #1

· Trailer 2 (WB) – Trailer #2 Wheelbase (Kingpin to Center of Trailer Wheels)

· Distance 2 – Distance from the rear axle of Trailer #1 to Articulated Point #3

· Dolly 2 (WB) – Wheelbase of Dolly Converter #2

· Trailer 2 (WB) – Trailer #3 Wheelbase (Kingpin to Center of Trailer Wheels)

• Steer Angle (O) – Steer angle of Outer Wheel in a Turn
• Steer Angle (I) – Steer angle of Inner Wheel in a Turn
• Vehicle Track – Track of Tractor (or Vehicle)

Output:

The output from this module consists of the repeated input variables plus the Maximum Off-Tracking for the Vehicle.

· Maximum Off-Tracking – Maximum for Data Entered

Options:

Several Command Buttons appear in a frame located at the lower right corner of the module Window. The Command Buttons allow the user to engage options including the option to Open and Save the data required to generate the scenario shown on the screen at the time the file was saved.

· Open .MOT File – Calls up a Dialog box, which Opens any pre-existing .MOT file and displays the output results.

· Save .MOT File – Calls up a Dialog box, which Saves data on the screen to files with any user-selectable filenames. This is independent of the automatic saving as “LastFile.MOT” of the data at the close of this module or the close of the program.

· Graphics – Toggles a Graphic display showing both the track and the Maximum Off-Tracking for the maneuver. [Esc] to Exit

· Graphics (Platinum) – Graphic display of the Vehicle in a scale turn , [Esc] to Exit

· Formulae – Opens a word processor (set by the user in Setup) with a file showing the basic formulae used in this module of the program. While the user may add to or modify the information in this file, it does not change the formulae imbedded into the program.

· Formulae* – shows the basic formulae for Maximum Off-Tracking, Steer Angle and Steer Radius of (Unknown) used in this module of the program.

· N – This button toggles a graphical number pad on the screen that can be used to enter data into the input boxes without using your keyboard number pad. This may be useful for presentations as data entry can be accomplished using a wired/wireless mouse.