Link balls drive Inspiration forward

THK UK's link ball technology has helped a team of apprentice engineers from Milton Keynes Training College to successfully compete in the Shell Eco-Marathon for the fourth year running.

THK UK's link ball technology has helped a team of apprentice engineers from Milton Keynes Training College to successfully compete in the Shell Eco-Marathon for the fourth year running.

The Milton Keynes-based firm, which has long supported local engineering initiatives, donated two BL link balls to the college enabling the team's vehicle 'Inspiration' to achieve 1815mile/gal at Rockingham Speedway in Corby, Northants.

Dave Thorn, Team Manager at Milton Keynes Training College, explained the important role THK UK's BL link balls played in the team's success: "The steering for Inspiration comprises a solid axle with the wheels pivoting on each end and two steering arms extending back.

The track rod, which joins the two axle arms, is moved from left to right with a steering cable.

With inclined kingpins the axle moves up and down which is why there is a need for a spherical union on the end.

"We contacted THK UK and explained that we had previously used a 5mm rod end which had bent.

The company not only suggested that we use its 6mm rod ends, which would provide us with the extra strength needed, but it also supplied them to us free of charge".

Thorn added: "THK's link balls are ideal for us.

They offer smooth motion, resistance to wear and they require no lubrication.

The inclusion of two grease pockets in the main shank allows the link ball to be sealed with grease, so that no further lubrication is necessary during operation.

They're brilliant".

THK's unique rod end type BL incorporates a cast housing around a micron precision steel ball giving unprecedented smoothness of operation that is not possible with machine generated forms.

The Eco-Marathon is an international event that seeks to promote energy efficiency by encouraging engineers of all ages to design energy-efficient vehicles.

Entrants complete 10 miles of the course after which the vehicles are topped-up with fuel so that judges can measure how much has been consumed.

The history of the Shell Eco-Marathon dates back 50 years, to friendly wagers between scientists at a Shell research laboratory in the USA over who could get the most miles per gallon.

Following the team's success at Rockingham Speedway, Milton Keynes Technical College will be entering Inspiration, featuring the BL link balls, in future Shell Eco-Marathon events.

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