MBEYA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND PRODUCTION ENGINEERING
BACHELOR DEGREE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
PROJECT TITTLE

: DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF A QUADRACYCLE

PROJECT TYPE

: PROBLEM SOLVING

STUDENT NAME

: MASHAURI S.WILLIAM

ADMISSION No

: BR1221015

CLASS

: UQF 8

SUPERVISOR

: W.MWITA

ACADEMIC YEAR

: 2015/2016

DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF A QUADRACYCLE

By
Mashauri S. William

Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering

Mbeya University of Science and Technology
July, 2016.

DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF A QUADRACYCLE

By
Mashauri S. William

A Project Submitted in (Practical) Fulfillment of the requirements for the Bachelor

Degree in Mechanical Engineering

Mbeya University of Science and Technology

July, 2016.

CERTIFICATION
I undersigned certify that I have read and hereby recommend for acceptance by the Mbeya
University of Science and Technology a project entitled Design and fabrication of a
Quadracycle in partial fulfillment of Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical
Engineering.

_________________________________

Mr. W. Mwita.
(Supervisor)
Date

ii

DECLARATION AND COPYRIGHT

I, Mashauri S, William declare that this project is my own original work and that it has
never been presented, and will not be presented to any other University for a similar or
any other degree award. it is a result of my own initiative, survey, findings, technical
knowledge, consultancy, references from various books as guidance to some technical
specifications, principles and consultation from experienced people.

Signature

iii

DEDICATION
To my lovely mother Mrs Teddy William and guardians who have been devoting
themselves and giving me their moral and financial support during the whole time doing
my project.

iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I greatly would like to thank God for his provision of strength to me and make me alive
from the start of the project up to the end.
However, the extraordinary superiority must prevail to Mr W.Mwita

and others

supervisor who were honestly in making this book. I real appreciate their powerful and
constructive comments, backings, instructions, and criticisms where I was seen out of the
track. Also Im thankful to Dr. Mwakipesile, the Head of department of Energy and
production engineering, project coordinator Mr.A. Palilo as well as all other staff members
of energy and production engineering department for their constructive advice, guidance
and criticisms.
Sincerely I will be embarrassed of serious lapse if I dont acknowledge my young brothers
Salehe William,Lingwa William and my lovely mother Mrs Teddy William, never forget
my lovely brothers and Sisters Tobias Nzumbi William,Koleta William,Grolia
Elick,Nyakireri Jackson,Lelo P Denis, Habakuki Madafu, Emmanuel Msafiri, Kelly
Chipanyanga and Zidiel Mwanjali.
Honorably, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to all people who tirelessly contributed
in one way or another to my interview questions, and making my project from minute
ideas which I designated concept generating idea into reality as read by people today.
In the course of this project and report write up, I appreciate the support and help from
many people. Although it is not possible to mention each by name, the following need
special tribute, all classmates, roommates, and close friends.

ABSTRACT
In Tanzania, most of the people import quadra cycles from abroad as a means of business
for sell and earning income and raising their living standard. Most of the imported quadra
cycle have been found it with the problem of stability and durability during riding that
course injuries of our children. The design of this quadra cycle will enable children to ride
with comfort and exercise their body with reduce injury.

The project titled the design and fabrication of a quadra cycle is aimed to use by children
with age between 4 to 6years.
The method and procedure which was used to accomplish this design was collecting data
and information from the existing quadra cycle and evaluating their costs performance
and also by generating and evaluating different alternatives to solve the problem.

The design and fabrication of these quadra cycle has been discussed and came up with the
conclusion of fabrication of a quadra cyle, and this quadra cycle will be driven by a chain
through pedaling and drive only a right axle of a rear and the left axle will follow the
revolution of the driven axle

A quadra cycle uses available materials such as stainless steel and mild steel thus can be
easily fabricated. A quadra cycle was tested and worked sufficiently.

vi

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CERTIFICATION .......................................................................................................... i
DECLARATION AND COPYRIGHT ........................................................................ ii
DEDICATION ............................................................................................................... iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ............................................................................................ iv
ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................... v
LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................................... ix
LIST OF TABLE ........................................................................................................... x
LIST OF SYMBOLS AND ABREVIATIONS ........................................................... xi
CHAPTER ONE ............................................................................................................ 1
INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Background .................................................................................................................. 1
1.2 Problem statements ...................................................................................................... 2
1.3 Expected Solution ........................................................................................................ 2
1.4 Objectives ..................................................................................................................... 3
1.4.1 Main Objective ................................................................................................................3
1.4.2. Specific Objectives .........................................................................................................3

1.5 Scope and limitation of the design ............................................................................... 3

CHAPTER TWO ........................................................................................................... 4
LITERATURE REVIEW.............................................................................................. 4
2.0

Introduction ............................................................................................................. 4

2.1 A quadracycle transmission. ........................................................................................ 4

2.1.1 Shaft drives pedal ............................................................................................................4
2.1.2 Chain drives pedal ...........................................................................................................5
2.1.3 Belt drives pedal ..............................................................................................................6

2.2 A quadracycle drive source system .............................................................................. 7

2.2.1 Electric drive source system ............................................................................................7
2.2.2 Hydraulic drive source system ........................................................................................8
2.2.3 Motorized drive source system ........................................................................................8

vii

CHAPTER THREE ..................................................................................................... 10

3.1 Interview ..................................................................................................................... 10
3.2 Data Collection ........................................................................................................... 10
3.2.1 Present means of cycling/riding .....................................................................................10
3.2.2 Types of materials and components used for design of quadracycle. .............................10

3.3 Data Analysis.............................................................................................................. 10

3.3.1 Design Calculation. ........................................................................................................10
3.3.2 Technical Drawing Preparation. .......................................................................................11
3.3.3 Report Writing ................................................................................................................11

CHAPTER FOUR ........................................................................................................ 12

4.1 Riding Mechanisms .................................................................................................... 12
4.2.0 Design Alternative ................................................................................................... 12
4.2.1 Alternative one ...............................................................................................................13
4.2.2 Alternative two ..............................................................................................................14
4.2.3 Alternative three ............................................................................................................16

4.3 Alternative Selection................................................................................................... 17

4.4 Design specification of quadracycle .......................................................................... 21
4.5 Frame design .............................................................................................................. 21
4.5.1 Frame design calculations .............................................................................................22

4.6 Wheel design .............................................................................................................. 25

4.6.1 Design calculation of wheel ..........................................................................................26

4.7.0 Sprocket and chain design ....................................................................................... 31

4.7.1 Sprocket design .............................................................................................................31
4.7.2 Chain design ..................................................................................................................32

4.8 Steering calculation .................................................................................................... 33

4.8.1 Condition for True Rolling ............................................................................................34

4.8.2 Performance Report of a Quadracycle .................................................................... 36

4.8.3 Material used and cost............................................................................................. 37
4.8.4 Maintenance schedule ............................................................................................. 38
CHAPTER FIVE .......................................................................................................... 39
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ....................................................... 39

viii

5.1 Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 39

5.2 Recommendations ...................................................................................................... 40
5.3 REFERENCES........................................................................................................... 41
5.4

APPENDICES ................................................................................................... 42

a.

Detail Drawing ...................................................................................................... 42

b.

1.

Front axle ..............................................................................................................42

2.

Rear Axle ..............................................................................................................43

3.

Transmission system .............................................................................................44

Assembly Drawing ................................................................................................ 45

ix

LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Two wheeled and three wheeled bicycle falling ................................................ 2
Figure 2: A Shaft pedal quadracycle .................................................................................. 5
Figure 3: Chain drive pedal quadracycle ........................................................................... 6
Figure 4: Belt drives pedal quadracycle ............................................................................. 7
Figure 5 Electric drive source quadracycle ........................................................................ 7
Figure 6 Hydraulic drive source quadracycle .................................................................... 8
Figure 7: Motorized quadracycle ....................................................................................... 9
Figure 8: Chain drivetrain power qudracycle .................................................................. 13
Figure 9: Shaft drivetrain power drive quadracycle ......................................................... 15
Figure 10 : Belt drive train system quadracycle............................................................... 16
Figure 11 : A quadracycle frame ...................................................................................... 22
Figure 12 Forces acting upward ....................................................................................... 22
Figure 13 A quadracycle wheel........................................................................................ 26
Figure 14 Friction and normal forces acting on quadracyle ............................................ 27
Figure 15 Forces to move quadracycle ............................................................................ 29
Figure 16 Force at rear wheel to move the quadrcycle at maximum slope (gradient) ..... 29
Figure 17 Driving and driven sprocket. .......................................................................... 31
Figure 18 True rolling condition ...................................................................................... 35
Figure 19 A quadracycle ................................................................................................. 46

LIST OF TABLE
Table 1 Score chart........................................................................................................... 19
Table 2 Matrix Table ........................................................................................................ 20
Table 3 Performance Report of a Quadracycle ................................................................ 36
Table 4 Material used and cost......................................................................................... 37
Table 5: Maintenance schedule ........................................................................................ 38

xi

LIST OF SYMBOLS AND ABREVIATIONS

S/N

SYMBOL

DESCRIPTIONS

SI UNITS

Radius of the tyre

Offset of the wheel

Maximum load acting on the tyre

N1

Number of revolution of driving sprocket

N2

Number of revolution of driven sprocket

G1

Number of teeth of driving sprocket

G2

Number of teeth of driven sprocket

Length of chain

Wheel base

10

t.r

Turning radius

11

Length of steering rod

12

Wf

Load on upper frame

13

Wp

Load on passenger

14

Safety factor

15

Applied load

16

Ks

stress concentration factor

N/m2

17

velocity

m/s

18

Acceleration

m/s2

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
A quadracycle is a four wheeled human powered land vehicle.It is also referred as a
quadricycle, quadcycle, pedal car, four wheeled bicycle.The first known iterations of a
wheeled, human-powered vehicle were created long before the bicycle became a practical
form of transportation. In 1418, an Italian engineer, Giovanni de la Fontana, constructed
a human-powered device consisting of four wheels and a loop of rope connected by gears.
In 1813, about 400 years after Fontana built his wheeled contraption, a German aristocrat
and inventor named Karl Drais began work on his own version of a four-wheeled, humanpoweredvehicle. Then in 1817, Drais debuted a two-wheeled vehicle, known by many
names
Quadracyles have been in use since 1853 and have grown into several families of vehicles
for a variety of purposes, including tourist rentals, pedal taxis, private touring, mountain
and industrial use.in 1924 a scientist called Charles Mochetintroduced his Velocar pedal
powered two-seat quadracycleThe various models of the Velocar featured wooden
aerodynamic bodies and usually a three speed transmission. That was a results of
Production of final pedal-powered MochetVelocar Model H ended in 1938, but Mochet
went on to become a manufacturer of automobiles. .although small numbers of
quadracycle were manufactured through the 1950s for rental use in tourist areas. During
the 1970s and 1980s, there was a higher of interest in quadracycles as personal
transportation.

1.2 Problem statements

User of existing bicycle and tricycle especially kids face the challenge of stability making
them unsafe during riding. Most of bicycle and tricycle at home are imported and they not
durable.
Normally a bicycle is used for a variety of purposes, including tourist, transportation,
private touring, mountain and industrial use, since a two and three wheeled bicycle is not
in a good balanced condition for a children to drive, a child needs a good body balance
sometime a bicycle and tricycle slips and fall down due to its unsatisfactory of body
balance to its operator and it depend on the friction of ground floor, the children who drive
or operate the bicycle may be get injured. also imported cycle from other country are not
durable due to assembled of low strength parts eg tyre, frame pedal etc then can fracture
easily.

Figure 1: Two wheeled and three wheeled bicycle falling

Source : www.bikes2udirect.com
1.3 Expected Solution
There is a need to design and manufacture a quadracycle that will be more durable and
stable than the existing bicycle and tricycle. By designing a four wheeled qudracycle

children can drive in a comfort at any different situation. the design will consider the use
of locally available materials, it will be more durable and cheaper
1.4 Objectives
1.4.1 Main Objective
The main objective is to design and manufacture a quadracycle that will be used by a
children to ride at home.
1.4.2. Specific Objectives

To identify design and operation of the existing cycles

To determine performance parameters of the quadracycle

To design the frame

To design a wheels (rim and tyre)

To manufacture the parts

To assemble the parts

To test the quadracycle performance

To compile the report

1.5 Scope and limitation of the design

The quadracycle is intended for children use under five years age.

CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.0 Introduction
A quadracycle is a four wheeled human powered land vehicle.It is also referred as a
quadricycle, quadcycle, pedal car, four wheeled bicycle. It can be used for a children of
different ages and a disable people or aged people. Also it can be a source of transportation
if the quadracycle can be designed with equipped with a small engine. In an industrial a
quadracycle used to transport material from one department to another department and the
uses will not only the emissions be eliminated, but the employees will be more fit and that
can have a positive impact on just about everything including overall morale, health
insurance and workers comp premiums.
In addition, the maintenance costs on industrial work vehicles will just about be eliminated
too. Plus, they are much safer and more stable than 2-wheel or 3-wheel factory bikes and
they can carry tools and equipment around. Quadracycles are a pleasure to ride, easy on
the back, knees, and torso, and comfortable for hours. Ride them for recreation or
pleasure, transportation, shopping, or cardio-vascular exercise to keep you in peak health
in a fun and entertaining way by pedaling your quadracycle.
2.1 A quadracycle transmission.
2.1.1 Shaft drives pedal
Shaft driven quadracycle figure 2 have a large bevel gear where a conventional
quadracycle would have its chain ring. This meshes with another bevel gear mounted on
the drive shaft. The use of bevel gears allows the axis of the drive torque from the pedals
to be turned through 90 degrees. The drive shaft then has another bevel gear near the
rear wheel hub which meshes with a bevel gear on the hub where the rear sprocket
would be on a conventional quadracycle, and canceling out the first drive torque change
of axis.

The 90-degree change of the drive plane that occurs at the bottom bracket and again at
the rear hub uses bevel gears for the most efficient performance, though other
mechanisms could be used, e.g. hob son's joints, worm gears or crossed helical gears.
The drive shaft is often mated to a hub gear which is an internal gear system housed
inside the rear hub. Manufacturers of internal hubs suitable for use with shaft drive
systems include NuVinci, Rohloff, Shimano, SRAM, and Sturmey-Archer.

Figure 2: A Shaft pedal quadracycle

Source: www.oldbike.eu
2.1.2 Chain drives pedal
Obsolete chain designs previously used on quadracycle figure 3 included the block
chain, the skip link chain, and the Simpson lever chain. Most modern quadracycle chains
used with a single chain ring and single rear sprocket are conventional industrial bushing
chain. Until the 1980s, most derailleur chains were also bushing chains, but today,
virtually all derailleur chains are of the "Sedis" bushingless design. Compared to a
bushing chain, a bushingless chain is cheaper to make, is less likely to break under
shifting load, promotes better lubricant flow inside the rollers, and creates more lateral
flexibility for multi geared quadracycle. However, it also wears much faster and has
slightly worse mechanical efficiency than a bushing chain.