The Electic Power Steering (EPS) kit which is being developed which is collapsible and was on display at Vanfest and bus Freeze 2009 is my project. I have been working on it for over two years, and various versions have been on test in my daily driver for 23 months now. Multible collapsible or energy absorbing elements are included, and all load carrying components are OEM specification parts.
Anyone considering buying any kind of aftermarket steering column products may be interested to see this video clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iwa9vdq8 ... re=related" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I would also advise that they ask whoever is marketing the system they are considering the following:
1. To explain what steps they have taken to ensure that it is at least as safe as the parts it replaces
2. To explain how the steering column deforms, decouples or otherwide collapses to absorb vehicle body deformation in a front end crash to minimise the chances of the steering wheel being pushed towards the driver
3. What absorbs misalignment between the steering column assembly and the VW bevel box to prevent rolling bend fatigue, excess bearing wear or loosening of parts due to inevitable misalignment caused by tolerance variation or damage?
4. To explain whether all the steering load carrying components are designed and manufactured to OEM specifications
5. To explain whether any OEM steering load carrying components have been modified in any way since they were manufactured.
6. If any load carrying components have been modified from OEM specification, can they provide proof that the modifications will not fail through shear, rolling bend fatigue, weld failure, adhesive bond failure, etc?
7. What relevant qualifications whoever engineered the conversion has to do so?
8. Whether they have product liability insurance which covers products as safety critical as steering columns?
I should explain that I have made a have made a major E D I T to my post which was previously here. This is as a result of spending most of this week deciding my way forward. It has nothing to do with either comments made by any of the other contributors to this thread or any changes of the opinions I previously expressed here.
In the future I will discuss nothing at all about any new products which I may be working on with anybody unless they sign my confidentiality agreement up front. I will display no prototype or ‘work in progress’ projects at exhibitions before I make them public via my web site, press releases, or whatever other form of release I choose. Prototype or ‘work in progress’ projects will not be available for anyone I do business with to see prior to product release unless they both have reason to know and sign my confidentiality agreement up front.
Any previous business relationship between R J Engineered Solutions and the creator of the system which this thread is discussing ended as of 24/11/09 as a result of his breach of my trust and unwillingness to take certain very important things which we have discussed seriously while claiming he is keen to learn.