TPV billet chassis Vincent

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"The concept , was to form a chassis and swing arm machined from a solid billet . This idea originated from the following considerations:

  • * Compared to popular Welding constructions this concept can be produced in one pass
    * No subsequent straightening and heat treatments
    * applicability of technical and decorative anodizing
    * No straightening and machining rigs necessary.

Last but not least the design reminds you of the original HRD Vincent box-section sheetmetal frame. However, this did not incorporate inside reinforcing ribs and resulted in a structure with poor torsional stiffness

The new concept of TP – Vincent was possible thanks to computer-aided design and a CNC manufacturing processes which allowed a large portion of the blank into finished product ."


http://tpv-vincent.de/en/technology/

TPV billet chassis Vincent
 
Terry had these parts (ufm, rfm) on display at the Vincent Rally I attended last year at the Gorge in Oregon.
My understanding was that the pieces were built in collaboration with Fritz Egli Jr, which comes thru again with your link. There is a long history there as Terry built most of the early Egli frames when he was a young apprentice working for Fritz Egli Sr. In Germany many years ago. Fritz Jr was born during this period and Terry is his Godfather.
Fritz Jr is now a trained engineer and was, until recently, the lead engineer on the Mercedes Benz Formula one team. It was Fritz Jr who used the Mercedes Formula one team cam development program to design the very high performance MK5 cams I have in my 1360 motor.
The billet alloy ufm and rfm are beautifully made, but the are quite heavy. This is probably why the listed weight for the finished bike is 175 kgs, or about 390 lbs, whereas my tube framed bike weighs just 348 with oil in, no gas.
Also, I think the tube framed bike will be stiffer than this setup, because it has struts from the tube to the engine which prevent hinge effect.
At the moment, this billet setup appears to have done away with the struts.
The website mentions torsional movement in the standard Vincent RFM being a problem that will not occur with the billet RFM. I do not think this is the case, the Vincent box section RFM is very stiff. In my mind, the connection between the RFM and the stressed member, the engine/trans, is the weak spot on a standard Vincent. This connection is done thru the head brackets via two 3/8" bolts, one of which is to be left slightly loose to allow for engine expansion with heat. So it really comes down to one 3/8" cross bolt. The Egli struts added a very strong braced connection point to the mix, so I am surprised that it is absent on this new billet setup.
Perhaps it will get added down the road.

Glen
 
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