The Challenge
Removing all the oil based fluids from end of life vehicles and leaving clean scrap metal is a challenge that sixty students from the University’s Product Design course were set. This project has tackled the problems of removing fluids from vehicles at the end of their life in a more controlled and environmentally efficient way.

The Institute has been working with Power Transmission Engineering on a number of issues and they explained that they were aiming to create a rig to help remove fluids from all parts of vehicles so that the remaining vehicle could be recycled as clean scrap metal.

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What's involved
Petrol, diesel, engine oil, brake oil, gear box oil, air conditioning fluids and shock absorber oil are all to be removed.

Devices to remove the engine oil had already been designed, but there was a particular problem with shock absorbers because of the wide range of types and the interference of springs in some models. The curved nature of the shock absorber made it difficult to create a seal around the curve even if a clean hole could be punched into it. Any leakage of oil on to surrounding metals would cause unacceptable pollution.

These problems were taken to Alan Crisp in the Product Design Unit and sixty students were set the challenge. Evaluation of their ideas is now underway with a view to creating a perfect tool for the job.

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The Designs
The students had to consider how to avoid potential explosion, given the nature of the materials involved and the danger of punching a hole in the absorber.

The ability to punch a hole that could then be immediately sealed and the fluids removed without spillage or leaching was an essential requirement. Health and Safety issues had to be considered given the awkward position of the shock absorbers and the difficulties of taking them off the vehicle first. Consequently, the tool needed to be easy to use to avoid unnecessary stretching and lifting.

Their tools are now being considered for this process so that a complete set of tools can be provided on a dual rig, allowing one vehicle to be prepared whilst another is draining its fluids.

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Further Information
For any more information about the project contact
Alan Crisp on 0115 848 6425 or email alan.crisp@ntu.ac.uk
or Bob Pick at the institute using the details below..