AUTOSPORT ENGINEERING – PRODUCTS ELECTRONICS Geartronics Easyshift
Paddle-shift specialist, Geartronics has introduced its ‘Easyshift’ stand alone, closed- loop, flat shift and auto-blip controller, which it believes to be the only aftermarket system to operate purely by monitoring an existing gear position sensor. This innovative system eliminates the requirement for load cells or switch mechanisms to detect gear lever movement. Instead, the engine torque reduction or throttle blip is initiated when the ECU detects a small change in the position of the rotary barrel position sensor. The system then constantly monitors the sensor to determine when it’s safe to resume engine power, or when it’s appropriate to turn off the throttle blip. Using closed-loop technology means there is no possibility of resuming engine power prematurely, with resulting
gearbox damage. The system can operate in either stand alone mode or integrate with most aftermarket engine management systems. The company’s owner, Neil Wallace, points out that the movement of the gear lever is pretty much irrelevant, and that the barrel position is all that really matters. ‘We, along with many others, have experimented in the past with micro-switches and proximity sensors to detect movement of the lever,’ explains Wallace, ‘but invariably found them difficult to set up and temperamental in use, leading to compromised reliability.’
Geartronics will be on stand E455, where interactive demonstrations of their products can be seen.
Phoenix Dynamics has enhanced its services to the motorsport sector, following an investment in a low-pressure moulding facility, allowing it to produce complex, rugged wiring harnesses in low production runs. Using this moulding technique, Phoenix Dynamics can now create bespoke junction shapes to suit specific routing or installation requirements and provide mechanical reinforcement to protect components from exposure to shock, vibration, moisture and other potentially race threatening issues. This offers a real alternative
to traditional heat shrink boots, with the major advantage of moulded joints being that it makes it possible to create any size, number or orientation of harness branches, making it ideal for complicated harness layouts
HARDWARE Lifeline Zero 360 upgrade
UK-based extinguisher systems specialist, Lifeline, has launched a newly evolved version of its Zero 360 fire suppression system. It uses the company’s unique compression discharge technology, which deploys pure 3M Novec 1320 extinguishant in a constant spray pattern, but this version mounts directly to the vehicle, adding strength to the unit and making installation easier. The new system uses
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interchangeable operating heads – from mechanical to electrical – which can be added by the supplying dealer. Simplified plug ’n’ play electrical wiring connections complete the upgrades. ‘We are constantly evolving, adapting and adding to our product range through an ongoing research and development programme,’ says Lifeline Managing Director, Jim Morris. ‘The benefit to our
motorsport customers is that we are continually improving the safety envelope of their drivers, as this new Zero 360 demonstrates.’ The Zero 360 fire suppressant
system is available in 2.25 or 3kg versions and is suitable for use in all forms of motorsport.
For more information see lifeline at Autosport International on stand E256
and constructions. The relatively low cost nature of the required tooling also allows changes to be made as a race season progresses. ‘The precision moulding
of wiring harness junctions is bringing added flexibility to designers of wiring systems as we can now provide them with the potential to design bespoke shapes to allow specific routing or installation to be achieved, while at the same time adding additional ruggedisation to the harness itself. Of importance to the motorsport sector is the elimination of additional components and the associated reduction in weight of the wiring harness,’ said Carl Kirk, company sales manager.
See Phoenix Dynamics on stand E1071
ELECTRONICS Phoenix Dynamics wiring
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