Bearing application gains award for novel folding trailer
28 November 2011
The use of a polymer sleeve bearing in its luxury Tyligo Premium folding trailer saw MBP Concepts receive an igus UK manus award for ‘Most Eye-Catching Design’. We take a look at this innovative product and the design challenges it posed for its inventor
The Tyligo Premium is a multipurpose folding trailer designed to allow valuable items of equipment – such as motorcycles, quad bikes, kayaks and jet skis – to be safely and securely towed behind a car or other vehicle. In addition to its versatility, strength and reliability, the Tyligo Premium has the outstanding benefit of folding to just 700mm wide when not in use. This not only allows it to be easily stored, but also means that it can pass through a standard-width house or garage door – solving a major problem with existing trailers on the market.
Matthieu Philippault, the inventor of the Tyligo Premium, spent three years developing and refining the design of the trailer. Quite apart from the engineering, Matthieu’s primary aim was to produce a trailer of aesthetic appeal that would grace any upmarket towing vehicle. During its development, he encountered many engineering challenges, not least of which was finding the right bearing to use for the critical function of folding and opening the trailer – an action dependent on the front bracket sliding on a longitudinal, cylindrical stainless steel beam.
Key requirements were that the bearing should combine high load bearing capacity with long life, small size and minimal maintenance requirements. It also had to be capable of operating reliably over a wide temperature range, in wet and dry conditions, as well as being able to cope with the adverse effects of salt, grit and other contaminants thrown up from the road surface when being towed.
It was decided that an iglidur polymer sleeve bearing from igus would best meet these requirements, as its characteristics proved far superior to those of a conventional metal bearing for such an application. Properties such as high compressive strength and superior elasticity meant that, for the same physical size, this iglidur polymer bearing was capable of carrying a much greater load. Moreover, it requires no lubrication or other form of maintenance.
Now that it has been fully integrated into the trailer design, the iglidur bearing is proving to be an ideal choice for the Tyligo Premium. It is easy to handle and fit during manufacture, and is fully living up to expectations for reliability and performance in service. Matthew Aldridge of igus UK summarises:
“The Tyligo folding trailer is a worthy winner of the igus UK manus ‘Most Eye-Catching Design award’ as it uses our bearing to perform a key function in a product that is distinguished by its innovation, performance and versatility. We are always pleased to see an iglidur bearing being used in an unusual application, and for solving engineering problems that would be difficult to address in any other way. We congratulate Matthieu Philippault on his superb design, and wish him every success in the future.”
Tyligo will be ready for retail at the end of this year and will be officially launched at the forthcoming MCN Motorcycle Show (February 2-5 2012, ExCel, London).
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