Myth, I'm sure


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Posted by David Sherman [24.32.202.83] on Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at 17:23:20 :

In Reply to: pole vault cars - myth or reality posted by mannyc [68.165.89.2] on Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at 16:47:29 :

What really happened when they tried it? My hunch is that the rear U-joint would break as soon as the front end dug into the ground, and then it would perhaps spear the rear of the car, maybe the gas tank if everyone was unlucky. On a bus, however, with a very long drive shaft, and with the rear axle pretty far forward (especially on school buses), I think there's a fair chance it could poke up through the floor and impale someone.

Don't know if it's ever happened, but given that a loop to catch a broken shaft doesn't cost much, and given that on a bus the body is pretty light and there are people right above where the broken thing would be flailing around or spearing through something, it seems like a reasonable precaution. If nothing else, it'll likely save the cost of a whole new driveshaft and whatever it hit. A loop might be cheap insurance just in mechanical terms, even if pole vaulting isn't likely to happen.



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