Special equipment with high cross-country characteristics is of great interest not only for the military and security officials, but also for civilian structures, tourists, etc. Such machines allow you to get into remote corners inaccessible to other equipment. Manufacturers of special equipment try to respond to such wishes of potential customers and from time to time present new developments in this area. It is noteworthy that in addition to recognized leaders with new developments, new companies founded by enthusiasts enter the market. An excellent example of this is the Sherpa all-terrain vehicle, developed by engineer Alexei Garagashyan.
A. Garagashyan is widely known among fans of snow and swamp vehicles. Over the past few years, this specialist has proposed several projects of vehicles with high cross-country ability. In addition, one of these developments - the Sherp all-terrain vehicle - has even reached full-scale serial production and is being produced by the order of various customers. Due to its characteristic appearance and high performance, this machine attracts the attention of specialists and amateurs of special equipment, and from time to time it becomes the topic of publications in the press. So, in early February, the high performance of the Sherpa was noted by the team of the Top Gear project.
The Sherp project is based on the experience of operating various all-terrain vehicles and several original ideas. The author of the project applied solutions already worked out in this area, and also borrowed some ideas from equipment of other classes. Finally, the original proposals were also used. This combination of existing and new ideas, as shown in the demonstration materials, allowed the machine to provide the machine with unique high characteristics of mobility in rough terrain and water. In cross-country ability "Sherpa" can be compared with tracked vehicles, and in some cases even surpasses them.
The main means of achieving high performance is the original wheeled chassis. In one of his interviews A. Garagashyan noted that the all-terrain vehicle, first of all, consists of wheels, and the engine, transmission, etc. Are just minor elements. Based on this logic, the author of the Sherp project used wheels with oversized, ultra-low pressure tires. Large wheels give the Sherpa all-terrain vehicle its characteristic appearance, and also affect the layout of other units. Another curious feature of the chassis is the lack of suspension in the usual form.
The main element of the chassis of the all-terrain vehicle is four wheels with ultra-low pressure tubeless tires. To ensure the required characteristics, the tires have a size of 1600x200-25. When creating the required wheels, it was necessary to solve several critical issues related to the interaction of the rim and tire. Ultra-low pressure tires have a characteristic drawback: when deformed, they can be disassembled, for which additional fastening means should be used. For use on the Sherp all-terrain vehicle, new discs have been developed to ensure proper tire retention. In addition, their design eliminates the adhesion of dirt or freezing of ice.
In the early stages of the project, the ATV builders reportedly had to deal with some issues regarding the design of the available tires. To use it on the Sherpa, it was necessary to independently modify the tread of the existing tires, cutting off unnecessary elements and making new grooves. The modified tires were rigidly mounted on disks, without the possibility of quick dismantling.
To ensure the required wheel characteristics, a tire inflation system is used. Maintaining the required pressure is carried out by supplying exhaust gases and is carried out centrally. When starting the engine, the initial inflation of the wheels to the operating pressure takes about 15 seconds. By changing the pressure in the wheels, you can change their characteristics and accordingly change the passability of the machine.
Front of the machine
Unlike many other all-terrain vehicles, the Sherp has no suspension in the conventional sense. The axles of all four wheels are rigidly attached to the body and do not have the ability to move in a vertical plane. Instead of a mechanical suspension, an original system called pneumocirculation was used by A. Garagashyan. All four wheels are connected by a common pneumatic system responsible for pumping. Such lines are made of pipes of a relatively large diameter, which ensures the free movement of gases from one tire to another. When the wheel hits an obstacle, the tire deforms, the pressure in it increases, but the gases are redistributed to the rest of the wheels.
The main advantage of the so-called. Pneumatic suspension is to maintain contact with the surface when driving on different tracks. So, when hitting an obstacle, the wheel literally covers it and maintains normal contact, and does not hang the car. However, such a system is not without its drawbacks. A smooth ride is provided only at low and medium speeds. When accelerating to high speeds, the pneumatic circulation system cannot absorb all vibration caused by an uneven surface.
The use of large wheels, as well as their role as the main element of the machine, affected the design of other units. The Sherp all-terrain vehicle received a box-shaped body, consisting of straight surfaces and inscribed in the space between the wheels. The front part of the body, containing the driver's cab, is formed by an inclined frontal part, consisting of several elements, as well as diverging sides. A cargo platform is provided behind the cabin for accommodating passengers or other payload. Above the wheels on the sides, curved wings are provided, connected by jumpers. All main body assemblies are made of steel.
All-terrain vehicle dimensions
The engine and the main transmission elements are located in the central part of the body. The basis of the power plant is the Kubota V1505-t diesel engine with 44.3 hp. The engine is mated to a mechanical five-speed gearbox. As conceived by the author of the project, the Sherpa transmission is responsible not only for transmitting torque to the wheels, but also for controlling the machine. For this, in the early versions of the project, a differential from a KamAZ truck was connected to the gearbox, from which two side shafts departed. The latter were equipped with ventilated brake discs, as well as chain gears. The differential shafts and wheel axles were connected by chains. The possibility of using other systems was also considered. On serial all-terrain vehicles, self-developed turning mechanisms based on friction clutches are installed.
To control the machine, it is proposed to use the gas and clutch pedals, the gear lever, as well as two levers connected to the hydraulic drives of the side brakes. Thus, the turn of the vehicle is carried out "in a tank way" - by braking the wheels of one side. This allows the all-terrain vehicle to turn almost on the spot, however, it is associated with some power losses due to heating of individual elements, and also imposes certain restrictions on driving the car.
The body of the Sherp all-terrain vehicle is divided into two main parts. The front compartment provides two seats for the driver and passenger. Serial off-road vehicles are equipped with car-type seats with seat belts. In this case, the seats are mounted on the front of the engine cover. Between the seats are the handbrake and gearbox control levers. The driver's workplace has two pedals and two levers, as well as a set of control devices and other controls.
Due to the impossibility of using side doors, the Sherp received other means for boarding the cockpit. The windshield of the machine is installed in a hinged frame. The glass must be lifted to fit into the car. In addition, it can be held in this position while driving. Opposite the passenger seat, a hinged door-ramp is provided in the frontal sheet of the body. For added convenience, there is a tubular footrest at the bottom of the frontal part of the body. The side windows of the cab are also made in the form of lifting blocks and can be fixed in any desired position.
The rear cargo area is made in the form of a compartment with the possibility of installing seats or other equipment intended for transporting a payload. The cargo compartment is accessed through a hinged door. It should be noted that the lower part of the cargo compartment, related to the hull, is unified and is used in both modifications of the all-terrain vehicle. The top equipment, in turn, is different.
In the "Standard" configuration, the Sherp all-terrain vehicle receives several arcs and a textile awning. For a comfortable stay in the cab, the car also receives a liquid heater. There is also a modification "KUNG", which is characterized by the use of a rigid metal insulated van. Inside such a body is a soft interior with the ability to change the configuration. In particular, tourists get the opportunity to spend the night in the right place using a bed measuring about 2100x1100 mm. The total volume of the passenger compartment is 3 cubic meters.
The dry weight of the Sherpa all-terrain vehicle is only 1300 kg. The length of the car is 3.4 m, width - 2.5 m, height - 2.3 m. The ground clearance depends on the pressure in the tires and can reach 600 mm. The normal carrying capacity of the machine is determined at 500 kg. With such a load, the all-terrain vehicle can move on various surfaces without a significant decrease in cross-country ability. Due to some reduction in such characteristics, the weight of the cargo can be increased to 1000 kg. It is possible to tow a trailer weighing up to 2.4 tons.
Overcoming the obstacle
The engine used allows the car to accelerate on a good road up to 45 km / h. When towing a trailer, the maximum speed drops to 30-33 km / h, however, in this case, the cross-country ability is significantly reduced. The sealed body allows the machine to swim over water obstacles. By turning the wheels, the speed on the water reaches 6 km / h. In the basic configuration, the Sherpa is equipped with a 58 liter fuel tank. At the request of the customer, four additional tanks with a capacity of 50 liters can be mounted in the wheel disks.
The all-terrain vehicle can move on various surfaces, including those with low bearing capacity, swim and overcome various obstacles. So, the declared possibility of climbing a wall up to 1 m high and overcoming a 35-degree slope. The developers are especially proud of the "ability" of the machine to rise from the water onto the ice. Due to the special configuration of the undercarriage, the all-terrain vehicle is able to get out of the water not only along the coastal slopes, but also in other difficult conditions.
The low weight of the machine, combined with the ultra-low pressure tires and low specific load, also provide the all-terrain vehicle with sufficient maneuverability. Under the control of an experienced driver, the car is able to turn almost on the spot, make sharp turns or enter a controlled skid. Maneuverability, cross-country ability and the ability to sail gives the Sherpa a very high mobility in various landscapes.
All-terrain vehicle on a transport cart
To date, the Sherp all-terrain vehicle has passed the entire range of tests and reached serial production. Cars are built by order of certain buyers. Potential customers are offered two basic configurations of the machine, differing in the type of cargo compartment. In addition, some additional options are offered. For an additional fee, the all-terrain vehicle can be equipped with an air autonomous heater, a 60A generator, 90-watt diode headlights, additional fuel tanks, etc. A special trailer for the transportation of an all-terrain vehicle is also offered, which is a single-axle bogie with a towing device.
In the "Standard" configuration, the all-terrain vehicle will cost the customer 3.85 million rubles. Due to a different body version "KUNG" costs 250 thousand more. Additional systems installed at the request of the customer also affect the cost of the finished machine. For example, an additional tank for a wheel will cost 13 thousand rubles, and 268.8 thousand will have to be paid for a trailer.
To date, a fairly large number of Sherp all-terrain vehicles have been built, which are actively used by various customers. In addition to buyers, this technique is also used by the development team. From time to time, A. Garagashyan and his colleagues arrange trips in different regions of the country, during which they overcome difficult routes on their own equipment. In confirmation of the high performance of the Sherpas, videos taken during the campaigns are regularly published.
Not so long ago, the Sherpa all-terrain vehicle attracted the interest of foreign experts, which led to the appearance of a real wave of publications in the foreign and domestic press. In just a couple of days, an interesting project became famous not only among a narrow circle of fans of snow and swamp vehicles, but also among the general public. It is quite possible that these publications in the media will become a kind of advertising and affect the number of new orders, as well as to one degree or another help the further development of the project.
