In the maximum adverse road conditions, 4000 kilometers travel through amphibious vehicles is possible through igus polymer plain bearing technology. Alaska is witnessing defrosting glaciers and reducing fish stocks. To spread this knowledge and foster alternative drives, an amphibious vehicle is being developed by the Hoepner brothers from Berlin called the ‘Urmel’.
Paul and Hansen Hoepner cycled 13,600 kilometers from Berlin to Shanghai in 2012. In 2015, the couple traveled around the world in only 104 days in the absence of money, contacts, and social media. This is evidence of their adventurous and inventive behavior. Now, they have their self-designed, pedal-operated ‘Urmel’ with which the duo aims to travel 4,000 kilometers in Alaska within six months.
Urmel is designed in such a way that it can drive off-road, over slopes, snow and ice, open country and rivers. Urmel can also float, roll and run
In extreme conditions, at the bearing points, metallic bearings are unsuitable due to the heaviness and need of lubricants that were out water that comes in contact and seeps into the environment. Dirt can stick to the lubricant and block the bearing. The optimal solution is the use of high-performance polymers to generate wear-resistant iglidur plain bearings and thrust washers. These have low weight and lubrication-free quality, which are useful in Urmel. The Urmel chassis has a special design that needs wear-resistant bearings. So, the Hoepner brothers used plain bearings and bar stock from igus.
iglidur J has a lubrication-free quality and a low coefficient of friction. Its inventors used the iglidur plain bearings consisting of the all-round material, iglidur G, in the steering, wheels, bearing of drive cables, and driveshaft. For mounting the gearshift in a narrow installation space with minimal wear resistance, igus liners are used. To reduce the friction of the metal parts and the drive energy, the FDA-compliant material iglidur A160 is used for the wear-resistant tribo-tape.
We were able to turn thrust washers and flanged bushings ourselves out of the high-performance polymer iglidur J, which are used in the suspension of the main axis, the pedals or the tie rod
Paul Hoepner
Product Designer, Hoepner-Hoepner
The Hoepner brothers are supported by various companies and igus is also a supporter. The brothers are welcoming other supporters to begin their Alaska journey in the next year. Private individuals can also endorse this mission with even five euros of donation.
