James W. Kamman, Ph.D.
Western Michigan University

Parker Hannifin Chainless Challenge

Contact Information

Alamgir Choudhury, Ph.D.
Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering
Tel: (269) 276-3357
Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5336
E-mail: alamgir.choudhury@wmich.edu  

Pavel Ikonomov, Ph.D.
Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering
Tel: (269) 276-3284
Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5336
E-mail: pavel.ikonomov@wmich.edu

Event Sponsor: Parker Hannifin Corporation, Cleveland, OH

The Chainless Challenge is a hydraulic bicycle design competition sponsored by Parker Hannifin Corporation in Cleveland, Ohio. The purpose of the competition is to challenge engineering and engineering technology students in innovative design and development of a bicycle which will transfer rider’s manual power to the driving wheel through a hydraulic media without using traditional chain or other direct drive mechanisms. Additionally, the bicycle would be able to conserve energy and utilize it during difficult uphill motion as necessary. The criteria for design and judgment of the competition were established by Parker. The bike could be a two or three wheeler and only manually powered, able to start and stop safely without external assistance. The rider’s power should be transferred to the driving wheel using a safe biodegradable hydraulic fluid. Each team may have a maximum of five students to design and fabricate the system.

The first Chainless Challenge was held in Cleveland in August 2005. There were ten universities competing in this race, namely, California State Polytechnic University, Cleveland State University, Murray State University, Purdue University, University of Akron, University of California-Irvine, University of Cincinnati, University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign, University of Wisconsin - Madison and Western Michigan University.

Each design is judged by Parker officials based on its performance in a 100 yard sprint race, its design ingenuity & novelty, its reliability & safety, its manufacturability & workmanship, a design report and ultimately in the 12 mile endurance race. The endurance race requires completion of 3 4-mile loops in hilly terrain. Pushing bikes on the uphill slopes is penalized.