During my tenure on this project, as part of the mechanical team, I was tasked with the braking solution as well as designing a prototype of the clutch system.
The History
Belmont Trolley is dedicated to reopening a historic trolley segment to travel between downtown Belmont, NC and Belmont Abbey College. They originally part of an electrically-powered, interurban rail system, built by William States Lee and James Buchanan Duke in 1911.
Now, it has been over 70 years since this 1.5-mile segment has been used, and the original lines for supplying power to the trolleys have been demolished.
Innovative Solution
The goal is to create an innovative battery cart with adequate voltage and power storage that can be towed by and simultaneously power the historic trolleys.
This multi-year endeavor has led to many upgrades to the carts, with a focus on increasing the feasibility of a rechargeable solution.
Additional upgrades include wireless power transfer, a motor, the ability to be remote-controlled, a braking system, and designs for an electromagnetic clutch allowing for the motor to be disconnected during towing operations.
Tool Stack
- MathCAD
- SolidWorks
- Microsoft Excel
- verbal and written communication with the project sponsors
Wyatt Barnes Portfolio 
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