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MERCURY R. THE 2019 KOSMIC CHASSIS FOR OK CLASSES

Max Bernardi

26 May 2019

CIK-FIA 2009 - 2020

HOMOLOGATION
The Kosmic Mercury was homologated for the first time in 2009. In 2014, its homologation has been extended until 2020

OK - OKJ

CONFIGURATION
The chassis is suitable both for non-shifter and gearbox engines. The photos and analysis of this article are dedicated to the non-shifter version.

TUBES DIAMETER
Generally, 30-mm and 32-mm tubes are used, some are the same diameter and others are mixed diameters. The tubes in the Mercury R all have a diameter of 30 mm

ROBOT

WELDING
Two “schools of thought”: handmade or robotics. OTK welds are done in a fully automated mode

MAGNESIUM

ACCESSORIES
For the OTK Group chassis, standard components are made of magnesium

The non-shifter version of the new Kosmic Kart Mercury R shares the main characteristics with the version for the gearbox categories, at the top is the KZ in which, on its debut, the chassis graduated as the World Champion.
Compared to the previous S version, KF World Champion in 2015, the OTK Group technicians have introduced several evolutions, developed in close synergy with the Kosmic Racing Department.

The Kosmic Mercury R 2019 presents interesting innovations in various areas of the chassis, while the frame design remains unchanged, linked to the homologation expiring in 2020. Completely new, for example, are the seat supports, manufactured with a small block welded to the frame on which a bracket which allows you to adjust the seat to the desired height is fastened. This system avoids having to directly bend the support plates of the chassis to adapt them to the seat, an operation which presented the potential breakage due to the repeated bending. The small blocks also offer benefits to the setup of the vehicle, eliminating the tension which is generated by the supports when fastening the seat.

These tension issues are detrimental to the neutral distribution of the weight. Additionally, the automated welding of the frame, a great point of strength in the OTK manufacturing, allows a perfectly identical chassis with error margins which are basically nonexistent.

New graphics for the Kosmic Kart Mercury R, where white substitutes the chrome effect

The fastening of the floor plate to the chassis has been raised by 7 mm to prevent the screws from rubbing against the curbs

The new and improved shape of the Mercury R floor plate improves the airflow at higher speeds

Getting back to the new improvements, in the Mercury R we find a floorplate which is raised by 7 mm compared to the S version. The modification, implemented to prevent the fastening bolts from touching the asphalt and wearing out, has also allowed us to align the fastening screws to the chassis pipe in their lower mounting point. The floor plate fastening supports have decreased in this section, so as to develop less heat to the chassis during the welding phase. In addition to the fastening and position, the floor plate presents an important change of shape. Its perimeter, now, copies that of the tubes of the front part of the chassis, up to the Cs, with the aim of closing any space and improving the aerodynamics by optimizing the air flow at higher speeds.

The new position of the floorplate has also made it necessary to revisit the inclination of the steering column support to make room for the raised tank. To conclude on the new improvements in the front chassis, it is worth noting the new M8 steering column nut, which replaces the previous M10 size and allows the use of a 13 mm wrench to loosen it, thus facilitating the disassembly operations quicker.

KOSMIC KART

Kosmic was born in 1997 within the OTK Group...

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The new and original design of the front number plate M7, the result of wind tunnel tests and CFD simulations.

The pedals and footrests are obtained through forging, a process which allows us to increase the mechanical characteristics by reducing the size of the initial materials.

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