Archive for Glossary
Glossary: Connecting Rod
What is a Connecting Rod
A connecting rod is a rod which interconnects the piston and the crankshaft and transmits the gas forces from the piston to the crankshaft. The two ends of the connecting rod are called as small end and the big end. Small end is connected to the piston with the help of […]
Glossary: Understanding Pistons
If the engine is considered as the heart of an automobile, then the piston can rightly be considered as the heart of the engine. They are an integral part in reciprocating engines and have been an area of constant research. Engineers are thriving for better designs and materials to build pistons which can perform more […]
Glossary: Windshield wiper
A windshield wiper is a mechanism which moves a rubber blade back and forth to wipe the windshield, operated electrically, by vacuum or by compressed air. However, all present-day automobiles are equipped with electrically operated wipers. Wipers are used to remove rain water, moisture and dirt from the windshield. Usually there are two synchronized radial […]
Glossary: Exhaust manifold
Combustion of fuel produces nitrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, water vapor, particulate matter and other hydrocarbons. These by-products have to be collected and let off some place else.
An exhaust manifold does exactly that by collecting the exhaust gases from the cylinders and passing it on to the one common pipe called the exhaust pipe.
The manifold […]
Glossary: Spoiler
A spoiler is a device attached to an automobile whose purpose is to ’spoil’ unfavorable air movement across a body of a vehicle, when it is in motion. This can result in improved vehicle stability by decreasing lift (force pushing the car upwards when in motion) or decreasing drag (force pushing the car in a […]
Glossary: Nitrous oxide
Whenever a car purrs rather loud, or even gives an energetic note from the silencer for that, most earthlings (or Muggles as the HP fans know it) think that the car has nitrous oxide in it… only a handful of us really know about its working.
The basics: The air/fuel mixture that enters the engine (regardless […]
Glossary: Accelerator
The accelerator is a control, usually a foot-operated pedal, used to control the flow of fuel into the engine. In petrol engines, it is done either by linking it to the throttle body (fuel injected engines) or carburetor (carbureted engines). The throttle body can either be mechanically or electronically controlled.
The mechanically controlled version employs a […]
Glossary: Air suspension
Any vehicle suspension that uses contained air for vehicle springing can be called air suspension. This system uses air rather than metal springs to support the vehicle on its axles or wheels.
A compressor driven either electrically or by the engine supplies pressurized air to a tank. The pressure inside this tank is maintained at a […]
Glossary: Airbag (SRS)
An airbag, a.k.a. a Supplementary Restraint System (SRS), is a flexible membrane or envelope that prevents impact of the driver’s chest and face colliding with the steering wheel in the event of a collision. An airbag might also be installed in various other parts of the cabin to protect the passengers from severe injuries. Analysis […]
Glossary: ABS - anti-lock braking system
Derived from the German word ‘anti blockier system‘, an anti-lock braking system (ABS) is a system which prevents the wheels from locking during braking. The main aim of this system is to allow the driver to maintain steering control under heavy braking. In some cases, ABS helps to shorten braking distances.
The ABS consists of an […]