I have come across a wheel-retaining device in UK called a 'Wobble bolt' or 'Collar bolt'. It is a wheel bolt designed to accommodate a difference between a wheel PCD and a hub PCD. It is a bolt with a floating collar which can align itself eccentrically to the bolt axis by a millimetre or two...
I am interested in finding analytical software for electric / diesel hybrid road vehicles. I recall about 15 years ago an Israeli company produced an excellent program which did everything I now want. It ran under DOS and was pretty slow (so was the 386 I ran it on!); but it was extremely...
We have been asked by a client to add some instrumentation to an engine test rig to measure 'crankcase blow-by' in order to assess cylinder wear, ring condition etc.
The client has only asked for a measurement of pressure, but in a vented crankcase this is likely to be so near atmospheric as to...
According to an email circulated round my company, there is none.
In Europe, lead-acid batteries will be banned some time over the next few years (except for some specific applications, eg military). The reason is the nastiness of lead and sulphuric acid. I don't disagree with the toxicity...
Diesel fuel is injected into the combustion chamber as a finely divided aerosol spray. I infer that the better the atomisation, the better the burn characteristics.
My question is: is there an optimum droplet size? If one could atomise the fuel to ever more finely divided mist, would the...
I have researched a number of websites and books to get a definition of the Otto cycle.
In most cases it is synonymous with 4-stroke, and in others seems to be associated only with spark ignition.
My view is that it describes the 4-stroke cycle, whether spark or diesel, reciprocating or...
Anyone have any numerical data for the coefficient of friction of tyres on roads contaminated by diesel spillage?
I am looking at worst-case conditions for normal road tyres with reasonable tread pattern travelling over damp roads on which diesel has been spilled recently.
I would guess...
Electric locos pick up high voltage from an overhead catenary. The return path is through the wheels to the rails which complete the circuit. At least, that's what I understand.
But if the wheels are isolated from the rail momentarily (eg leaves on the line!), the circuit is broken and the...
I am looking at the feasibility of a light (100 kg) low-speed (100 kt) unmanned aircraft, similar to those used by the military for drones, reconnaissance etc.
Most of these use small turbojets but I am considering using a ducted fan driven by a 4-stroke IC engine. What are the pros and cons? I...
I assumed that the so-called 42V systems proposed for the future were based on 36V battery technology. 42 is the voltage when charging.
A colleague has suggested that the 42V is the battery potential, giving about 49V when charging. This is to keep the maximum system voltage below the 'magic'...
Here's a railway problem I don't understand - haven't found a good explanation on any website, but it can't be rocket science.
It goes like this: Continuously welded rail can see temperature variations from -30C to + 50C or more in some parts of the world. Coefficient of expansion of steel is...
I have come across many different configurations that exist for fifth wheel couplings on semi-trailers (articulated trucks to us Brits). I have also found jargon words which are not self-explanatory and are ambiguous.
Is there a good reference website out there which covers 5th wheels? This is...
