Introduction to Steering Column A steering column is a critical component in a vehicle’s steering system, serving as the mechanical link between the steering wheel and the steering gear. Its primary function is to transmit rotational motion from the steering wheel to the steering gear, enabling directional control of the vehicle. Components of Steering Column Types of Steering Columns Common Issues and Maintenance of Steering Column Adjustment and Alignment Issues Energy Absorption and Collapsibility Cover and Packaging Durability and Failure Analysis Manufacturing and Assembly Applications of Steering Column Automotive Industry The primary application of steering columns is in automobiles, where…
Author: Yvonne
Introduction to Brake Booster A brake booster is a device that amplifies the force applied by the driver on the brake pedal, providing additional braking power to the vehicle’s braking system. It utilizes the pressure differential between the vacuum and atmospheric pressure to generate a boosting force. How the Brake Booster Works Working Mechanism When the brake pedal is pressed, atmospheric air enters the atmospheric chamber, creating a pressure differential across the diaphragm. This pressure differential generates a force that moves the piston, amplifying the driver’s input force and pushing the master cylinder piston. The amplification ratio, or boost factor,…
Introduction to MAF Sensor (Mass Air Flow Sensor) A Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor measures the mass flow rate of air entering fuel-injected engines. This data helps the Engine Control Unit (ECU) regulate the air-fuel mixture, ensuring optimal combustion and reducing emissions. How the MAF Sensor Works MAF sensors typically employ a hot-wire or hot-film sensing element, which is heated to a specific temperature. As air flows over the heated element, it causes cooling, and the amount of electrical current required to maintain the temperature is proportional to the mass air flow rate. This principle, known as the hot-wire anemometer,…
Introduction to Starter Solenoid A starter solenoid is a critical component in the starting system of an internal combustion engine. Its primary function is to engage the starter motor’s pinion gear with the engine’s flywheel ring gear, enabling the starter motor to crank the engine for starting. How the Starter Solenoid Works When the ignition key turns, a low-current circuit energizes the solenoid coil, generating a magnetic field. The magnetic field pulls the plunger into the coil, causing the push rod to engage the pinion gear with the ring gear. Once fully engaged, the solenoid contacts close, allowing high current…
What is Cold Air Intake A cold air intake system is designed to provide cooler and denser air to the engine’s combustion chambers, resulting in improved performance and fuel efficiency. How Cold Air Intake Works Cold air intakes draw cooler air from outside the engine compartment instead of the warmer air inside. They achieve this by positioning the air filter and intake tubing to access cooler ambient air, usually at the front of the vehicle. Cooler, denser air has more oxygen molecules, which improves combustion, enhancing engine performance and efficiency. Benefits and Drawbacks of Cold Air Intakes Benefits of Cold…
Introduction to Trickle Charger A trickle charger is a device designed to maintain the charge level of a battery by providing a small, continuous charging current. It is typically used for lead-acid batteries to counteract self-discharge and keep the battery fully charged when not in use. The trickle charging current is relatively low, usually around 10-20 milliamps, to prevent overcharging and damaging the battery. How Trickle Chargers Work Trickle chargers operate by supplying a constant DC or pulsed DC power source to the battery. They often have two charging paths: a passive trickle charging path and an active charging path.…
Introduction to CV Axle (Constant Velocity Axle) A constant velocity (CV) axle is a crucial component in a vehicle’s drivetrain, responsible for transmitting power from the transmission to the wheels while allowing for varying angles between the two. Components of CV Axle Types of CV Axles Working Mechanism of CV Axle Common Issues and Maintenance of CV Axle Applications of CV Axle Automotive Applications Industrial Applications Application Cases Product/ProjectTechnical OutcomesApplication ScenariosGKN Constant Velocity SideshaftUtilising a unique triple-lip seal design, these CV axles offer enhanced protection against contaminant ingress, extending service life by up to 50% compared to conventional designs.Automotive driveline…
Introduction to Crankshaft Position Sensor A crankshaft position sensor is a crucial component in modern internal combustion engines, responsible for detecting the angular position and rotational speed of the crankshaft. This information is essential for the engine control unit (ECU) to precisely time the ignition and fuel injection events, ensuring optimal combustion and engine performance. Working Mechanism of Crankshaft Position Sensor Crankshaft position sensors are essential components in modern engine management systems, responsible for accurately detecting the rotational position and speed of the crankshaft. Their working principle is based on the interaction between a sensor and a toothed wheel or…
Introduction to Ignition Coils An ignition coil is a crucial component in controlled ignition endothermic engines, responsible for triggering combustion. Its primary function is to convert the low-voltage electrical energy from the battery into high-voltage electrical pulses required to create an ignition spark across the spark plug electrodes, igniting the air-fuel mixture in the engine’s cylinders. Working Mechanism of Ignition Coil The ignition coil is a type of induction coil that transforms the low voltage from the battery (typically 12V) into the high voltage (around 10-30kV) required to create an electrical spark for igniting the air-fuel mixture in the engine…
Introduction to Brake Calipers A brake caliper is a critical component of a vehicle’s disc brake system. It houses the brake pads and pistons that apply clamping force on the brake rotor to slow or stop the vehicle’s rotation. How Brake Calipers Work Types of Brake Calipers Maintenance and Common Issues of Brake Caliper Applications of Brake Caliper Automotive Industry Railway Industry Industrial Machinery Emerging Applications Application Cases Product/ProjectTechnical OutcomesApplication ScenariosTesla AutopilotUsing model quantisation techniques, inference speed increased by 4 times, and power consumption reduced by approximately 2 times.Resource-constrained edge devices, such as in-vehicle systems requiring quick response.Google BERTAdopting optimised…