Braking System

A thermostat is a component of which senses the temperature of a system so that the system's

temperature is maintained near a desiredsetpoint. The thermostat does this by switching
heating or cooling devices on or off, or regulating the flow of a heat transfer fluid as needed, to
maintain the correct temperature. Thermostats are used in any device or system that heats or
cools to a set point temperature, examples include building heating, central heating, air
conditioner, HVAC system, as well as kitchen equipment including ovens andrefrigerators and
medical and scientific incubators.

Automotive fuses are a class of fuses used to protect the wiring and electrical equipment for
vehicles. They are generally rated for circuits no higher than 24 volts direct current, but some
types are rated for 42-volt electrical systems. They are occasionally used in non-automotive
electrical products.

A drum brake is a brake that uses friction caused by a set of shoes or pads that press

outward against a rotating cylinder-shaped part called a brake drum. The term drum
brake usually means a brake in which shoes press on the inner surface of the drum. When
shoes press on the outside of the drum, it is usually called a clasp brake. Where the drum is
pinched between two shoes, similar to a conventional disc brake, it is sometimes called
a pinch drum brake, though such brakes are relatively rare. A related type called a band
brake uses a flexible belt or "band" wrapping around the outside of a drum.

Brake pads are a component of disc brakes used in automotive and other applications. Brake
pads are steel backing plates with friction material bound to the surface that faces the disk
brake rotor.

A vacuum servo is a component used on motor vehicles in their braking system, to provide

assistance to the driver by decreasing the braking effort. In the US it is commonly called a brake
booster.

A brake shoe is the part of a braking system which carries the brake lining in the drum
brakes used on automobiles, or the brake block in train brakes and bicycle brakes.

Brake linings are the consumable surfaces in brake systems, such as drum brakes and disc

brakes used in transport vehicles.

The lighting system of a motor vehicle consists of lighting and signaling devices mounted or

integrated to the front, rear, sides, and in some cases the top of a motor vehicle. This lights the
roadway for the driver and increases the conspicuity of the vehicle, allowing other drivers and
pedestrians to see a vehicle's presence, position, size, direction of travel, and the driver's
intentions regarding direction and speed of travel. Emergency vehicles usually carry distinctive
lighting equipment to warn drivers and indicate priority of movement in traffic.
A disc brake is a type of brake that uses calipers to squeeze pairs of pads against a disc in
order to create friction that retards the rotation of a shaft, such as a vehicle axle, either to
reduce its rotational speed or to hold it stationary. The energy of motion is converted into waste
heat which must be dispersed. Hydraulic disc brakes are the most commonly used form of
brake for motor vehicles but the principles of a disc brake are applicable to almost any rotating
shaft.
A hose is a flexible hollow tube designed to carry fluids from one location to another. Hoses are
also sometimes called pipes (the word pipe usually refers to a rigid tube, whereas a hose is
usually a flexible one), or more generally tubing. The shape of a hose is
usually cylindrical (having a circular cross section).

 Master cylinder is a control device that converts non-hydraulic pressure (commonly from a

driver's foot) into hydraulic pressure. This device controls slave cylinders located at the other
end of the hydraulic system.

In cars, the parking brake, also called[1] hand brake, emergency brake, or e-brake, is a

latching brake usually used to keep the vehicle stationary. It is sometimes also used to prevent
a vehicle from rolling when the operator needs both feet to operate the clutch and throttle
pedals. Automobile hand brakes usually consist of a cable directly connected to the brake
mechanism on one end and to a lever or foot pedal at the driver's position. The mechanism is
often a hand-operated lever (hence the hand brake name), on the floor on either side of
the driver, or a pull handle located below and near the steering wheel column, or a (foot-
operated) pedal located far apart from the other pedals.

A wheel cylinder is a component in a drum brake system. It is located in each wheel and is

usually positioned at the top of the wheel, above the shoes. Its function is to exert force onto the
shoes so as to bring them into contact with the drum and stop the vehicle withfriction. The wheel
cylinders are usually connected to the shoes with small bird-beak shaped rods.

Wheel studs are the threaded fasteners that hold on the wheels of many automobiles. They are

semi-permanently mounted directly to the vehicle hub, usually through the brake drum or brake
disk. Lug nuts are fastened over to the wheel stud to secure the wheel. When a wheel is
removed for tire changes etc., the stud remains in the hub.

Brake fluid is a type of hydraulic fluid used in hydraulic brake and hydraulic clutch applications

in automobiles, motorcycles, light trucks, and some bicycles. It is used to transfer force into pressure,
and to amplify braking force. It works because liquids are not appreciably compressible — in their
natural state the component molecules do not have internal voids and the molecules pack together
well, so bulk forces are directly transferred to compress the fluid's chemical bonds.
Most brake fluids used today are glycol-ether based, but mineral oil (Citroën/Rolls-Royce  liquide
hydraulique minéral (LHM) and silicone (DOT 5) based fluids are also available.[1]
Brake fluids must meet certain requirements as defined by various standards set by organizations such
as the SAE, or local government equivalents. For example, most brake fluid sold in North America is
classified by the US Department of Transportation (DOT) under its own ratings such as "DOT 3" and
"DOT 4". Their classifications broadly reflect the concerns addressed by the SAE's specifications, but
with local details - Alaska and the Azores have different normal temperature and humidity ranges to
consider, for example; many countries defer explicitly to the SAE specifications, or simply refer to "best
practice" which in application would defer to SAE standard. All approved fluids must be colorless or
amber to be acceptable for street use in the U.S, except for DOT 5 silicone, which must be purple.
 Starting System

A starter (also self starter, self, or starter motor) is an electric motor, pneumatic

motor, hydraulic motor, an internal-combustion engine in case of very large engines or other
device used for rotating an internal-combustion engine so as to initiate the engine's operation
under its own power.

A starter solenoid (or starter relay) is the part of an automobile which switches a large electric

current to the starter motor, in response to a small control current, and which in turn sets the
engine in motion. Its function is thus identical to that of a transistor, but using an
electromagnetic solenoid rather than semiconductor to perform the switching. In many vehicles
the solenoid also engages the starter pinion with the ring gear of the engine.

A glow plug (alternatively spelled as glow plug or glow-plug) is a heating device used to aid

starting diesel engines. In cold weather, high speed diesel engines can be difficult to start
because the mass of the cylinder block and cylinder head absorb the heat of compression,
preventing ignition (which relies on that heat). Pre-chambered engines make use of small
electric heaters inside the pre-chambers—glowplugs—while the direct-injected engines have
these glowplugs in the combustion chamber.

A distribution board (also known as panel board or breaker panel) is a component of

an electricity supply system that divides an electrical power feed into subsidiary circuits, while
providing a protective fuse or circuit breaker for each circuit in a common enclosure. Normally, a
main switch, and in recent boards, one or more residual-current devices (RCD) or residual
current breakers with over current protection (RCBO), are also incorporated.

Engine Components and Parts

A camshaft is a shaft to which a cam is fastened or of which a cam forms an integral part.[1]

In a reciprocating piston engine, the connecting rod or conrod connects the piston to

the crank or crankshaft. Together with the crank, they form a simple mechanism that converts
reciprocating motion into rotating motion.
Connecting rods may also convert rotating motion into reciprocating motion. Historically,
before the development of engines, they were first used in this way. [1]
As a connecting rod is rigid, it may transmit either a push or a pull and so the rod may rotate
the crank through both halves of a revolution, i.e. piston pushing and piston pulling. Earlier
mechanisms, such as chains, could only pull. In a few two-stroke engines, the connecting rod is
only required to push.[2]

A crankshaft—related to crank—is a mechanical part able to perform a conversion

between reciprocating motion and rotational motion. In a reciprocating engine, it
translates reciprocating motion of the piston into rotational motion; whereas in a reciprocating
compressor, it converts the rotational motion into reciprocating motion. In order to do the
conversion between two motions, the crankshaft has "crank throws" or "crankpins", additional
bearing surfaces whose axis is offset from that of the crank, to which the "big ends" of
the connecting rods from each cylinder attach.

Cylinder head (often informally abbreviated to just head) sits above the cylinders on top of the
cylinder block. It closes in the top of the cylinder, forming the combustion chamber. This joint is
sealed by a head gasket. In most engines, the head also provides space for the passages that
feed air and fuel to the cylinder, and that allow the exhaust to escape. The head can also be a
place to mount the valves, spark plugs, and fuel injectors.

A distributor is a device in the ignition system of an internal combustion engine that routes high

voltage from the ignition coil to the spark plugs in the correct firing order.

A cylinder block is an integrated structure comprising the cylinder(s) of a reciprocating

engine and often some or all of their associated surrounding structures (coolant passages,
intake and exhaust passages and ports, and crankcase). The term engine block is often used
synonymously with "cylinder block" (although technically distinctions can be made between en
bloc cylinders as a discrete unit versus engine block designs with yet more integration that
comprise the crankcase as well).

A belt is a loop of flexible material used to link two or more rotating shafts mechanically, most
often parallel. Belts may be used as a source of motion, to transmit power efficiently, or to track
relative movement. Belts are looped over pulleys and may have a twist between the pulleys,
and the shafts need not be parallel. In a two pulley system, the belt can either drive the pulleys
normally in one direction (the same if on parallel shafts), or the belt may be crossed, so that the
direction of the driven shaft is reversed (the opposite direction to the driver if on parallel shafts).
As a source of motion, a conveyor belt is one application where the belt is adapted to carry a
load continuously between two points.

A piston is a component of reciprocating engines, reciprocating pumps, gas

compressors and pneumatic cylinders, among other similar mechanisms. It is the moving
component that is contained by a cylinder and is made gas-tight by piston rings. In an engine,
its purpose is to transfer force from expanding gas in the cylinder to the crankshaft via a piston
rod and/or connecting rod. In a pump, the function is reversed and force is transferred from the
crankshaft to the piston for the purpose of compressing or ejecting the fluid in the cylinder. In
some engines, the piston also acts as a valve by covering and uncovering ports in the cylinder
wall.

A rocker arm (in the context of an internal combustion engine of automotive, marine,

motorcycle and reciprocating aviation types) is an oscillating lever that conveys radial
movement from the cam lobe into linear movement at the poppet valve to open it. One end is
raised and lowered by a rotating lobe of the camshaft (either directly or via a tappet (lifter)
and pushrod) while the other end acts on the valve stem. When the camshaft lobe raises the
outside of the arm, the inside presses down on the valve stem, opening the valve. When the
outside of the arm is permitted to return due to the camshafts rotation, the inside rises, allowing
the valve spring to close the valve.

A turbocharger, or turbo (colloquialism), from Greek "τύρβη" ("wake"),[1] (also from Latin

"turbo" ("spinning top"),[2]) is a turbine-driven forced induction device that increases an internal
combustion engines efficiency and power output by forcing extra air into the combustion
chamber.[3][4] This improvement over a naturally aspirated engine's output results because the
turbine can force more air, and proportionately more fuel, into the combustion chamber than
atmospheric pressure alone.

A tappet is a projection that imparts a linear motion to some other component within a
mechanism.

Rocker covers are covers that are bolted on over rocker arms in an internal combustion
engine. They are called valve covers in the United States, Canada, and in situations where
Rocker Arms are not present, such as some Overhead Cam, and most Dual Overhead Cam
engines. [1] And rocker boxes in the United Kingdom.

Valve spring that reduce the closing force, and allow the valve to re-open partially.
Stiffer valve springs can help prevent valve float and valve bounce

Engine Cooling System

Radiators are heat exchangers used for cooling internal combustion engines, mainly
in automobiles but also in piston-engine aircraft, railway
locomotives, motorcycles, stationary generating plant or any similar use of such an engine.
Internal combustion engines are often cooled by circulating a liquid called engine
coolant through the engine block, where it is heated, then through a radiator where it loses
heat to the atmosphere, and then returned to the engine. Engine coolant is usually water-
based, but may also be oil. It is common to employ a water pump to force the engine coolant to
circulate, and also for an axial fan to force air through the radiator.

A thermostat is a component of which senses the temperature of a system so that the system's

temperature is maintained near a desiredsetpoint. The thermostat does this by switching
heating or cooling devices on or off, or regulating the flow of a heat transfer fluid as needed, to
maintain the correct temperature. Thermostats are used in any device or system that heats or
cools to a set point temperature, examples include building heating, central heating, air
conditioner, HVAC system, as well as kitchen equipment including ovens andrefrigerators and
medical and scientific incubators.

A pump is a device that moves fluids (liquids or gases), or sometimes slurries, by mechanical

action. Pumps can be classified into three major groups according to the method they use to
move the fluid: direct lift, displacement, and gravity pumps.[1]
Pumps operate by some mechanism (typically reciprocating or rotary), and
consume energy to perform mechanical work by moving the fluid. Pumps operate via many
energy sources, including manual operation, electricity, engines, or wind power, come in
many sizes, from microscopic for use in medical applications to large industrial pumps.
Mechanical pumps serve in a wide range of applications such as pumping water from
wells, aquarium filtering, pond filtering and aeration, in the car industry for water-
cooling and fuel injection, in the energy industry for pumping oil and natural gas or for
operating cooling towers. In the medical industry, pumps are used for biochemical processes
in developing and manufacturing medicine, and as artificial replacements for body parts, in
particular the artificial heart and penile prosthesis.
 Engine Oil System

Oil filter is a filter designed to remove contaminants from engine oil, transmission oil, lubricating

oil, or hydraulic oil. Oil filters are used in many different types of hydraulic machinery. A chief
use of the oil filter is in internal-combustion engines in on- and off-road motor vehicles,
light aircraft, and various naval vessels. Other vehicle hydraulic systems, such as those
in automatic transmissions and power steering, are often equipped with an oil filter. Gas
turbine engines, such as those on jet aircraft, also require the use of oil filters. Aside from these
uses, oil production, transport, and recycling facilities also employ filters in the manufacturing
process.

A sump (American English and some parts of Canada: oil pan) is a low space that collects any
often-undesirable liquids such as water or chemicals. A sump can also be an infiltration
basin used to manage surface runoff water and recharge underground aquifers.[1] Sump can
also refer to an area in a cave where an underground flow of water exits the cave into the earth.

The oil pump in an internal combustion engine circulates engine oil under pressure to the

rotating bearings, the sliding pistons and the camshaft of the engine. This lubricates the
bearings, allows the use of higher-capacity fluid bearings and also assists in cooling the engine.

Fuel Supply System

air filter is a device composed of fibrous materials which removes solid particulates such
as dust, pollen, mould, and bacteria from the air. A chemical air filter consists of
an absorbent or catalyst for the removal of airborne molecular contaminants such as volatile
organic compounds or ozone. Air filters are used in applications where air quality is important,
notably in building ventilation systems and in engines.

A carburetor (American and Canadian spelling), carburator, carburettor,
or carburetter (Commonwealth spelling) is a device that blends air and fuel for an internal
combustion engine. It is sometimes colloquially shortened to carb in North America or carby in
Australia.[1] To carburate or carburet (and thus carburation or carburetion, respectively) is to
blend the air and fuel or to equip (an engine) with a carburetor for that purpose.

Fuel injection is a system for introducing fuel into internal combustion engines, and

into automotive engines, in particular. On diesel engines, fuel injection is a necessity, whilst on
petrol engines fuel injection is an alternative to the carburetor.

A fuel line is a hose used to bring fuel from one point in a vehicle to another or from a storage
tank to a vehicle. It is commonly made of reinforced rubber to prevent splitting and kinking.

A fuel tank (or petrol tank) is a safe container for flammable fluids. Though any storage

tank for fuel may be so called, the term is typically applied to part of an engine system in which
the fuel is stored and propelled (fuel pump) or released (pressurized gas) into an engine. Fuel
tanks range in size and complexity from the small plastic tank of a butane lighter to the multi-
chambered cryogenic Space Shuttle external tank.
 Suspension and Steering System
In automotive suspension, a control arm, also known as an A-arm, is a hinged suspension
link between the chassis and the suspension upright or hub that carries the wheel.

The kingpin, also king-pin and king pin,[1][2] is the main pivot in the steering mechanism of

a car or other vehicle. The term is also used to refer to part of a fifth wheel
coupling apparatus.

The Pitman arm is a steering component in an automobile or truck.

The Pitman arm is a linkage attached to the steering box (see re circulating ball) sector shaft, that
converts the angular motion of the sector shaft into the linear motion needed to steer the wheels. The
Pitman arm is supported by the sector shaft and supports the drag link or center link with a ball joint.
 
Power steering (also power assisted steering (PAS) or steering assist system) helps
drivers steer by augmenting steering effort of the steering wheel. Hydraulic or electric actuators
add controlled energy to the steering mechanism, so the driver can provide less effort to turn the
steered wheels when driving at typical speeds, and reduce considerably the physical effort
necessary to turn the wheels when a vehicle is stopped or moving slowly. Power steering can
also be engineered to provide some artificial feedback of forces acting on the steered wheels.

A shock absorber (in reality, a shock "damper") is a mechanical or hydraulic device designed to absorb

and damp shock impulses. It does this by converting the kinetic energy of the shock into another form
of energy (typically heat) which is then dissipated. A shock absorber is a type of dashpot.

A tie rod is a slender structural unit used as a tie and (in most applications) capable of
Carrying tensile loads only.

A spring is an elastic object used to store mechanical energy. Springs are usually made out
of spring steel. There are a large number of spring designs; in everyday usage the term often
refers to coil springs.

A coil spring, also known as a helical spring, is a mechanical device which is typically used to
store energy and subsequently release it, to absorb shock, or to maintain a force between
contacting surfaces. They are made of an elastic material formed into the shape of a helix which
returns to its natural length when unloaded.

Air suspension is a type of vehicle suspension powered by an electric or engine-driven air

pump or compressor. This compressor pumps the air into a flexible bellows, usually made from
textile-reinforced rubber. The air pressure inflates the bellows, and raises the chassis from the
axle.

A leaf spring is a simple form of spring commonly used for the suspension in wheeled vehicles.

Originally called a laminated or carriage spring, and sometimes referred to as a semi-
elliptical spring or cart spring, it is one of the oldest forms of springing, dating back
to medieval times.
A leaf spring takes the form of a slender arc-shaped length of spring steel of rectangular cross-
section. In the most common configuration, the center of the arc provides location for the axle,
while tie holes are provided at either end for attaching to the vehicle body. For very heavy
vehicles, a leaf spring can be made from several leaves stacked on top of each other in several
layers, often with progressively shorter leaves. Leaf springs can serve locating and to some
extent damping as well as springing functions. While the interleaf friction provides a damping
action, it is not well controlled and results in stiction in the motion of the suspension. For this
reason some manufacturers have used mono-leaf springs.

In an automobile, ball joints are spherical bearings that connect the control arms to

the steering knuckles. They are used on virtually every automobile made [1] and work similarly
to the ball-and-socket design of the human hip joint.[2]
A ball joint consists of a bearing stud and socket enclosed in a casing; all these parts are made
of steel. The bearing stud is tapered and threaded, and fits into a tapered hole in the steering
knuckle. A protective encasing prevents dirt from getting into the joint assembly. Usually, this is
a rubber-like boot that allows movement and expansion of lubricant. Motion-control ball joints
tend to be retained with an internal spring, which helps to prevent vibration problems in the
linkage.

Suspension is the system of tires, tire air, springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects

a vehicle to its wheels and allows relative motion between the two.[1] Suspension systems serve
a dual purpose — contributing to the vehicle's road holding/handling and braking for good active
safety and driving pleasure, and keeping vehicle occupants comfortable and a ride
quality reasonably well isolated from road noise, bumps, vibrations ,etc.[2] These goals are
generally at odds, so the tuning of suspensions involves finding the right compromise. It is
important for the suspension to keep the road wheel in contact with the road surface as much as
possible, because all the road or ground forces acting on the vehicle do so through the contact
patches of the tires. The suspension also protects the vehicle itself and any cargo or luggage
from damage and wear. The design of front and rear suspension of a car may be different.

A flywheel is a rotating mechanical device that is used to store rotational energy. Flywheels

have an inertia called the moment of inertia and thus resist changes in rotational speed. The
amount of energy stored in a flywheel is proportional to the square of its rotational speed.
Energy is transferred to a flywheel by the application of a torque to it, thereby increasing its
rotational speed, and hence its stored energy. Conversely, a flywheel releases stored energy by
applying torque to a mechanical load, thereby decreasing the flywheel's rotational speed.
Common uses of a flywheel include:

A differential is a particular type of simple planetary gear train that has the property that the angular
velocity of its carrier is the average of the angular velocities of its sun and annular gears. This is
accomplished by packaging the gear train so it has a fixed carrier train ratio R = -1, which means the
gears corresponding to the sun and annular gears are the same size. This can be done by engaging the
planet gears of two identical and coaxial epic cyclic gear trains to form a spur gear differential. Another
approach is to use bevel gears for the sun and annular gears and a bevel gear as the planet, which is
known as a bevel gear differential.
A universal joint, (universal coupling, U-joint, Cardan joint, Hardy-Spicer joint, or Hooke's
joint) is a joint or coupling in a rigid rod that allows the rod to 'bend' in any direction, and is
commonly used in shafts that transmit rotary motion. It consists of a pair of hinges located close
together, oriented at 90° to each other, connected by a cross shaft. The universal joint is not a
constant-velocity joint.[1]