CHECK OUT WHY TYRES HAVE TREADS ON THEM !!

The tread of a tire or track refers to the rubber on its circumference that makes contact with the road or the ground. As tires are used, the tread is worn off, limiting its effectiveness in providing traction. A worn tire can often be retreaded.

The grooves in the tire are correctly called the tread pattern, or simply the pattern, but the word tread is often used casually to refer to the pattern of grooves molded into the rubber.

But why do tires have treads anyway? Why aren’t the tires on our vehicles bald with no treads like those on race cars?

The reason our tires look different from those outfitted to race cars, is because we drive for different reasons. Race car drivers require a smooth tread on their tires because it provides more grip during dry conditions. If dry conditions are not present, then they may switch to tires with treads.

Since the rest of us do not use our vehicles for racing, we frequently drive through adverse conditions, like rain, snow and mud. Since water accumulates on the road during these wet conditions, our tires need treads for better traction in these harsh conditions that we so often drive through.

The grooves that you see on your tires work to siphon water away from the tires when the roadway is wet. This can help to reduce the risk of hydroplaning when traveling at higher speeds on a wet road or highway. If the treads on the tire are not at the proper depth, it can become difficult for enough water to be carried out from beneath the tire, thus increasing the possibility that you could lose control in such conditions.

When a vehicle is traveling too fast, or the tire treads are not able to channel enough water out from beneath the tire, it can result in hydroplaning. This is where your vehicle loses contact with the road and skims across a thin layer of water instead, causing a loss of control.

That is why monitoring your tires tread depth is critical to vehicle performance and safety. 

CHECK OUT THE MEANING OF RTR IN TVS APACHE

Have you ever imagined the meaning of RTR in TVS motorbikes?

In this post we will reveal the meaning and working of RTR.

RTR in Apache means Racing Throttle Response .

Throttle response or vehicle responsiveness is a measure of how quickly a vehicle's prime mover, such as an internal combustion engine, can increase its power output in response to a driver's request for acceleration. Throttles are not used in diesel engines, but the term throttle can be used to refer to any input that modulates the power output of a vehicle's prime mover. Throttle response is often confused with increased power but is more accurately described as time rate of change of power levels.

Formerly, gasoline/petrol engines exhibited better throttle response than diesel engines. This results from higher specific power output and higher maximum engine power, as well as the fact that lower-powered diesel engines were disproportionately heavier. Recently diesel engines became able to outperform similar-sized petrol engines. Most naturally aspirated gasoline engines have better responsiveness than supercharged or turbocharged engines for engines with similar peak power outputs. However, factors such as improper maintenance, fouled spark plugs or bad injectors can reduce throttle response. Diesel engines are less likely to lose throttle response, since their power comes from self-igniting fuel. Older diesel engines directly connect the accelerator pedal to the injection pump resulting in instant response.

Several tuning factors can affect engine responsiveness.Throttle response in manual cars can be enhanced by dropping to a lower gear before accelerating. This action is often used in smaller cars to aid in overtaking.

Also read-DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SUPERCHARGER AND TURBOCHARGER

GAS DYNAMICS EXPLAINED !!

Introduction

Gas dynamics mainly concerned with the motion of gases and its effects .It differ from fluid dynamics .Gas dynamics considers thermal or chemical effects while fluid dynamics usually does not.

Gas dynamics deals with the study of compressible flow when it is in motion. It analyses the high speed flows of gases and vapors’ with considering its compressibility. The term gas dynamics is very general and alternative names have been suggested e.g.: Supersonic flow, compressible flow and aero thermodynamics etc.,

Applications

        Gas dynamics is of interest to both mechanical and the aeronautical engineers but particular field of interest of the two different .It may be said that it is concerned with how an object in motion influenced as it flies through still air.The applications of gas dynamics are given below.

1.      It is used in Steam and Gas turbines

2.      High speed aero dynamics

3.      Jet and Rocket propulsion

4.      High speed turbo compressor

The fluid dynamics of compressible flow problems which involves the relation between force, density, velocity and mass etc.Therfore the following laws are frequently used for solving the dynamic problems.

1. Steady flow energy equation

2. Entropy relations

3. Continuity equation

4. Momentum equation

IMPORTANT TERMS OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES

1.)AFTER COOLER – A device used on turbocharged engines to cool air which has undergone compression.

2.)ATDC – After TDC, After top dead centre.

3.)AIR CLEANER – A device mounted on the intake manifold for filtering out unwanted solid impurities such as dirt and dust from air that is being drawn into the engine cylinder through the inlet manifold.

4.)AIR COOLED ENGINE – An engine that is cooled by passage of air around the cylinder, not by passage of a liquid through water jackets.

5.)AIR STANDARD CYCLE – A standard cycle of reference by which the performance of the different internal combustion engines may be compared, and their relative efficiencies calculated.

6.)AKROYD ENGINE – The first compression ignition engine, patented by Akroyd Staurt in 1890.

7.)ALUMINIUM CYLINDER BLOCK – An engine cylinder block cast from aluminium or aluminium alloy, and which usually has cast iron sleeves installed for use as cylinder bores.

8.)ANTIFREEZE – A chemical, added to the coolant (usually ethylene glycol) to lower its freezing point and thereby prevent the coolant from freezing in cold weather.

9.)ANTI ICING SYSTEM – A carburettor unit designed to prevent formation of ice on a surface or in a passage.

10.)ARTICULATED CONNECTING ROD – The auxiliary connecting rods of a radial engine, which work on pins carried by the master rod instead of on the main crankpin. Also called LINK RODS.

11.)BACK PRESSURE – A pressure exerted by a fluid contrary to the pressure producing the main flow. For example, pressure in the exhaust manifold, the higher the back pressure, greater is the resistance to flow of exhaust gases through the exhaust system. This lowers volumetric efficiency.

12.)CLEARANCE VOLUME – The volume remaining above the piston when the piston is at TDC.

13.)COMBUSTION CHAMBER – The space at the top of the cylinder and in the cylinder head or piston or both, in which combustion of fuel and charge takes place. The space enclosed by the piston, when the piston is at TDC.

14.)COMPRESSION RATIO – The ratio between the total volume of the cylinder when the piston is at BDC and the volume when the piston is at TDC.

15.)CONNECTING ROD – The rod made of steel or aluminium alloy usually having an I beam cross-section. A piston pin connects the connecting rod and the piston.

TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM EXPLAINED

Almost all super bikes and cars nowadays are using a traction control system to maintain an excellent stability and also to provide better safety.In general, a traction control system is identical to some of the commonly and widely used electronic systems in vehicles today like ABS brakes, fuel injection systems and damping control system which uses micro controllers. It can be also called in many other names like ESC (Electronic Stability Control) ESP (Electronic Stability Program) VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) etc depending on the brand of a vehicle.

The super bikes and cars are usually equipped with high power engines which delivers instant power to the wheels to spin and move on. So when a situation like starting from halt to accelerate instantly and slowing down during cornering and accelerating again, there may a chance of wheel slip between the road surface and the vehicle. In bikes, the contact surface of tyres during cornering are not the same for both front and rear tyres. All these situations may lead to loss of stability & ultimately leading to an accident. 

You may occasionally experience a wheel spin when starting off or accelerating, particularly on a slippery or wet road surface. The Traction Control prevents wheel spin. While the Antilock Braking System ABS prevents the wheels from locking during braking by reducing the braking pressures, Traction Control ensures that the wheels do not spin when driving off or accelerating. To do this, the drive torque at each driven wheel is reduced respectively. Traction Control improves the traction of the vehicle and increases vehicle safety by avoiding unstable driving situations within the limits. 

This feature is available in all super bikes like Yamaha YZF-R1, Ducati Diavel, 1098, Kawasaki ZX14-R etc.

In some systems it also reduces the power output from the engine until the optimum traction between the tyre and road is obtained. In simple words its a reverse mechanism of ABS which senses wheel lock and in here the system senses for wheel spin.

HEAT TREATMENT TERMINOLOGY

AUSTENITE - The solid solution of iron and carbon achieved by heating to high temperatures above the upper critical temperature. Known as the austenitizing temperature, this temperature must be attained to obtain the proper 
microstructure and full hardness of steel in heat treating. Austenitizing temperature varies with different grades of carbon, alloy and tool steels.

BAINITE - A product of austenite, this term is used by metallurgists to describe a particular structure of steel when the steel is polished, etched and examined with a microscope.

ANNEALING - A term that refers to softening metals by treating with sustained heat at the required temperature, followed by cooling at a controlled rate, while at the same time, producing desired results in other properties or microstructure. Annealing generally refers to slow cooling in carbon and allow steels, with the focus usually being on removing stresses; inducing softness; altering ductility, toughness, electric, magnetic or other physical and mechanical properties; changing the crystalline structure; and finally producing a definite microstructure.

CARBURIZING - Adding carbon to the surface of ferrous alloys to facilitate hardening by quenching directly from the carburizing temperature, or by cooling then reaustenitizing and quenching.

CASE HARDENING - A term referring to a combination of heat treatments of steel involving processes that change the chemical composition of the surface layers by absorption of carbon, nitrogen, or a mixture of the two. The end result is a surface that is substantially harder. The processes are known individually as carburizing, cyaniding, carbo-nitriding and nitriding.

CYANIDING - Surface hardening of steel by carbon and nitrogen absorption through heat treating at a specific temperature while in contact with cyanide salt, and following with quenching.

DECARBURIZATION - Loss of carbon from the surface layer of a carbon-containing alloy when the metal is subjected to high temperatures. The loss of carbon at the surface reduces the strength of the part.

INDUCTION HARDENING - A surface-hardening process in which only the surface layer of a ferrous metal is heated by electromagnetic induction and immediately quenched.

TEMPERING - Also know as drawing, this process involves reheating previously hardened or quenched steel to a temperature below the lower critical temperature, and followed by cooling. Tempering temperatures range from 300° to 1100° F.

BEST ONE MINUTE BIKE PARKING HACK

If you are parking your motorbike in isolated area without any parking facility and there is nobody around to keep watch or just to look after your ride, you will be worried sick about safety of your precious vehicle. as we all know, handle lock of bikes are not so reliable when a expert lays an eye on it.And thieves are expert in starting the bikes without help of any authentic key.

In such scenario, you can rely on a simplest trick to save yourself from trouble of stolen motor cycle.

Just remove the cap connecting to Spark plug of the engine or just loosen the cap (do not remove completely) to disconnect the power supply towards spark plug.

With this connection severed, there is no way somebody would drive away your motorbike without going through trouble of getting caught.

In general, if the bike doesn’t start, unsuspecting people don’t look for problem in spark plug. That’s where you will have advantage and person with ill intentions would leave your precious ride alone.

Note:This hack might not save your from police officials towing away your vehicle :P

PRESS WORKING TERMINOLOGY

Press working may be defined as, a manufacturing process by which various components are made from sheet metal. This process is also termed as cold stamping. The machine used for press working is called a press.

A simple cutting die used for punching and blanking operation as shown:

1: Bed:

The bed is the lower part of the press frame that serves as a table to which a

Bolster plate is mounted.

2: Bolster Plate:

This is a thick plate secured to the press bed , which is used for locating and

supporting the die assembly. It is usually 5 to 12.5 cm thick.

3: Die Set:

It is unit assembly which incorporates a lower and upper shoe, two or more 

guide parts and guide part bushings.

4: Die Block:

It is a block or a plate which contains a die cavity.

5: Lower Shoe:

The lower shoe of the a die set is generally mounted on the bolster plate of   

press. The die block is mounted on the lower shoe, also the guide post 

are mounted on it.

6: Punch :

This is male component of  a die assembly, which is directly or indirectly 

moved by and fastened to the press ram or slide.

7: Upper Shoe:

This is the upper part of the die set which contains guide post bushings.

8: Punch Plate :

The punch plate or punch retainer fits closely over the body of the punch and 

holds it in proper relative position.

9: Back up Plate:

Back up plate or pressure plate is placed so that intensity of pressure does

not become excessive on punch holder. The plate distributes the pressure

over a wide area and the intensity of pressure on the punch holder is reduced

to avoid crushing.

10: Stripper:

It is a plate which is used to strip the metal strip from cutting a non-cutting

Punch or die. It may also guide the sheet.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EXTENSIVE PROPERTIES AND INTENSIVE PROPERTIES EXPLAINED

Any characteristic of a system is called property. For example: pressure, temperature, volume and mass are some familiar properties of a system. Viscosity, thermal conductivity, modulus of elasticity thermal expansion coefficient, electrical resistivity etc are less familiar properties.Any property may be either intensive or extensive.

Intensive property 

1. It is the property of matter that is independent of the quantity of the substance 
2. The density of single drop of water is same as the density of 5 or 10 litres of water 
3. Eg: density, specific gravity, temperature etc 

So we can say that Intensive properties refer to properties that are independent compared to the size or quantity of the substance. These properties do not change when more of a substance is added or some of the substance is removed. Intensive properties include: density, color, viscosity, electrical resistivity, spectral absorption, hardness, melting point/boiling point, pressure, ductility, elasticity, malleability, magnetization, concentration, temperature and magnetic field.

These properties do not change if the size of the quantity of the substance changes. For example: the hardness of a diamond does not change, no matter how many times the diamond is cut. The color of the salt does not change no matter how much of it is added to the original amount. These all describe the intensive properties of the diamond and salt.

Extensive property 

1. It is the property of matter that is dependent of the quantity of the substance 
2. There is an obvious difference between 1 g of sugar and 1 Kg of sugar both in quantity and value. 3. Eg: Mass, volume etc 

So we can say that Extensive properties refer to properties that are dependent on the size or quantity of the substance. These properties change depending on how much of the substance is added or removed. The value of the additive property is proportional to the size of the system. For example if the size is increased, then the property will also increase. Extensive properties include: energy, entropy, mass, length, particle number, number of moles, volume, magnetic moment, weight and electrical charge.

These properties are directly proportional to the size and the quantity of the substance. For example: if the amount of water increases, the weight of the water will also increase; the more the water, the heavier it will be. Another example: the energy it would take to melt an ice cube is proportional to its size. The energy it would take to melt and ice cube differs from the energy that would be required to melt an iceberg.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EARTHING AND GROUNDING EXPLAINED

EARTHING:

1. Earthing means connecting the dead part(the one which does not carry current under normal condition) to the earth(ground). For example electrical equipment frames etc.
2. Under fault condition these parts may attain high potential w.r.t earth(ground) so any living being touching these parts will be subjected to potential difference which may result in flow of current of such a value which may prove to be fatal.

So earthing is to ensure safety or protection of electrical equipment and living being by discharging electrical energy to earth (ground).

GROUNDING:

1. Grounding means connecting the live part(the one which carry current under normal condition) to the earth (ground) for example neutral of transformer, 3- ph star connection etc.
2. Grounding is done for protection of power system equipment and to provide a effective return path from the machine to the power source.
3. During lightening dangerous high voltage can develop in the electrical distribution system wires. Grounding provides a safe return path around the electrical system of your house thus minimizing damage from such occurrences.

Earthing and grounding has a micro difference . So in layman's term we use grounding(earthing) as a common term for both.

Earthing is more common word in commonwealth countries whereas grounding is the word used in North American standards.

CHECK OUT WHY BOTTLES HAVE INDENTS AT THE BASE

You might have noticed the huge indents under glass bottles, but they are not simply to add style or support. These are the reasons :-

1.They help distribute pressure evenly when the bottle is being corked, which is why champagne bottles have the deepest indents.

2.To disperse the sediment, and hinder it from rising up when poured.

3.The large indent in the base of wine bottles is known as a punt. It is intended to strengthen the bottle.

4.To create the optical illusion that the bottle is bigger of course. Cosmetics manufacturers have taken this technique several steps further.

BASIC TERMS OF AUTOMOBILE

1.      ANTI DIVE SYSTEM – A system installed with some brakes that uses front fork damping and the front brake assembly to prevent excessive fork compression and to improve handling when brakes are applied.

2.      AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION – A transmission not using a manually operated clutch.

3.      AXLE – A shaft used to support a part or parts across the frame or forks. e.g., front and rear axles.

4.      BACK BONE FRAME – Frame which uses the engine as a structural member for load carrying.

5.      BEAD – The portion of the tyre which holds it onto the rim.

6.      BRAKE CALIPER – Part of a disc brake which holds friction pads and encloses disc. As the brake is applied, hydraulic fluid forces a piston in caliper towards disc, causing disc to be pinched between brake pads.

7.      BRAKE DISC – A round, flat disc made of steel or cast iron. It is mountedon outside of wheel hub.

8.      BRAKE FADE – Loss of braking power, usually caused by excessive heat after repeated brake applications.

9.      BRAKE LINE – Special hydraulic tubing made of steel, plastic or reinforced rubber. Hydraulic lines must be capable of withstanding extreme pressure without deforming.

10.  DIRECT DRIVE GEARBOX – Power is transmitted from clutch to input shaft (main shaft), to layshaft, to high gear pinion, which has output sprocket mounted on it.

BASIC TERMS OF CASTING

1.      AERATOR – A device for fluffing (or decreasing the density of) and cooling the sand by the admixture of air.

2.      AIR GATE – A vertical channel for the removal of gases from the mould; checking of the filling of the mould cavity with metal and feeding up the casting with metal during solidification.

3.      AIR HOLE – Hole in a casting caused by air or gas trapped in the metal during solidification.

4.      AIRLESS BLAST CLEANING – A process whereby the abrasive material is applied to the object being cleaned by centrifugal force generated by a rotating vane type wheel.

5.      ANTIPIPING (material) – Usually refers to an insulating material placed on the top of a sprue or riser that keeps the metal in liquid or semiliquid form for a long period of time and minimizes the formation of the usual conical pipe or shrink in the top of a sprue or riser.

6.      ARBOR – A metal barrel, frame, or plate to support or carry part of a mould or core.

7.      ATMOSPHERIC RISER – Blind riser which employs atmospheric pressure to aid feeding.

8.      BACK DRAFT – Taper or draft which prevents removal of pattern from the mould.

9.      BINDER – Material used to hold the grains of sand together in moulds or cores. May be cereal, oil, clay, resin, pitch etc.

10.  BLAST CLEANING – Removal of sand or oxide scale from castings by the impinging action of sand, metal shot or grit projected under air, water or centrifugal pressure.

TURBO-INTERCOOLER EXPLAINED

Many cars and trucks  are written on their sides as turbo intercooler or simply intercooler. what does it mean? Actually an intercooler is an additional component fixed to a turbo charger to improve its performance and efficiency. It is similar to a radiator whereas a radiator cools the engine but a turbo intercooler cools the air which is fed into the engine. Lets see it brief here.

A turbocharged engine has a turbocharger which sucks and compresses the air from outside into the engine with the help of burnt exhaust gases coming out of the engine. Initially the air entering into the engine is cold so it has more oxygen, good density and volume. The dense and oxygen rich air aids in better combustion and does the work of turbocharger very efficiently. But as the time moves on, the air which is compressed by the turbocharger into the engine gets heated up due to compression. Usually when air is compressed its temperature rises and becomes hot. This hot air has low density, volume and minimum oxygen content, therefore it affects the performance of the engine.

The solution to this problem is the turbo intercooler. The turbo intercooler cools the compressed air from  turbocharger and feeds it to the air intake system of the engine. So the air entering into the engine is made dense and cold. Hence it has high oxygen content and volume, which is necessary for better combustion of fuel.

The intercooler is placed before the radiator or underneath the radiator to draw the cold air directly as the vehicle moves on. Almost all turbocharged cars are intercooled. In india, cars which are equipped with intercoolers are swift, ritz, indica tdi as well as indigo tdi, vista qudrajet, scorpio, xylo, octavia, verna, safari, punto, i10, i20, older accent, MB, 320d, Toyota Fortuner, Ford endeavor etc.. 

The intercoolers usually uses outside air to cool itself. Water cooled intercoolers are of another type which is used in top end and high performance cars.

Practically this component enhances the function of turbocharger to get better output and constant performance.

CHECK OUT WHY NEW TYRES HAVE RUBBER HAIR ON THEM

Why Do New Tires Have Rubber Hair on Them?

There are little rubber hairs that you see on every new tire. Technically, they are called vent spews, which gives away their purpose for being on the tire. Many people think these hairs play a role in noise reduction or indicate wear but their primary purpose is air ventilation.

Those little rubber hairs are a byproduct of tire manufacturing. In a tire mold, rubber is injected and air pressure is used to force the liquid rubber into all the nooks and crannies. In order for the rubber to completely fill the mold, small pockets of air need to be able to escape.

There are small vent holes in the mold so trapped air can find a way out. When the air pressure forces the liquid rubber into all the orifices, a tiny bit of rubber makes its way out of the vent holes as well. These rubber bits firm up and remain attached to the tire when it's removed from the tire mold.

Though they serve no purpose in your tire’s performance, the tire hairs' presence is an indication that a tire is new. Tires that have been in service for some time, coupled with environmental effects, will eventually wear off the hairs.

OIL COOLED ENGINE EXPLAINED

The term oil cooler and oil cooling became very popular in India after launching the Pulsar series 200 (discontinued) and 220 F from Bajaj motors. Oil cooling as we know from the name itself is cooling of engine oil by help of a special component called an oil cooler. Generally an engine oil will loose its viscosity if temperatures are very high than its specified heat range. As a result it may not be able to lubricate the mechanical components properly as specified. To overcome this problem and to provide better cooling especially for air cooled high performance engines oil coolers are generally used.

Oil cooling is a way apart from liquid cooling mainly in the following aspects,

* It does not maintain a constant temperature like a liquid cooled engine.

* It does not have a thermostat, bypass system and cooling fan but instead uses a small radiator alone.

* Cost wise it is very economical because of simplicity and components involved.

The oil pump which is normally used in  a conventional engine pumps and circulates oil for lubrication (forced lubrication) to all parts in a particular circuit. It starts from the crankcase and ends back in the crankcase after lubrication. 

Where as in oil cooling it reaches a radiator fixed outside from a centrifugal filter, cooled and then circulated back to the engine.

CONS,

As already told it cannot maintain a steady engine temperature like liquid cooling. The oil flow to radiator is not controlled by any thermostat like a coolant controlled by a liquid cooled engine and engine oil begins to flow to the radiator as soon as the engine is fired up.  

During heavy start, stop traffic and idling where there is minimal airflow this system loses its potential but it provides better cooling when there is a steady air flow while riding and in long run. Hence a liquid cooled engine offers better engine cooling and performance than an air cooled engine. This can also improve the life of engine oil as well.

On the whole its a cost effective way to improve cooling system especially for an air cooled engine.