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PART IV. AUTOMOBILE

Unit 1

I.Scan the following text to identify the paragraphs which contain:

a)Automobile requirements;

b)A car as a replacement of a train and a tram;

c)Automobile tests;

d)Automobile causes danger;

e)The origin of the word “automobile”;

f)The work of an automotive engineer in the past and at present;

g)Automobile production phases.

Read the text:

Automobile Production

The word automobile is not English. It consists of two words: autos and mobilis. Autos is a Greek word meaning “self”, mobilis — a Latin word meaning “movable”. The two words taken together mean “self-moving”. Thus, an automobile (US) means a self-moving vehicle. The synonyms of automobile are: auto, car, motorcar (Brit).

The role and importance of an automobile arises from the fact that it can move along roads unprovided with rails. In this respect, it substantially differs from a street car (tram) and a railway car (train). In fact, it often replaces street cars, railway cars, and other agencies of transportation and communication. In short, the automobile is a vehicle well adapted for ordinary road conditions.

In the past, automotive engineers were closely associated with the field of mechanical engineering. The vast majority of knowledge needed by the automotive engineer of the past was mechanical in nature. The reality of today is that the automotive engineer is expected to know about far more than just mechanical engineering. To attract the best and brightest, the industry needs to project an image of the automotive engineer as someone with skills and knowledge beyond mechanical engineering.

All specialists in automobile industry dealing with manufacturing automobiles (cars or trucks) must know that the production of the automobile comprises the following phases: designing; working out the technology of manufacturing processes; laboratory tests; road tests; mass manufacturing (production). It is important to know all these facts, as before the automobile is put into mass production it should be properly designed and car must meet up-to- date requirements. What are these requirements?

The automobile must have high efficiency, long service life, driving safety, ease of handling and maintenance, pleasant appearance. Also it must be comfortable and ecological. In order to get these qualities the specialists should develop up-to-date methods of designing cars using new types of resistant to corrosion light materials. Also it is important to know computer sciences because computers offer quick and optimal solutions of the problem. Besides they are used for better operation of mechanism in cars.

Before the car is put into mass production the units of the car are subjected to tests in the Works laboratory and then the car undergoes a rigid quality control in road tests. These tests are needed because the modern automobile must be rapid in acceleration, have smooth acting clutch, silent gearbox, dependable braking and steering systems, dependable ignition system, low fuel consumption and be stable on the road.

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Assignments:

II. General understanding. Answer the questions:

1.What is the origin of the word automobile?

2.Why does automobile replace trams and trains?

3.What are the differences between automotive engineering in the past and at present?

4.What phases does the automobile include?

5.What demands must modern automobile meet?

6.Why are automobile units and mechanisms subjected to laboratory and road tests?

7.What qualities are required of the automobile?

8.Why are computers used in cars?

III. Translate into English:

Малый расход топлива; безопасность вождения; система рулевого управления; плавное сцепление; отвечать современным требованиям; дорожные условия; система зажигания; бесшумная коробка передач; надежные тормоза; приятный внешний вид; быстро разгоняться (приемистость); современный автомобиль; по существу; заменять; машиностроение.

IV. Find synonyms to the following words in the text:

Car; demand; up-to-date; convenient; significant; effectiveness; quiet; way; steady; reliable; speeding up; manufacture; hard; sphere; include.

V. Match English terms and their definitions:

VI. Translate the following sentences into English:

1.Каждый специалист должен знать, что автомобиль должен пройти стендовые и дорожные испытания.

2.Двигатель автомобиля также должен иметь небольшой расход топлива и быть экологичным.

3.Современный автомобиль должен обладать следующими качествами: быть приемистым, иметь плавное сцепление, бесшумную коробку передач, надежные тормозную

ирулевую системы, и быть простым в техобслуживании.

4.Эти испытания необходимы, чтобы автомобиль отвечал современным требованиям.

5.Автомобиль — транспортное средство, хорошо приспособленное к дорожным условиям.

6.Реальность на сегодняшний день заключается в том, что инженеру-автомобилисту нужно знать намного больше, чем основы машиностроения.

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VII. 1) Render the text. Use the following phrases:

1. This article is about / the author of the article speaks about … 2. I’d like to call your attention to … 3. One should mention that … 4. It’s interesting to point out that … 5. One should comment upon this question / problem … 6. So / besides / moreover / that is why … 7. On the one hand / on the other hand … 8. In conclusion, I can say that … 9. Considering all the facts …

2) Title the text.

The world’s first car, made by Karl

Benz in 1886. The engine produced ¾ horse power, and achieved the speed of

13 kph.

Like most other human achievements, the motor car is not the product of any single inventor. One of the earliest attempts to propel a vehicle by mechanical power was suggested by Isaac Newton. But the first self-propelled vehicle was constructed by the French military engineer Cugnot in 1763. He built a steam-driven engine which had three wheels, carried two

passengers and ran at maximum speed of four miles per hour.

In 1784 the Russian inventor Ivan Petrovich Kulibin built a three-wheeled carriage. In his vehicle he used for the first time such new elements as brakes, rollers and a gearbox.

In 1825 a steam engine was built in Great Britain. The vehicle carried 18 passengers and covered 8 miles in 45 minutes. However the progress of motor cars met with great opposition in Great Britain. Further development of motor car lagged because of the restrictions resulting from legislative acts. The most famous of these acts was the Red Flag Act of 1865, according to which the speed of the steam-driven vehicles was limited to 4 miles per hour and a man with a red flag had to walk in front of it.

Benz, Karl (1844–1929) was a German inventor of the automobile, who devoted his life to making horseless vehicle. When Benz’s three-wheeled engine-driven machine appeared in the streets people couldn’t believe that it moved without the aid of horses. It was a great triumph to him because Benz built a new engine that was lighter and more powerful than any other. He put it onto a chassis and got power from the engine to the wheels, which were driven by means of a chain, and there were two speeds.

Unit 2

Read the text:

Components of the Automobile

The automobile is made up of three basic parts: the engine, the chassis and the body.

The word engine originally meant any igneous device, and came from the Greek word ingenious, clever. The engine is the source of power that makes the wheels rotate and car move.

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A machine that produces mechanical power or energy is called an engine or a power plant. It includes fuel, cooling, lubricating and electric systems. Most automobile engines have six or eight cylinders.

The following problems must be considered here:

–The first and one of the main problems is receiving the maximum possible power or thrust for minimum weight. The weight is included in the factor called the weight / power ratio, which may be defined as the weight in pounds per horse power output;

–Both in the past and today the designers work at the problem of getting lower specific fuel consumption. It is obtained by dividing the weight of the fuel burned per hour by the horse power developed;

–Flexibility is another possible problem that is the ability of the engine to run smoothly and perform properly at all speeds and through all variations of atmospheric conditions;

–Reliability of engine is defined as a long service life, with maximum of time between overhaul periods. In some cases the problem of balance is one of the main. Balance has several possible meanings but the principle factor is freedom from vibration. Any engine must be started easily and carry its full load in a few minutes.

There are gasoline (petrol) engines, diesel engines, gas turbines, steam engines, jet engines and rocket engines.

The main units of the chassis are: the power train (transmission), the running gear and the steering mechanism. The power transmission includes the whole mechanism between the engine and the rear wheels. This entire mechanism consists of the clutch, gearbox, propeller (cardan) shaft, rear axle, final drive, differential and axle shafts.

At the front end of the car is the engine. On the back of it is the flywheel. Behind the flywheel is the clutch. The clutch is a friction device connecting the engine with the gears of the gearbox. The main function of the gearbox is to change the speed of the car.

The power is always transmitted by the cardan shaft to the live back axle. The final drive reduces the high speed of the engine to the low speed of the driving wheels. The differential enables the driving wheels to turn at different speeds which are necessary when turning the car. The foundation of the automobile is the frame to which different chassis units are attached.

The rear axle is capable of moving up and down about the frame. The rear axle is an important part of the transmission. It carries the greater portion of the weight of the car.

The steering mechanism is designed for changing the direction of the car.

The brakes are used for stopping the car, for decreasing its speed and for holding the car position.

The body has a hood, fenders and accessories: the heater, stereo tape recorder, windshield wipers, conditioner, speedometer and so on.

Assignments:

I.General understanding. Answer the questions:

1.What main parts is the automobile made up of?

2.Where is the flywheel fixed?

3.What is the gearbox designed for?

4.What problems should be taken into account in engineering field?

5.What does the chassis consist of?

6.What units does the power transmission comprise?

7.What components does the body include?

II. Translate these phrases into Russian:

Variations of atmospheric conditions; chassis units; weight / power ratio; freedom from vibration; direction of the car; fuel, cooling, lubricating and electric systems; any engine must be start-

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ed easily; igneous device; the ability of the engine to run smoothly; change the speed of the car; holding the car position; turn at different speeds; driving wheels; steering mechanism.

III. Match English terms (column A) and their definitions (column B):

IV. 1) Fill in the dialogue using the words in the box. There are two extra words:

а) changing; b) clutch; c) connects; d) rear wheels; e) different; f) stop; g) speak; h) changes; i) fuel

–Let’s 1) … about the transmission mechanism. What main units does the transmission include?

–The transmission is the entire mechanism between the engine and the 2) … . It includes the clutch, gearbox, cardan shaft, rear axle, final drive and differential.

–What does the clutch connect?

–The clutch 3) … the engine with the gearbox.

–And what does the gearbox do?

–The gearbox 4) … the speed of the car.

–What does the differential enable?

–The differential enables the driving wheels to move at 5) … speeds when turning the car.

–For what purpose is the steering system used?

–The steering system is used for 6) … the direction of the car movement.

–And what is the function of the brakes?

–Brakes are used to slow or 7) … the car.

–That’s right. Thank you for the information.

2) Represent the dialogue in English.

V. Read the text and find out:

1)differences between engines;

2)advantages and disadvantages of engines:

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Engines

The two most common types of engines for cars are the petrol engine (or gasoline engine) and diesel engine. As distinguished from gasoline engines diesels have no ignition systems fed with electricity. The fuel is ignited simply by contact with very hot air in the cylinder.

The operation performed is like this: when taken in the cylinder the air is highly compressed, the temperature rises so the heated fuel-air mixture burns. The higher the pressure the higher the temperature. Besides the compressed mixture produced more power than that uncompressed.

The advantages of diesels are that they are simple in design and use much heavier liquid fuels than petrol engines. The cost of a heavier fuel is much less than that of a light one. Besides the fuel consumption of a diesel is much less than that of a gasoline engines. That is why trucks use them. Diesel oil is slower burning, but it produces more power.

Petrol engines are lighter and smaller than diesel ones but diesels are more efficient when working under heavy loads at low speeds. Petrol engines are less noisy, go faster and most cars use gasoline engines.

Although applied for many purposes diesel engines have certain disadvantages that are slow performance, noise and smoke. Diesel engines clatter when started on a cold morning. And the warm-up period for all diesels seem too long to drivers accustomed to gasoline models.

VI. 1) Translate the text into Russian, using a dictionary. 2) Ask five questions to it.

Basic Troubles of Transmission Mechanism

The transmission of the engine torque to the driving wheels of the automobile must be smooth. There should be no vibration in the operation of transmission mechanism within the range of travelling speeds.

The indications of malfunctions in the transmissions mechanism components are as follows:

1.Incomplete disengagement of the clutch;

2.Difficult engagement or self-demeshing of gears;

3.Run out and vibration of the cardan-drive shaft.

What to do in these cases:

1.Check the free travel of the clutch pedal and adjust it;

2.Check the oil level in the gearbox housing and wash breather channel;

3.Check to see that all the fastenings bolts are securely tighted and the trunnion crosses fit properly the bearings, and the bearings, in turn, the universal-joint forks.

VII.Webquest. Search the sites for details of cars which do not have conventional petrol or diesel engines. Copy the details into this table for each model:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

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Unit 3

Read the text:

Transmission of Power in Automobile

The power from the engine to the driving wheels is transmitted through the transmission which is composed of the following mechanisms:

Clutch is a friction device. It connects the engine to the gears in the gearbox. It is used for disconnecting the engine from the gearbox, for starting the car and for releasing the engine from the car wheels.

The clutch is fixed between the flywheel of the engine and the gearbox and consists of two plates (discs): the friction disc and the pressure disc. The friction disc is situated between the flywheel and the pressure plate and has a hard-wearing material on each side.

The basic principal operation of the clutch is frictional force acting between two discs. The clutch is controlled by the clutch pedal. When the pedal is at rest the clutch is engaged and the running engine is connected to the gearbox. When the pedal is pressed down the clutch is disengaged and the engine runs idly.

Gearbox is a mechanism regulating the motive power of the engine, which is transmitted to the driving wheels of the automobile. It is placed between the clutch and the propeller shaft. The principal function of the gearbox is to vary the speed of the car movement to meet the road conditions. The gearbox provides four forward speeds and one reverse, as follows: first or low gear; second gear; third gear; fourth or top gear; reverse gear.

There are many constructional arrangements of gearboxes, which can be classified as follows:

1.Sliding-mesh type;

2.Constant-mesh type;

3.Epicyclic (planetary) type.

The sliding-mesh type is the simplest one and is the oldest historically. The constant-mesh type is the most widely used type. They are termed “ordinary” gearing, the characteristic feature of which is that the axes of the various gears are fixed axes. The gears simply rotate about their own axes.

The characteristic feature of epicyclical (planetary) gearing is that one gear rotates about its own axis and also rotates bodily about some other axis.

To secure the several speeds of the car the clutch shaft is mounted in direct line with the gearbox shaft. The gearbox shaft carries on it the sliding gears which are used for shifting to secure the forward speeds and the reverse drive.

Differential is an automatic mechanism which operates according to the resistance of the road against the revolving wheels. When a car turns a corner, it is necessary for the outside wheels to revolve faster, because it has a longer distance to travel than the inside wheel. The outside wheel revolves faster than the inside wheel if the car turns to the right.

The axle shaft of the outside wheel being attached to the wheel, must revolve faster than the axle shaft of the inside wheel when turning to the right, and slower if turning to the left. Therefore, to compensate for this difference in speed of the two wheels, the bevel gears on the ends of the axle shafts mesh with the small bevel gears, called differential gears.

Assignments:

I.General understanding. Answer the questions:

1.What plates does the clutch consist of?

2.Describe the basic principal operation of the clutch.

3.When does an engine run idly?

4.What is the function of the gearbox?

5.What speeds does the gearbox provide?

6.Why is the clutch shaft mounted in direct line with the gearbox shaft?

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7.When a car turns a corner, why it is necessary for the outside wheels to revolve faster?

8.What are differential gears?

II. Translate these words and phrases into English:

Вращаться вокруг собственных осей; крепится между маховиком и коробкой передач; фрикционная сила; стандартное зубчатое соединение; основная функция; движущая сила; характерная особенность; педаль сцепления нажата; износостойкий материал; включать / отключать; сцепление.

III. Match adjectives and nouns as they go in the text:

IV. According to the key words guess the name of mechanisms in the car:

1.Revolving wheels;

2.The simplest type of gearbox;

3.It is placed between the clutch and propeller shaft;

4.Rotates about its own and other axes;

5.Friction device;

6.Bevel gears mesh with the small bevel gears;

7.“Ordinary” gearing;

8.It has a hard-wearing material on each side/

V. Say whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):

1.The clutch is the device connecting the gearbox and differential.

2.The most complicated type of gearbox is the constant-mesh type.

3.The clutch is controlled by the clutch pedal.

4.The outside wheel revolves slower than the inside wheel if the car turns to the right.

5.The gearbox provides five speeds.

VI. Put the words (column B) into the certain gaps in the sentences (column A):

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VII. Render the text in English:

Центр тяжести смещается без склонения

Резаные колеса: Восемь граней поворота

Хвататься за ножовку и разделывать колеса своей машины на восемь частей не стоит, но идея Чарльза Пиотта (Charles Pyott) действительно вдохновляет на подвиги. Предложенная им система DAWS (Dynamically Augmenting Wheel System, «Динамично расширяющаяся колесная система») преследуют одну цель: позволять автомобилю смещать центр тяжести вдоль перпендикулярной движению оси (иначе говоря — двигаться в поворотах) без снижения сцепления с трассой.

Действительно, возникающей при повороте центробежной силе шины сопротивляются намного слабее, чем нагрузкам вдоль оси движения. Дело в том, что при повороте центр тяжести транспорта смещается в сторону, машина слегка наклоняется, и покрышки начинают не столь плотно прилегать к трассе. Для мотоциклов эта ситуация даже хороша: мотоциклетная шина, в отличие от автомобильной, имеет явно закругленный профиль, что позволяет сохранять сцепление с дорогой и дает дополнительное преимущество в поворотах.

Решить эту проблему пытаются многие автомобильные конструкторы. Первый вариант, который приходит в голову — сконструировать подвеску таким образом, чтобы колеса автомобиля могли на некоторый угол склоняться в стороны, а шину сделать округлой, как у мотоциклов. Этим путем пошли создатели BMW Clever — правда, таким образом, доработано у них только одно (единственное переднее) колесо.

Другая возможность: сконструировать подвеску таким образом, чтобы она позволяла колесам отклоняться в вертикальной плоскости относительно шасси и кузова. Тогда при входе поворот и наклоне автомобиля они останутся плотно прижатыми к дороге. Этот способ избрали разработчики Mercedes F400 Carving: на поворотах у этого концепта отклоняется пара внешних колес.

Но еще более увлекательный с инженерной точки зрения предложил Чарльз Пиотт: по его мысли, само колесо должно представлять собой подвижную систему, состоящую из 8-ми сегментов, способных смещаться вдоль друг друга. Она позволяет смещать центр тяжести автомобиля, не теряя контакта с трассой. Другое дело, что практичность системы DAWS (как и любой подобной сложной механики) — весьма и весьма сомнительна, особенно в условиях российской погоды и российских дорог.

«Популярная механика»

Use the words and phrases given below:

Разделывать колеса — strip down the wheels; преследовать цель — pursue an aim; смещать центр тяжести вдоль перпендикулярной движению оси — decentre the gravity along perpendicular to the axis movement; центробежная сила — centrifugal force; смеща-

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ется в сторону — eccentrically; покрышка — tyre casing; плотно прилегать — bear against; подвеска — suspension; угол — angle; отклоняться в вертикальной плоскости — deflect in vertical plane; с инженерной точки зрения — from engineering point of view.

Unit 4

Read the text:

Fig. 4.1. Typical Automotive Braking System

Automotive Braking System

The modern automotive braking system has been refined for over 100 years and has become extremely dependable and efficient. It is one of the most important mechanisms of the car as upon its proper performance the safety of passengers depends.

The typical braking system (Fig. 4.1) consists of disk brakes in front and either disk or drum brakes in the rear connected by a system of tubes and hoses that link the brake at each wheel to the master cylinder. The drum type may be either a band brake or a shoe brake.depending on their functions, the automobile has foot brakes and hand brakes (parking brakes). According to their mode of operation, the brakes are classified as: mechanical brakes, hydraulic brakes, air brakes, electric brakes. Most braking systems in use today are hydraulic. The air brake uses compressed air to apply the braking force to the brake shoes. Electric brakes use electromagnets to provide the braking effort against the brake shoes. Brakes are controlled by the brake pedal.

When you step on the brake pedal, you are actually pushing against a plunger in the master cylinder, which forces hydraulic oil (brake fluid) through a series of tubes and hoses to the braking unit at each wheel. Since hydraulic fluid (or any fluid for that matter) cannot be compressed, pushing fluid through a pipe is just like pushing a steel bar through a pipe. Unlike a steel bar, however, fluid can be directed through many twists and turns on its way to its destination, arriving with the exact same motion and pressure that it started with. It is very important that the fluid is pure liquid and that there is no air bubbles in it. Air can be compressed, which causes sponginess to the pedal and severely reduced braking efficiency. If air is suspected, then the system must be bled to remove the air. There are "bleeder screws" at each wheel cylinder and caliper for this purpose.

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