Internal-combustion
engine glossary
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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W
Absolute pressure. The pressure in
pounds per square inch, psi, above absolute zero pressure, or perfect vacuum. A
Bourdon or mercury gauge registers the difference between the pressure within a
receiver and that of the outside atmosphere. At sea level and under standard
barometric conditions, the atmospheric pressure is 14.7 psia. Tofind the
absolute pressure, add 14.7 to the gauge reading in psig.
Absolute temperature. The temperature above absolute zero. If a Fahrenheit
thermometer scale is used, absolute zero is �460 deg. To
find the absolute temperature, add 460 to the Fahrenheit reading.
Accelerate. To increase the speed of movement, such as increasing the speed of a
piston or flywheel.
Acceleration. The rate at which the speed of an object increases.
Adiabatic. From the Greek word meaning �no pass
through.� Adiabatic compression or expansion of a gas is
accomplished without the loss or gain of heat through the cylinder walls.
Advance. Sometimes referred to as lead, or angle of advance, meaning
the distance ahead of top or bottom (lead center of the piston as measured in
degrees of crank travel.
Air cell. A small receptacle communicating with an engine cylinder into which some
of the compressed air is forced, and from which air later flows back into the
cylinder.
Air filter. A device for filtering the air, before it goes into the engine, to
prevent particles of dust from entering the engine.
Air injection. The system of injecting fuel into the combustion
chamber of a diesel engine by means of a blast of highly compressed air.
Airless injection. A general term describing all methods of injecting
fuel without the use of compressed air.
Air starter. A system whereby an engine is turned over by admitting compressed air
into the cylinders in order to initiate firing.
Aniline number. The lowest temperature at which equal parts of
aniline and a sample of oil are completely miscible, or the temperature at
which the mixture becomes turbid or cloudy.
Antechamber. Same as Precombustion chamber.
API. American Petroleum Institute.
API gravity. An arbitrary scale adopted by the American Petroleum Institute to
designate the specific gravity of mineral oils. Diesel fuels range from 18 to
41 API.
Atmospheric pressure. The pressure of the atmosphere measured from absolute
zero pressure. At sea level atmospheric pressure is 14.7 psi, decreasing as the
altitude increases.
Atomize. To break up a liquid into extremely fine particles.
Axial. Parallel to the center line of a cylinder or shaft.
Axis. A center line. A line about which a body rotates or about which it is
arranged.
Babbitt. A soft
antifriction metal used to line bearings.
Bock pressure. The resistance to the normal flow of gases and
liquids.
Bedplate. The lower part of the engine resting on the foundation.
Bore. The interior diameter of an engine or compressor cylinder.
Blow-by. Escape of gases from the engine cylinder into the crankcase because of
unsatisfactory action of the piston rings.
Brake horsepower. The useful horsepower delivered by an engine that may
be found by the use of a prony brake. Abbreviated bhp.
Brake mean effective pressure. The mean effective pressure, corresponding to the
brake horsepower developed. Abbreviated bmep.
British thermal unit. The amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of
one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit, from 68 to 69 F. Abbreviated Btu.
Burning. Commonly substituted for COMBUSTION, as late burning, meaning late or
slow combustion.
By-pass. A passage which permits a liquid or gas to take a course other than
that normally used.
Cam. A disk-like piece attached to a shaft,
a portion of which is circular, the remainder (the �nose�) protruding beyond
this circle. Cams are used to impart a desired motion to poppet valves.
Camshaft. The shaft which carries the various cams required for the operation of
inlet, exhaust, fuel, and starting-air valves.
Cam follower. That part of the push rod that is in contact with the cam.
Carbon. One of the chemical elements which is the main constituent of liquid
and solid fuels. Also the residual substance deposited in the combustion space
and exhaust system of diesel engines when combustion of fuel oil is not
complete.
Carbon dioxide. Gas composed of molecules made of one atom of carbon
and two atoms of oxygen.
Carbon monoxide. Gas composed of molecules made up of one atom of
carbon and one of oxygen. It is formed when combustion is not complete because
of the absence of sufficient air.
Carbon residue. The carbon remaining after evaporating off the
volatile portion of a fuel or lubricating oil by heating it in the absence of
air under controlled test conditions. It is an indication of the amount of
carbon that may be deposited in a diesel engine.
Centrifugal force. The force acting on all parts of a rotating body that
tends to pull thorn away from time axis of rotation.
Cetane. A hydrocarbon used in testing the ignition quality of diesel fuels.
Cetane number. A percentage indicating the ignition quality of
diesel fuels.
Cetene. A hydrocarbon used formerly infesting the ignition quality of diesel
fuels.
Chamfer. A beveled corner.
Charge efficiency. The ratio of the weight of the charge actually taken
in to the weight of the air at standard conditions corresponding to the piston
displacement.
Check valve. A valve that permits the passage of a liquid or gas in
one direction only. It stops, or checks, reverse flow.
Clearance. The space between a moving and a stationary part. Clearance must be
provided between two surfaces to allow for lubrication and for expansion and
contraction with a change of temperature.
Clearance volume. The volume of air or liquid remaining in the
cylinder of an air compressor or a pump when the piston is nearest to the
cylinder head.
Coefficient. A ratio; a factor or quantity that remains constant.
Combustion. The rapid oxidation, or combination, of a combustible such as carbon,
hydrogen, or sulfur, with oxygen of air.
Combustion chamber. The space above the piston in which the fuel-air
mixture starts to burn.
Common rail. A pipe or header from which branch lines lead to each of the fuel
valves in the different cylinder heads of a diesel engine and in which fuel is
carried at high pressure, ready for delivery to each separate cylinder when the
fuel valve is opened by a cam.
Compression. The act or result of pressing a substance into a smaller space. One of
the events of a combustion-engine cycle.
Compression ignition. Ignition of a fuel charge by the heat of the air in
a cylinder, generated by compression of the air, as in the diesel engine.
Compression pressure. The pressure of the air charge at the end of the
compression stroke.
Compression ratio. The ratio of the volume of the charge in the engine
cylinder at the beginning of the compression stroke to that at the end of the
stroke.
Compression relief. A device to reduce the compression in a cylinder and
thus to make cranking easier.
Compression rings. Piston rings placed in the upper part of a piston to
seal against loss of compression pressure and against gas blowing.
Compression stroke. The stroke of the piston during which the air charge
in the cylinder is compressed by the piston movement.
Compressor. The air �pump� which furnishes compressed air for starting the
engine, or for time injection of the fuel in an air�injection diesel engine.
Concentric. Having a common center.
Condensation. The process by which a substance changes from vapor to
the liquid state.
Connecting rod. The engine part which connects the piston to the
crankshaft. It changes reciprocating motion of the piston into rotary motion of
the crankshaft or vice versa.
Connecting rod bearing. The bearing located in the large end of the
connecting rod by which it is attached to the crankshaft.
Constant. A value or figure in a formula or equation which does not change,
remains constant.
Constant-pressure combustion. Combustion of fuel in a cylinder at so slow a rate
that there is no rise in cylinder pressure. The slow-speed airinjection diesel
engine is a constant-pressure combustion engine.
Constant-volume combustion. Combustion in a cylinder so fast that there is no
change in volume. Many high-speed diesel engines have practically
constant-volume combustion.
Contraction. Becoming smaller in size. In metals and fluids a result of cooling or a
lowering of temperature.
Cooling water. Water which is circulated through the jacket space
of cylinders and cylinder heads to prevent excessive heating of these parts.
Crank. That part of the crankshaft, which is in the form of a crank and crank
pin.
Crankcase. The middle part of the engine structure surrounding the working parts.
Crankcase subbase. The lower portion of the engine structure; the
BEDPLATE.
Crankpin. That part of the crank to which the connecting rod is attached.
Crankshaft. That part of the engine which transmits the reciprocating motion of
the pistons to the driven unit in the form of rotary motion. That part to which
the connecting rods are attached.
Crankshaft cheek. The part J the crankshaft that connects the crankpin
to the main crankshaft journal.
Crankshaft journal. The part of the crankshaft which rotates in the main
bearings and transmits the torque developed by the engine.
Crankshaft web. The crankshaft cheek.
Critical speed. Speed at which the natural period of vibration of a
shaft or her machine part is in synchronism with the power impulses.
Crosshead. The part of an engine to which are attached the piston pin with the
connecting rod and the piston rod and which is supported on guides.
Crown. The top of an engine piston.
Crush. The amount by which a precision bearing is compressed to ensure good
contact between the back of the bearing and the bore holding it.
Cycle. A series of events, operations, or movements that repeat themselves in
a regular sequence
Cylinder. The cylindrical part of the engine in which the piston moves, and in
which combustion takes place.
Cylinder block. A number of cylinders cast in one piece.
Cylinder bore. The inside diameter of an engine cylinder. Also the
surface of the cylinder in which the piston slides or moves.
Cylinder head. The part which covers and seals the end of the
cylinder and usually contains the valves.
Cylinder - head stud. Threaded round steel rod, one end of which screws
into the cylinder block, the other being threaded to take a nut which holds the
cylinder head in correct position.
Cylinder liner. A cylindrical lining that is inserted into the
cylinder jacket or cylinder block and in which the piston slides.
Delivery stroke. The stroke of a
pump during which the fluid in the pump is forced out of the cylinder.
Detonation. A violent uncontrolled burning of a fuel in the combustion chamber.
Diesel engine. A compression-ignition combustion engine first
developed by Rudolf Diesel.
Distillation. Separation of the more volatile parts of a liquid
from those less volatile by vaporization and subsequent condensation.
Distributor. A device which distributes and directs the flow of fuel or compressed
air to the various cylinders of the engine in proper sequence.
Dribbling. Slow seeping of fuel oil from the nozzle tip after cutoff of the fuel.
Dynamometer. A device for determining the power of an engine.
Eccentric. A circle not having the same
center as another circle within it. A device mounted off-center for converting
rotary motion into reciprocating motion.
Efficiency. The ratio of output over input.
Electromotive force. The potential, or voltage, developed by a dynamo,
battery, or thermocouple. Abbreviated emf.
Energy. Capacity for doing work.
Engine. A machine which produces power to do work, particularly one that
converts heat into mechanical work.
Exhaust. The act of discharging gases from an engine after they have done work.
Exhaust cam. The cam that controls the operation of the exhaust valve.
Exhaust gases. Products of combustion which are discharged from the
cylinder after doing work on the piston.
Exhaust manifold. The pipe that collects the burnt gases as they are
expelled from the cylinders.
Exhaust pipe. Piping through which exhaust gases from an engine pass out to the
atmosphere.
Exhaust pyrometer. An instrument used to measure the temperature of the
exhaust, mostly by the small electric current developed at the junction of two
dissimilar metals when exposed to heat.
Exhaust valve. The valve through which the burnt gases are allowed
to pass out to the exhaust manifold.
Expansion period. The portion of the power stroke during which the
combustion gases expand from the movement of the piston and thus do work.
Filter. A device to remove dirt and
other impurities from air, oil, or water.
Fit. The desired positive or negative clearance between the surfaces of two
machined engine parts.
Flash point. The temperature, degrees F, to which oil must be heated before the oil
vapor over the oil will ignite when a small flame is passed across the surface
of the oil.
Fluctuation. Variation in value, such as of pressure or velocity.
Flywheel. The wheel on the end of the crankshaft that gives the crankshaft
momentum to carry the pistons through the compression stroke.
Foot pound. Unit in which, work is measured; it is equivalent to the work of
raising one pound vertically a distance of one foot or of moving an object ore
foot against a resistance of one pound. Abbreviated ft-lb.
Four-stroke engine. An engine operating on a cycle which is completed in
four strokes, or two revolutions of the crankshaft.
Framing. The part of an engine between the cylinders and the bedplate; the
crankcase.
Friction. The resistance to relative motion between two bodies in contact.
Friction horsepower. The power consumed within the engine from friction
between its parts.
Fuel injector. The device which sprays the fuel into the cylinder.
Fuel knock. A noise produced in the cylinder of a diesel engine during combustion,
usually when the fuel oil has a low ignition quality.
Fuel pump. The pump that delivers the fuel to the injector.
Fulcrum. The support on
which a lever turns.
Gasket. Packing
placed between two surfaces that must have a leakproof joint.
Glow plug. An electrical device used to heat fuel as it is injected in the
cylinder for quick ignition and starting when the engine is cold.
Governor. A mechanism used to control the speed of an engine.
Heat. A form of energy.
Heat balance. A tabulation showing the percentages of the heat
developed by combustion in the engine cylinder that are (1) delivered in the
form of power at the crankshaft, (2) lost in friction, (3) lost to the cooling
water, and (4) lost in the exhaust gases.
Heat unit. The unit of heat, usually British thermal unit (Btu).
Heat value. The heat developed by the combustion of one pound of fuel, Btu per
Pound.
Helical. Having the shape of a helix, or screw. Helical gears have teeth shaped
like a helix.
Helix. A line cut on a cylindrical surface shaped like a screw thread.
Horsepower. A unit for measuring power. Rate at which work is done. One horsepower
= 33,000 ft-lb. per min. Abbreviated hp.
Hunting. Erratic variation of the speed of the governor, also of the engine.
Hydraulic. Pertaining to movement of and by water, also by other liquids, such as
oils.
Idling. Engine running without a load
at the lowest speed possible.
Impeller. The rotating part of a centrifugal pump or blower that imparts motion
to liquid or air by forcing it outward from the center of the machine.
Indicated horsepower. The horsepower developed in the engine cylinder, as
calculated from an indicator diagram.
Indicator. Instrument used to investigate the pressures inside an engine cylinder.
Indicator diagram. A diagram obtained by means of an indicator; it
shows the change of pressure in the engine cylinder.
Inertia. The tendency of a body to maintain its existing velocity.
Injection. The forcing of fuel oil into the combustion chamber of a diesel engine
by means of high pressure.
Injection pump. The pump used to inject fuel oil into the combustion
space of a diesel engine; the fuel pump.
Inlet cam. The cam that controls the operation of the air inlet valve in a
four-stroke engine.
Inlet manifold. The main pipe that lies alongside the cylinder heads
and from which branch pipes take the air charge to the separate cylinders.
Inlet valve. The valve through which air or the air-fuel mixture is admitted to the
cylinder of a four-stroke engine.
Intake stroke. The suction stroke.
Integral. An indivisible part of a whole, constituting a completed whole.
Intermittent. Occurring at
intervals.
Jack. A tool to lift or move a heavy
object. Also a tool to turn the flywheel to a desired position.
Jacket. The outer casing forming a space around an engine cylinder that
permits circulation of cooling water.
Jerk pump. A fuel pump which injects fuel into the cylinder by action of a cam
having a sharp nose.
Jet. A small orifice used to control the flow of fuel or air. Also the
stream of fuel or air coming from such an orifice.
Journal. The finished part of a shaft that rotates in a bearing.
Jumper. A water-pipe connection between a cylinder head and the cylinder
jacket or the water-jacketed exhaust manifold.
Keeper. A dowel or pin used to keep
piston rings from moving from an assigned position.
Key. A square or rectangular piece of steel-straight or tapering from one
end to the other - used to secure a part on a shaft.
Keyway. The machined slot in a shaft or hub of a wheel to take a steel key.
Kilowatt. An electrical unite of measure equal to one thousand watts.
Kilowatt-hour. A unit of energy equal to a continuous flow of one
kilowatt for one hour.
Kinetic energy. The energy of a moving body due to its mass and
velocity.
Laminated. Made of thin
layers.
Laminated shim. A SHIM made up of thin metal sheets soldered
together but so that each layer can be easily peeled off.
Land. The portion of the piston between two grooves carrying the piston
rings.
Lanova cell. A special combustion chamber also called energy cell, for diesel
engines of high rotary speeds.
Lb. Abbreviation for pound.
Lean mixture. A mixture in which the proportion of air to fuel is
greater than that theoretically necessary for completes combustion.
Linear motion. Motion in a straight line.
Liner. The removable inner engine cylinder in contact with the piston.
Load. The useful output of an engine at a given moment.
Lubricant. A liquid or grease employed to separate two surfaces in relative
motion to each other, in order to reduce friction.
Lubricating pump. A pump which handles lubricating oil in an engine.
Manifold. A pipe with a number of inlets
to, or outlets from, the several cylinders of an engine.
Manometer. A U-shaped glass tube, partly filled with a liquid, water or mercury,
employed to measure pressure.
Mean effective pressure. The mean or average pressure which, acting on lie
piston, would do the same work as does the actual variable pressure in the
cylinder. Abbreviated mep.
Mechanical efficiency. The ratio of brake horsepower to indicated
horsepower.
Mechanical injection. Injection with the fuel-valve operated mechanically
from a cam. Sometimes, although wrongly, used to indicate airless injection in
general.
Motor. A mechanism doing work by means of a ready source of energy, such as
electric current, compressed air, or oil under pressure. Incorrectly applied to
the combustion engine in an automobile.
Muffler. A device used to diminish noise of the intake or exhaust. Sometimes referred
to as a silencer.
Needle valve. A round steel rod
with a conical or tapered point that seats against an outlet and prevents fuel
oil from entering the engine cylinder except when it is lifted by a cam or oil
pressure.
Nickel. A metal which, when alloyed to steel and cast iron, improves their
mechanical properties.
Nitrogen. A rather inert gas that makes up slightly more than three-fourths of
the atmospheric air by volume.
Nozzle. The part of the injector or spray valve in which are located the holes
through which the fuel is injected into the cylinder.
Oil-control rings. The piston ring,
usually located at the lower part of the piston, that prevents an excessive
amount of lubricating oil from being drawn up into the combustion space during
the suction stroke. Also called simply oil ring and oil scrapper
ring.
Oil grooves. The passages cut in bearings for distributing the
lubricating oil.
Opposed-piston engine. An engine that has two pistons within the same
cylinder, traveling in opposite directions.
Orifice. A small round opening. Usually refers to the hole in the spray
Otto cycle. An engine cycle in which combustion takes place at constant volume.
Outboard bearing. A bearing outside tine engine proper, carrying an
extension of the crankshaft.
Oxygen. A gas that readily combines with other substances, such as carbon,
hydrogen, sulfur, releasing heat. It makes up slightly less than one-fourth of
the atmospheric air by volume.
Packing. A material used to seal a joint
against leakage.
Packing rings. Rubber rings used to form a watertight joint at the
bottom of the cylinder liner.
Pintle. A small extension of the needle-valve tip projecting through the
discharge nozzle. When the needle lifts, the oil passes through the opening
between the circumference of the orifice and that of the pintle.
Piston. A cylindrical part which reciprocates in the cylinder bore of an
engine and transmits the force of the gas pressure through the connecting rod
to tine crankshaft.
Piston crown. The top of the piston; the piston head.
Piston head. The top of the piston or that part of the piston against which tire
gas pressure acts.
Piston pin. A pin that rests in two bored holes in the piston and passes through
the eye of the connecting rod, to join the two together flexibly.
Piston-pin bearing. The bearing either in the eye of the connecting rod
or in the bored bosses of the piston, in which the piston pin rocks.
Piston-pin boss. That part of the piston on the inside, through which
the hole is nude to take the piston pin.
Piston-pin lock. The device used to hold or lock the piston pin in
the piston.
Piston ring. A split ring placed in a groove of the piston to form a leakproof
joint between the piston and the cylinder wall.
Piston-ring gap. The space between the ends of the piston ring when
it is in the cylinder bore.
Piston-ring land. The part of the piston on the outside surface
located between the piston-ring grooves.
Piston skirt. The part of the piston below the piston-ring grooves.
Piston stroke. The movement of the piston from one end to the other
of the piston travel in the cylinder bore. The piston stroke is equal to twice
the throw of the crankshaft.
Plunger. The long piston of a single-acting pump, such as a fuel-injection
pump.
Poppet valve. A valve opened by the action of a cam and closed by a
spring.
Port. An opening hole, or passage.
Pound per square inch. The unit used to measure the pressure exerted by one
body upon another. It is found by dividing the total force, pounds, acting
normally upon a surface by the area of the surface, square inches. Abbreviated
in psi.
Pour point. The lowest temperature at which fuel oil will just flow under test
conditions. It is an indication as to how suitable a fuel is for cold-weather
operation.
Power. Rate at which work is performed.
Power factor. The proportion (expressed as a decimal) which the actual power an a-c
electrical circuit bears to the apparent power indicated by instruments
measuring the electrical pressure (volts) and current (amperes). Standard
abbreviation pf.
Power stroke. The working stroke of a piston.
Precombustion chamber. A chamber in the cylinder head of some engines into
which the fuel is injected, ignited, and partly burned, the rest of the fuel
being thrown out into the main combustion space where combustion is completed.
Sometimes also called antechamber.
Preiqnition. Ignition taking place before the desired time in the
operating cycle in spark-ignition engines. In a diesel engine can occur only if
the fuel-injection timing is deranged.
Pressure. The force due to the action of a gas or liquid in a closed vessel.
Usually measured in pounds per square inch. Small pressures are measured in
inches of a column of mercury or water. Also force applied to an area.
Psi. Standard abbreviation for pounds per square inch.
Punk. A slow-burning material inserted by means of a steel plug into the
combustion chamber to provide the additional heat necessary to ignite the first
fuel charge in starting some engines, especially in extremely cold weather.
Push rod. The rod that transmits the action of a cam to the cam-operated valve
Pyrometer. An instrument for measuring high temperatures, as of the exhaust gases
of a diesel engine.
Radial. Extending from a center to the
circumference, having the direction of a radius.
Reciprocating. Having a back-and-forth or up-and-down linear
motion, such as an engine piston.
Reclaimer. An apparatus in which dirty lubricating oil, which often is discarded
is treated and made usable, reclaimed.
Relief valve. A valve held closed by a spring and forced open when the pressure in
the system rises above the desired height.
Resistance. Mechanically, a force opposing the motion of a body measured in pounds.
Electrically, that which opposes the flow of an electric current measured in
ohms.
Rheostat. A device to regulate the flow of electric current by transforming part
or all of it into heat.
Ring grooves. Grooves cut in the piston barrel to hold the piston
rings.
Rocker arm. A lever that transmits the action of the cam, usually by means of a
push rod, to the stem of the intake or exhaust valve, sometimes also to the
starting-air valve and fuel valve.
Rocker-arm shaft. The shaft, usually at the top of the cylinder, that
serves as a fulcrum for the rocker arms.
Rotary. Turning on an axis.
Rotative. Pertaining to rotation.
Rpm. Abbreviation for revolutions per minute.
Saybolt viscosimeter. The standard merican
instrument used to measure the viscosity of oils.
Scavenging. The removing from the engine cylinder, by a stream of slightly
compressed air, of the products of combustion of the preceding cycle.
Screen. A wire cloth with a fine mesh used to remove dirt from oil or water.
Seal. Any device to prevent leakage of gas or liquid, oil or water.
Semidiesel engine. A term applied to oil engines using rather low
compression pressures and requiring a hot surface for ignition of the injected
fuel.
Sensitivity. Change in engine speed before the governor begins to act.
Servomotor. A motor operated by oil or air pressure and used for operating heavy
control mechanisms.
Shaft. A round bar of steel or other strong metal that is used to transmit
rotary action.
Shaft horsepower. The power rating of a diesel engine used for turning
a propeller shaft in marine installations. Abbreviated shp.
Shell. The steel or bronze backing to which the babbitt of a shaft bearing is
bonded. Also the whole removable bearing.
Shim. A thin sheet of metal or other material which is inserted between two
machine parts to obtain their correct relative location.
Silencer. A device to deaden the sound of the intake or exhaust of an engine; a
muffler.
Silent chain. A chain made up of small pins and steel plates that engage the teeth
on sprockets resembling spur gears, and that is used to transmit power from one
shaft to another and by its construction is less noisy than the ordinary roller
chain.
Skirt. The lower part of the piston. Also the lower part of a liner if it
protrudes below the cylinder jacket.
Sludge. A tar-like formation in oil resulting from the oxidation of a portion
of the oil.
Solid injection. A rather misleading term applied to airless
injection.
Specific fuel consumption. The fuel consumption per hour divided by the brake,
or shaft, horsepower developed, expressed in lb. per blip or lb. per shp.
Specific gravity. (1) Weight of a liquid or solid compared with the
weight of an equal volume of water at 60 F. (2) For a gas, its weight as
compared with the weight of an equal volume of air at the same temperature and
pressure.
Specific heat. The amount of heat needed to raise the temperature
of one pound of the substance one degree Fahrenheit.
Speed droop. The difference in speed between no-load and full-load engine speed.
Spray valve. The fuel injector.
Spring. A coiled piece of round or square steel wire which, when compressed,
exerts a force that may be used to do some work.
Stability. (1) Ability of lubricating oil to withstand physical change under
severe operating conditions. (2) Ability of a governor to maintain the required
engine speed without fluctuations or hunting.
Stress. The internal forces set up in a body when it is subjected to forces
tending to deform it by tension, compression, shear, bending, or torsion.
Stroke. The distance a piston travels up or down inside the cylinder.
Suction stroke. The stroke of the piston of a four-stroke engine
during which a fresh charge is sucked in or forced by atmospheric pressure into
the space vacated by the piston.
Supercharging. Supplying of combustion air to an engine at higher
than atmospheric pressure, usually 2 to 4 psig, in some engines up to 30 psig.
Surface-ignition engine. The semidiesel engine.
Synchronous. Occurring at the same time or in phase.
Tachometer. An instrument
indicating instantaneous rotary speed of a shaft in rpm.
Tangent. A straight line touching a circle at one point and forming a right
angle with the radius connecting this point with the center of the circle.
Tangential. Having the characteristics of a tangent.
Tangential force. The component of the force applied to the piston
acting at a right angle to the crank arm.
Tappet. The part of the valve-actuating mechanism in contact with the cam; the
cam follower.
Template. A pattern used as a guide for shaping something. In engine-foundation
work a wooden frame used to locate the foundation bolts.
Temperature. The intensity or degree of heat.
Thermal efficiency. The percentage of the total chemical energy in the
fuel consumed that is converted into useful work.
Thermocouple. Two strips or wires of dissimilar metals joined at one end used to
measure temperature differences.
Thermodynamics. The science of changing heat into mechanical work.
Thermostat. A mechanism to convert the expansion of a heated metal or fluid into
movement and having power sufficient to operate small devices, control electric
circuits or small valves, etc. Can be set to operate at definite temperatures.
Throw of crankshaft. The distance between the center of the crankpins and
the center of the journals of the crankshaft. It is equal to half the stroke of
the engine.
Thrust. An axial force acting on a shaft.
Thumbscrew. A screw or bolt whose head is in the shape of a flattened, vertical
fin, so that the bolt can be turned by the fingers.
Timing. The angle made by the crank with its top or bottom dead-center
position at which some valve opens or closes.
Timing chain. A chain that is used to connect the crankshaft and
camshaft by which the camshaft is made to rotate.
Timing gears. Gears keyed to the crankshaft and camshaft, by which the camshaft is
made to rotate.
Tolerance. An allowable variation in dimensions. For example: a dimension of
0.753 in. with a tolerance of +0.000 and �0.003
indicates that any dimension from 0.750 to 0.753 in. is acceptable.
Top dead center. The position of the crank when the piston is in its
farthest position from the crankshaft, in its nearest position to the cylinder
head. Abbreviated tdc.
Torque. The effect which rotates or tends to rotate a body. Torque is the product
of force multiplied by the arm, or normal distance from the center of rotation
to the force. Torque is measured in lb.-ft or lb.-in.
Torsion. The deformation of a body caused by a torque or twisting effort.
Torsional vibration. Oscillatory twisting vibration in a rotating shaft
which tends to make a gear mounted on one end of the shaft whip back and forth
with respect to a gear on the other end.
Trammel. A metal rod having pointed ends, used to mark off a span equal to its
length. Also called a tram.
Transfer pump. A pump employed to force fuel oil from storage to
the engine fuel tank.
Turbulence. A high-velocity swirling of air, fuel vapor, or a mixture of both
within the combustion chamber or cylinder.
Two-stroke engine. An engine operating on a cycle that is completed in
two strokes, or one revolution of the crankshaft.
U.S. gallon contains 231 cu in.; 1 U.S. gal of water weighs 8.33 lb.
Vacuum. A pressure below atmospheric,
referring to a vessel filled with gas.
Valve. In a combustion engine, an intake or exhaust valve usually consists of
a disk with a stem, which is opened by a cam and closed by a spring.
Valve seat. That part of the valve mechanism upon which the valve face rests to
close the port.
Valve spring. The spring which is used to close a valve.
Valve-spring retainer. The part which is held against a groove or grooves
on the valve stem and in turn holds the valve spring in a state of compression.
Vanes. Baffles employed to deflect the flow of a fluid, gas or liquid. Vanes
may be stationary or, as in a centrifugal-pump impeller, moving.
Velocity. The rate of motion or the speed of a body at any instant. Measured in
feet per minute (fpm) or revolutions per minute (rpm).
Venture. A tube with a narrowing throat or constriction to increase the
velocity of the gas or liquid flowing through it.
Viscosity. Internal resistance to flow in a liquid or gas. In practice, for oils
it is measured by the number of seconds required for a definite quantity to
flow through a standard orifice under stated test conditions.
Viscosity index. A number given a lubricating oil to indicate its
performance, particularly its change of viscosity with the temperature.
Volatility. Ability of a liquid to turn into vapor.
Volumetric efficiency. Ratio of the volume discharged from a pump to the
piston displacement of the pump. In diesel engines a term often used instead of
the correct term charge efficiency.
Water jacket. The outer casing forming a space around an engine
cylinder to permit circulation of cooling water.
Work. The transference of energy by a process involving the motion of the point
of application of a force. Work is done when a force moves a body through a
certain distance.
Working stroke. The piston stroke during which the combustion gases
exert a pressure on the moving piston.
Wrist
pin.
Piston pin
