Search Results

The study “Technological & Economic Trends in Automotive Related Product Development & Manufacturing” was conducted in 1995-1996. It was supported by University of Michigan-Flint, Research Excellence Fund of State of Michigan and Genesee Area Focus Council. The objective of the research was to discover and examine core technologies likely to emerge as major industrial and business subsectors of the auto industry within the next ten years and to render judgment as to their infrastructure requirements. Infrastructure includes, but is not limited to, such considerations as public policy, physical infrastructure, research, degree and training programs and suppliership.

The life of liquid droplets on a hot surface is not a linear function of the surface temperature. Contrary to common belief, targeting the injectors at the intake valves does not always result in the best evaporation of liquid fuel. Timing and targeting of the injectors has to be a function of intake valve surface temperature and opening. This paper will present some guidelines for design of cylinder heads, intake manifolds and injector targeting. Theoretical explanation of the fuel droplet life on the hot surface and its correlation to intake valve deposits and evaporation are discussed. The data presented will support the theoretical guidelines.

Real time information is the key to the success of any profitable business. A smart software package has been developed, to utilize Distribution Process Control (DPC-Link) to manage all activities of the distribution sequence. In much the same way that a manufacturing process is controlled, each element of the distribution process is evaluated using real time information, which allows pre-defined logic to be applied establishing the sequence and timing of the next activity. The control process is integrated with the work being performed, therefore yielding increased productivity and quality. DPC handles the following major functional areas: Automatic Shipping Notification (ASN), receiving, location management, product putaway, order management, picking, inventory control, and shipping. A movable unit concept is used to track inventory to individual containers or pallets to system defined locations.

Testing and validation of automobile engines is one major contributor that extends vehicle development time. One possibility to reduce development time is to use parallel testing rather than a sequential approach. However, a methodology that would encompass the entire product development stage was not available until /1/ “Application of QFD Correlation Matrix Technologies to Reduce Engine Development” was introduced. This paper builds on the methodology introduced in /1/, and suggests a testing sequence to reduce engine development time. Correlation matrices are utilized to identify critical engine components required to initiate parallel subsystem testing. The critical components identified permit a subsystem testing and validation stage that ensure similar subsystem performance in its natural environment with a high level of confidence.

One of the major contributors to the prolongation of product development time in the automobile industry is the testing and validation of automobile engines. This paper offers one method to reduce product development time through the use of carefully developed correlation matrices. The purpose of the correlation matrices is to identify the sub-components that are necessary to test a sub-system. To be successful, there must be a high level of confidence that the sub-system will perform the same in the actual engine environment as in the bench test. This is achieved in the matrix development stage by researching test procedures and consulting various engineers. A careful matrix development stage ensures that a high level of confidence is inherent in the completed matrices. This allows the correlation matrices to be utilized in identifying the minimum number of sub-components required to test any of the sub-systems with a high level of confidence.

The future emission requirements for Transitional Low Emission Vehicle (TELV) and Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) will force automobile manufacturers to use extraordinary design measures. Compliance is likely to increase the need for heat shielding. Two system types have been available for some time as design options. These are emission reduction systems such as EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) and A. I. R. (Air Injection Reactor). Both systems create temperature difficulties because of hot exhaust gases. Shielding is needed to insulate other under hood components from high temperature and to retain heat within the emission system. Heat shielding and air conducting tubes have to be flexible, withstand vibration, resist corrosion from the exhaust gas and endure many cycles of heating over the life of the vehicle. Traditionally stainless steel has been the material of choice.

The exact determination of air/fuel ratio for dynamic response of today's modern spark-ignition engines, makes them more sensitive to the effects of intake valve deposits. The intake valve deposits work like a sponge and absorb the injected fuel during acceleration, which leads to a leaner air/fuel ratio. Non-uniform running may occur during engine warm-up and acceleration periods. The poorer running behavior of the engine increases the emissions and shortens the life time of the catalytic-converter. An increase in fuel consumption results. A laboratory test procedure was developed and used to evaluate the liquid fuel's tendency to build deposits on the intake valves. A dynamometer cycle was used to reproduce the intake valve deposits. The intake valve's temperature was measured during the test cycle. The critical temperature range for gasoline deposit build-up was determined /1/.