THE WORK OF THE RESEARCH AND STANDARDIZATION COMMITTEE
Page 26
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
THE fourth annual report of the Research and Standardization Committee of the Institution of Automobile Engineers deals with the year ended June 30 last. The programme of research in progress is most comprehensive. It concerns cylinder and valveseat wear, wear and cracking of bearings, frictional and wearing properties of brake facings and drums, brake squeak, and the corrosion of ball bearings in storage. Outside researches are being conducted at the laboratories of Ricardo and Co., Ltd., on lubricating-oil consumption, and cooperation has been' maintained with the researches on piston temperatures in progress at -Manchester University, also with investigations on road impact which are being made at the National Physical Laboratory. In addition, a contribution has been made towards a research at the N.P.L. on the fatigue of cast-crankshaft materials.
The majority relates, in one form or another, to the wear and tear of vehicles, so that the prime beneficiaries are vehicle operators and the general public.
During the year the affiliated membership increased from 144 to 163, and the annual expenditure on research from £6,116 to £8,508, and, whereas, formerly, the income was expended on research and standardization, during the year in question it has been available entirely for research, The construction of a new and larger laboratory is contemplated.
The first and second reports on cylinder-wear research, which attracted world-wide attention, will be followed by a third report. During the year a study has been made of the influence of engine load, piston-skirt clearance, piston-ring modifications, and the influence of abrasion and corrosion on the constituents in a lubricant.
Two machines have been operating continuously on big-end bearing research, one at a mean hearing pressure of 1,000 lb. per sq. in. and the other at 3,000 lb. per sq. in. Under the higher pressure, the phenomenon of cracking can he readily observed.
There has been an increasing demand during the year for private tests carried out at the expense of the affiliated manufacturers concerned.
A letter, asking for suggestions, sent to all affiliated manufacturers and operators, evoked SO replies involving 130 subjects. All are receiving careful consideration.