Automobile Engineering

Steering the future

2008-09-27T23:07:00.000-07:00

With more than a century of steering heritage, Delphi Steering is uniquely positioned to deliver wheel-to-wheel steering system expertise. A full-service supplier, Delphi Steering provides innovative systems designed for security, comfort, and flexibility to vehicle manufacturers worldwide.

Delphi Steering offers full system integration and has one of the most extensive steering product ranges in the industry. Since developing the first hydraulic power steering system in the 1950s, Delphi Steering has been at the forefront of power steering development. Now, electric power steering from Delphi Steering delivers the high performance of traditional hydraulic power steering, with significant added value and fuel economy improvements. Delphi Steering has produced more than 6 million electric power assist steering systems since 1999.

"Our Active Steering Systems are innovative extensions to our existing steering product lines that enhance driver experience and provide increased value to our customers. Delphi Steering is uniquely positioned to offer these features on both electric and hydraulic systems" said David Aden, Steering Systems product line manager. "Advanced feature integration is an important progression in our ongoing effort to provide complete steering solutions to customers worldwide -- these are exciting systems that address a wide variety of driver needs."

Forward-looking statement

This, as well as other statements made by Delphi may contain forward-looking statements, that reflect, when made, the Company's current views with respect to current events and financial performance. Such forward-looking statements are and will be, as the case may be, subject to many risks, uncertainties and factors relating to the Company's operations and business environment which may cause the actual results of the Company to be materially different from any future results, express or implied, by such forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as "may," "might," "will," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential" or "continue," the negative of these terms and other comparable terminology. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following: the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern; the ability of the Company to operate pursuant to the terms of the debtor-in-possession financing facility; the terms of any reorganization plan ultimately confirmed; the Company's ability to obtain Court approval with respect to motions in the chapter 11 cases prosecuted by it from time to time; the ability of the Company to develop, prosecute, confirm and consummate one or more plans of reorganization with respect to the chapter 11 cases; the Company's ability to satisfy the terms and conditions of the Equity Purchase and Commitment Agreement (including the Company's ability to achieve consensual agreements with GM and its U.S. labor unions on a timely basis that are acceptable to the Plan Investors in their sole discretion); the Company's ability to satisfy the terms and conditions of the Plan Framework Support Agreement; risks associated with third parties seeking and obtaining Court approval to terminate or shorten the exclusivity period for the Company to propose and confirm one or more plans of reorganization, for the appointment of a chapter 11 trustee or to convert the cases to chapter 7 cases; the ability of the Company to obtain and maintain normal terms with vendors and service providers; the Company's ability to maintain contracts that are critical to its operations; the potential adverse impact of the chapter 11 cases on the Company's liquidity or results of operations; the ability of the Company to fund and execute its business plan (including the transformation plan described in Note 2, Transformation Plan and Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006) and to do so in a timely manner; the ability of the Company to attract, motivate and/or retain key executives and associates; the ability of the Company to avoid or continue to operate during a strike, or partial work stoppage or slow down by any of its unionized employees and the ability of the Company to attract and retain customers. Additional factors that could affect future results are identified in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, including the risk factors in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors, contained therein. Delphi disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events and/or otherwise.

Similarly, these and other factors, including the terms of any reorganization plan ultimately confirmed, can affect the value of the Company's various prepetition liabilities, common stock and/or other equity securities. Additionally, no assurance can be given as to what values, if any, will be ascribed in the bankruptcy cases to each of these constituencies. A plan of reorganization could result in holders of Delphi's common stock receiving no distribution on account of their interest and cancellation of their interests. In addition, under certain conditions specified in the Bankruptcy Code, a plan of reorganization may be confirmed notwithstanding its rejection by an impaired class of creditors or equity holders and notwithstanding the fact that equity holders do not receive or retain property on account of their equity interests under the plan. In light of the foregoing, the Company considers the value of the common stock to be highly speculative and cautions equity holders that the stock may ultimately be determined to have no value. Accordingly, the Company urges that appropriate caution be exercised with respect to existing and future investments in Delphi's common stock or other equity interests or any claims relating to prepetition liabilities.

Important factors for steering system

2008-09-26T05:11:00.001-07:00

There are important alignment factors are as under:-

Ø Caster.

Ø Camber.

Ø Toe-in

Ø King pin inclination

Ø Toe out or steering geometry

Ø Tracking.

ü Caster: it is backward tilt of the king pin and axle at the top. The purpose of caster is to give the vehicle directional stability or ability to travel straight ahead with a minimum of actual steering by the driver. This is accomplished by the fact that the projected centre line of king pin strikes the road ahead of the contact point of the tyre. This has a tendency to lead or drag the wheel behind it giving the vehicle directional stability.

ü Chamber: it is outward tilt of the wheels at the top. It is to allow the load to bear more directly down through the king pin there by relieving any binding action of pivots in their bearings.

ü Toe-in: the adjustment for gathering the wheels inward at the front is known as toe-in. it means that the distance between the front wheels at the front is less than the distance at the back.

ü King-pin inclination: it is inward tilt of king-pin at the top. It tends to keep the stub axle pointed outward in line with the axle just as caster tends to keep the wheels pointed ahead.

ü Toe-out or steering geometry: the difference in angles between the front wheels and the chassis frame during turns is known as toe-out or steering geometry. It is toed out position the front wheels assume when making a turn.

ü Tracking: rear wheels should follow I the tracks of front wheels in a parallel position. Tyre scuffing and hard steering are caused by improper tracking which is due to bent chassis frame.

Factors affecting steering

2008-09-26T05:07:00.000-07:00

There are six types of factors affecting in steering are as follows:

1. Steering gear ratio and back lash.

2. Steering linkage connection.

3. Type pressure.

4. Condition of king pins and bushings.

5. Wheel alignment.

Ø Steering gear ratio: the steering gear provides mechanical advantage for the driver to guide the vehicle by exerting only a small amount of physical effort at the steering wheel. Steering gears usually have a mechanical advantage of 12 to 1and higher.

Ø Steering linkage connections: They must provide free movement of the linkage to transmit driver’s effort at the steering wheel to the knuckles. If there is more play in the joints, most of the efforts shall be going waste and if there is less play, hard steering would result in.

Ø Type pressure: It should be as per specifications. less or uneven pressure of air in the wheels shall result in hard steering and more tyre pressure shall lead to wobbling.

Ø Play in wheel bearings: The wheel bearing should be properly adjusted. Less play shall result in hard steering and more play shall effect wheel alignment and lead to wheel wander.

Ø Condition of king pins and bearings: The front portion vehicle load acts through the pins. If the pins. If the pins are tight in the bushes, hard steering shall result in and if there is more play, wheel alignment shall be affected, which has great influence on the steering operation.

Wheel alignment: this relates to the relative position of wheels for obtaining a true and free rolling movement over the road. The smooth operation of steering depends much upon the wheel alignment.

steering gear

2008-02-13T09:45:00.000-08:00

The steering gear can be classified as under:-

· Worm and wheel.

· Worm and sector.

· Worm and roller.

· Screw and roller.

· Screw and nut.

· Cam and lever.

· Rack and pinion.

Worm and wheel: In this type of steering gear worm employed on the steering shaft drivers the toothed wheel. The toothed wheel is attached to the shaft which drivers the pitman arm.

v Worm and sector: In this type of steering gear, a toothed sector replaces the completed wheel.

v Worm and roller: here a roller is fitted at the drop arm shaft. When the worm moves along with the movement of steering wheel, the roller rides up and down in the worm giving a twist to the drop arm shaft which in turn moves the drop arm.

v Srew and nut: In this case, a screw replaces the worm on the steering shaft and a nut replaces the sector or wheel on the drop arm shaft. When the steering wheel is rotated, the nut rides up and down on the screw giving the required twist to the drop arm shaft.

v Cam and lever: In this type of steering gear, a helical grove around the steering shaft lower end, in lieu of worm or screw acts as a cam. The drop arm shaft contains one or two pegs which act as levers. As the steering shaft moves, the pegs at the drop arm shaft ride up and down the helical grove causing movement to the drop arm shaft.

Rack and pinion: In this design a pinion is employed at steering shaft in lieu of worm or screw. A rack is operated by the pinion resulting in change in the rotary motion of steering shaft to straight-line motion. In the modern design, the rack is connected in the centre by two halves of the tie rod

Components of steering system

2008-02-13T09:31:00.000-08:00

-: The steering system is composed of the following elements:-

· Steering.

· Steering linkages.

· Steering knuckle.

Ø Steering: It is mechanism which changes the direction of rotation of the steering shaft at right angles and provides a leverage or mechanical advantage between the steering wheel and the steering linkage.

It is composed of the following components:-

· Steering wheel.

· Steering column.

· Steering gear.

v Ssteering wheel: It is a circular wheel mounted at the steering shaft and acts as a control steer the vehicle.

v Ssteering column: it is a hollow shaft enclosed by a casing. At its upper end steering wheel is attached and at the lower end steering gear is employed. This way it connects steering wheel with the steering gear.

v Ssteering gear: The steering gear serves the following purposes:

· it provides mechanical advantage and enables the driver to steer the vehicle easily.

· It changes the movement of steering shaft at right angle and which in turn is converted into straight-line motion by the pitman or drop arm.

Suspension System

2008-02-13T09:26:00.000-08:00

Suspension System

Steering system: It is the system which provides directional change in the performance of an automobile. This system converts rotary movement of the steering wheel in to angular turn of the front wheels. It multiplies driver’s effort by mechanical advantage enabling him to turn the wheels easily.

Suspension And Steering System

-: Types of steering system: There are two types of steering system are as follows:-

1. Fifth wheel steering system.

2. Ackerman steering system.

1. Fifth wheel steering system: It is single pivot steering system in which the front axle along with the wheels, moves to right or left. The movement to the whole axle wheel

Assembly is affected by means of a steering and a wheel which is placed between the chassis frame and axle. The fifth wheel acts as turbulence. The axle assembly is connected with the frame by means of a pin which serves as a pivot around which the axle assembly moves. The fifth wheel contains a ring gear mounted at its rim and is moved by means of a steering. Movement of the steering wheel tends the front axle and wheel assembly the move away.

2. Ackerman steering system: It is double pivot steering system which was invented by lankensperger, a Munich carriage builder in 1817. The English patent on it was taken out by lankensperger’s agent. Rudolph Ackerman against whose name this system became popular.

This divide axle steering system works upon the Ackerman principle in which a line intersecting each steering king pin and tie rod end would intersect at or near the differential.