Worlds first three-wheeler automobile with Otto cycle petrol engine was built by Karl Benz
somewhere around 1886 in Germany. It
was granted a patent in 1887. During the same time another team from Germany
Gattlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach built and patented the first motorcycle.
The accelerator was invented
by the Benz for the speed regulation along with the battery ignition system,
spark plug, clutch, gear shift and the radiator for the engine cooling. With
the improvements, he started with the production of the automobile somewhere
around 1888. During 1894-95 first four-wheeled automobile was introduced by him
of his own design.
After that Daimler and
the Maybach also produced around thirty vehicles during 1890-1895 at the
Daimler works and the Hotel Hermann. During the year 1927, the companies of
Benz and Daimler united under the name of Daimler-Benz.
Production of the
automobiles in France was started by the Emile Levassor and Armond Peugeot using
the same Daimler engines in 1890. The first American Car was launched during
1877 by the George Baldwin. Large scale production of the automobiles begin in
1902 and it was expanded by the Henry Ford.
Components of the
automobile:-
1.
Basic Structure
2.
Power Plant
3.
Transmission System
4.
The auxiliaries
5.
The controls
6.
Superstructure
Basic Structure
It consists of the
following things
o
Frame
o
Suspension system
o
Axles
o
Wheels
o
Tyres
Frame
There are two forms of the frame.
1.Conventional pressed
steel frame.
2.Integral or frameless
construction.
Frameless construction is
only possible only in the case of the closed cars since the roof, screen, pillars,
door pillars are essential load-taking parts.
It too has some advantages.
1.
It reduces the weight and fuel
consumption.
2.
It
lowers manufacturing costs.
3. During the collision of the vehicles, it
absorbs the shock due to the impact and it provides safety to the
passengers.
Disadvantages
1.
Reduction of strength
2.
Reduces durability
3.
It is affordable only if the frameless
construction is used in the mass production
4.
It increases
the maintenance and repair costs
Suspension System:-
1.
It prevents from the road shocks
2.
It increases the stability of the vehicle
3.
There are 2 types of the suspension system
4.
First one is the conventional system in which
the road springs are attached to the rigid beam axle
5. The second one is an independent system in which
there is no rigid axle beam and each wheel is free to move vertically without any
reaction
Axles
There are three types of
liver axles
1.
Fully floating type
2.
Three quarter floating type
3.
Semi-floating type
Wheels
Wire-spoked wheels have been used mainly on
the sports car, primarily on account of their lightweight and quickness in
changing the wheel.
Engine
The engine provides the motive
power for all the various functions which the vehicle or any part may be called
to perform
Transmission system
It consists of the following
1.
Clutch
2.
Gear Box
3.
Propeller shaft
Propeller shaft transmits
the torque output from the gearbox to the rear axle
The function of the transmission system
1.
It disconnects the engine from the road
wheels when desired.
2.
It
connects the engine to the driving wheels without shock.
3.
It
reduces the engine speed in the fixed ratio
4.
It helps
the drive to turn in the right angle
( to be continued….)
©
Kaushik
