Dissipating Vibration Force

Automobile maneuverability, ride comfort, and safety are largely dependent on the suspension system. The suspension system compensates for vehicular vibrations, allowing automobile to be more stable. The suspension system of an automobile is comprised of several components. Some components serve as the main functional units while some components are merely support structures. The shock absorber is considered as a main functional unit of the suspension system. In most automobiles, the shock absorber is the most important suspension component. As the name indicates, its main role is to absorb the impact of the compressive force of vibrations. It is the one that dissipates the vibration force.

In most automobiles, each wheel has a corresponding shock absorber. In this manner, each shock absorber can compensate for the individual loads of the wheels. Shock absorbers are typically integrated with coil springs or pneumatic springs to form composite structures known as struts. By combining the shock absorber with a spring, the suspension load is more effectively compensated. This arrangement enables the individual wheels to separately respond to the varying contours of the ground and to the shifting weight of the automobile. This is otherwise known as independent suspension. This type of arrangement is common in four-wheel drive vehicles.

Basically, a shock absorber is a hydraulic mechanism. It is comprised of a cylinder shaft and a piston shaft. The hydraulic fluid is contained within the cylinder shaft. To some extent, the hydraulic fluid serves as the cushion for the piston shaft. As the piston shaft moves up and down, in response to the vibrations, the hydraulic fluid dissipates the force of vibrations. This action is very important when it comes to the stability of the automobile. In this manner, wheel traction is maintained and ride comfort is not compromised.

One-way Pump

Gone are the days when fuel flow is dependent on the partial vacuum state inside the combustion chambers. This method of feeding fuel into the combustion chambers has been made obsolete by the fuel pump. The former method is not very effective and only leads to wasting fuel. Reliance on the partial vacuum of the combustion chambers results in either excessive or scarce amount of fuel. This means that the fuel/air mixture will ether be rich or lean. In either case, fuel combustion will lead to production of pollutants such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide. A fuel pump assures that there will be enough fuel that will be injected into the combustion chambers.

A fuel pump is not actually a very modern innovation. Its development has preceded the fuel injection system. However, in modern automobiles, the fuel pump is an integrated component of the fuel injector system. Without the fuel pump, the fuel injection system will not be able to effectively function. Without the fuel pump, the fuel injection system will be less accurate. It will not be able to control the right amount of fuel needed by the engine. The fuel pump is the one that drives the flow of fuel into the combustion chambers.

Basically, a fuel pump is a simple centrifugal pump that is analogous to the water pump of the engine cooling system. Unlike the water pump, the fluid that flows into the fuel pump follows a one-way path. Unlike the liquid coolant of the engine cooling system, the fuel is meant to be consumed inside the combustion chambers. The fuel will not return to the fuel tank. Hence, the fuel pump can be considered as a one-way pump. It may be powered by the same camshaft but unlike the water pump, the fuel pump does not allow fuel to re-circulate to the tank.