DICTIONARY OF AUTOMOTIVE TERMS - "Ab"

ABC:

1. Acronym for "aerial bunched conductors"
2. Acronym for "automatic beam control."

ABDC:

Acronym for after bottom dead center. A term used in timing the relation of the spark and the crankshaft.

Abel flashpoint apparatus:

A device for testing the flash point of gasoline.

Abhesive:

A substance which does not allow two materials to stick together, e.g., Teflon^® on frying pans does not allow eggs to stick to its surface. Opposite of adhesive

Ability:

See:
climbing ability
cold cranking ability

Aboard:

See:
lighter aboard ship

Aboard ship:

See:
lighter aboard ship

A bone:

Nickname for a Ford Model "A".

ABPV:

Acronym for "air bypass valve."

Abradant:

A grinding powder.
Also See:
abrasive

Abrade:

To grind or roughen up a surface by rubbing.

Abrasion:

The action of removing some of the surface through rubbing friction.

Abrasion hardness:

The ability of something (e.g., metal, ceramic) to resist abrasion.

Abrasive:

A hard grit used for sanding or grinding. Usually a powder e.g., silicon carbide powder.
Also See:
bonded abrasive
coated abrasive
non-woven abrasive

Abrasive blast cleaning:

In order to clean steel or remove rust from iron or scale from metal, sand or some other powder substance is forced by air pressure through a nozzle. In this way the small particles of abrasive can penetrate the metal where sanding with sandpaper cannot. Also, very small craters are formed on the surface of the metal from the blasting action. When thoroughly cleaned the metal is ready for painting. Paint adheres better to these "craters and imperfections" than to a perfectly smooth surface.

Abrasive cleaner:

A cleaning paste with some hard grit. It is used to remove the grime and oils from a surface or from your hands.

Abrasive disc:

Abrasive disc

A circular plate (often made of plastic with hard grit embedded into it) used for grinding or sanding.

Abrasive paper:

Sandpaper (a paper upon which sand or hard grit has been glued) used for sanding or grinding.

ABS:

Acronym for "anti-lock brakes. The acronym ABS comes from the German anti blockier system.
Also See:
copolymer

Absolute:

See:
manifold absolute pressure sensor
POA suction throttling valve

Absolute pressure:

Pressure measured from a starting point of zero in perfect vacuum. When measured by the absolute pressure scale, atmospheric pressure is 14.7 psi or 29.92 inches of mercury (in-Hg).
Also See:
manifold absolute pressure sensor

Absolute pressure sensor:

See:
manifold absolute pressure sensor
barometric absolute pressure sensor

Absolute weight:

The weight (or mass) of a body in a vacuum.

Absolute zero:

The point at which there is a total absence of heat, minus 459.67°F (-273.15°C).

Absorbent:

A substance with the property of assimilating another substance (e.g., sponge and water).

Absorber:

Something which converts the dynamic energy of motion into potential energy (e.g., of a spring) such as in a shock absorber.
Also See:
air shock absorber
arc absorber
adjustable shock absorbers
damper
direct-acting shock absorber
double-tube shock absorber
friction shock absorber
gas shock absorber
impact absorber
lever-type shock absorber
monotube shock absorber
self-levelling shock absorber
shock absorber
single-tube shock absorber
telescopic shock absorber
UV absorber

Absorber rod:

See:
control rod

Absorber tower:

See:
shock absorber tower

Absorbing:

See:
energy absorbing steering column
energy absorbing bumper

Absorbing bumper:

See:
energy absorbing bumper

Absorbing steering:

See:
energy absorbing steering column

Absorbing steering column:

See:
energy absorbing steering column

Absorption:

The use of a chemical or filter to remove unwanted particles or characteristics from something.
Also See:
acoustic absorption
air absorption
atmospheric absorption
sound absorption

Absorption capacitor:

A capacitor connected across a spark gap to reduce the discharge.

Absorption coefficient:

1. The volume of gas, measured at stp, dissolved by unit volume of a liquid under normal pressure (i.e., one atmosphere).
2. The fraction of the energy which is absorbed.

Also see:
acoustic absorption coefficient

Absorption dynamometer:

A measuring device which absorbs and dissipates power, e.g., the ordinary rope brake and the Froude hydraulic brake.

Absorption factor:

See:
acoustic absorption factor

ABS override button:

A button or switch which disengages the automatic anti-lock braking system so that the driver can operate the brakes himself.

ABS relay valve:

An electrically controlled valve which modulates the air pressure in the anti-lock braking system.

Abut:

The action of two gear teeth making contact.

Abutment:

1. A part which stops the motion of another part from proceeding any farther.
2. The contact made between opposing teeth of two gears.

Abutting edge:

The edge or side of a panel which joins the edge or side of another panel.

ABV:

Acronym for "air bypass valve."

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