- Black
- Of parts of castings and forgings not finished by machining, the dark coating of
iron-oxide retained by the surface.
Also see
- Black and white checkered flag
- A flag which is waved at the finishing line in races to indicate the winner.
- Black body
- A body which completely absorbs any heat or light radiation falling upon it. A black body maintained at a steady temperature is a full radiator at that temperature, since any black body remains in equilibrium with the radiation reaching and leaving it. Also called complete radiator
- Black-body radiation
- Radiation that would be radiated from an ideal Black body.
- Black-body temperature
- The temperature at which a Black body would emit the same radiation as is emitted by a given radiator at a given temperature. The black-body temperature of carbon-arc crater is about 3500°C, whereas its true temperature is about 4000°C
- Black book
- A popular listings of the current car prices, based on age, condition, and optional equipment; published in the Kelly Black Book.
- Black box
-
- A recording device which reveals conditions just prior to a crash.
- A control unit. A self-contained unit of electronic circuitry; not necessarily black. It should produce a defined output for a defined input without the operator needing to know its contents. Also called brain box
- Black copper
- Impure metal, carrying some iron, lead, and sulfur. Produced from copper ores by blast furnace reduction.
- Black flag
- A flag which is colored black and is waved at a race. It indicates that the Driver must return to his pit for consultation. It means that the driver has violated a serious racing rule such as spilling fluid on the track or was Speeding on the pit road.
- Black flag with orange circle
-
As with the black flag for infractions, the black flag with orange circle means the driver must bring the car to the pits on the next lap. This flag indicates there is a serious mechanical problem with the car that can endanger the driver or others. Ignoring this black flag can bring severe penalties as it represents a dangerous situation.
Black Flag With Orange Circle
- Blackhawk
-
- A vehicle brand of which pre-1948 models are classic cars.
-
A concept car produced by the Buick division of General Motors in 2005
Buick Blackhawk
- Blackheart
- A form of malleable iron, in which the core contains rosettes of graphite which appear as a dark area on fracture surfaces.
- Blacking
- Carbonaceous material applied as a powder or wash to the internal surfaces of a mold to protect the sand and improve the finish of the casting. Prepared in a blacking mill.
- Blacking a tape
- Preparing a blank tape for the recording a black burst signal which lays down the video tracks and control track
- Black liquor
- A byproduct of the paper production process, alkaline spent liquor, that can be used as a source of energy. Alkaline spent liquor is removed from the digesters in the process of chemically pulping wood. After evaporation, the residual black liquor is burned as a fuel in a recovery furnace that permits the recovery of certain basic chemicals.
- Black red heat
- Temperature at which hot metal is just seen to glow in subdued daylight (about 540°C)
- Black start
- A power source's ability to power up from a cold shut down condition to fully operational status through a dedicated auxiliary power source that is totally independent of external systems.
- Black and white flag
-
The black and white flag is used in some series to indicate unsportsmanlike conduct. This is typically held motionless next to a pit board with the car number on it. The driver may be penalized when this flag is shown
Black and white flag
- Bladder
- A hollow bag which can be inflated. In some instances, Fuel tanks will become rusty inside. A possible cure is to install a bladder. This is done by Flushing out the rust chips, applying an acid solution to remove any oil/gas residue, and Coating the inside with a plastic Compound. When done correctly, this plastic Coating does not dissolve when it comes in contact with Gasoline.
- Blade
-
- A straight narrow flat part like the end of a screwdriver or knife.
- The part of a windshield wiper (Blade rubber) which contacts the windshield.
- One of the vanes of a rotor or impeller.
- The moving part of a knife-switch which carries the current and makes contact with the fixed jaws.
- Blade activity factor
- The capacity of a propeller blade for absorbing power, expressed as a
non-dimensional function of the surface and by the formula
where R is the
diameter, and c is the blade chord at any radius r.
- Blade angle
- The angle between blade chord and plane of rotation at any radius. It is not constant because of the higher airspeed toward the tip, the incidence being progressively reduced to maintain optimum thrust. Change of blade angle from root to tip is called blade twist.
- Blank
-
- The lacquer-coated disk ready for placing on a recording machine for making records with a stylus.
- A piece of metal, shaped roughly to the required size, on which finishing processes are carried out.
- A fastener where one or two stages of manufacturing have been performed, but the fastener has not been finished.
- A door key or ignition key that has not been cut to fit the tumblers of a lock.
Also see
- Blanket
-
- Region of fertile material surrounding the core in a breeder reactor in which neutrons coming from the core breed more fissile fuel, e.g., uranium-233 from thorium.
- The lithium surrounding a fusion reactor core within which fusion neutrons are slowed down, heat is transferred to a primary coolant and tritium is bred from lithium.
- Blanking
-
- Blocking or diabling a circuit for a required interval of time.
- Suppression of the picture information while the scanning spot of a cathode ray tube returns after each line, horizontal blanking, or after each field, vertical blanking, taking place during the blanking interval.
- Blanking plug
- A rubber stopper for filling in the holes of sheetmetal such as drain holes in the floorpan.
- Blast cleaning
- The removal of corrosion, dirt, paint, etc. by a blast of abrasive particles.
Also see
- Blast freezer
- Low-temperature evaporator which uses a fan to force air rapidly over the evaporator surface.
- Blast furnace
- Vertical shaft furnace into the top of which ore mineral or scrap metal, fuel, and slag-forming rock (Flux) is charged. Air, sometimes oxygen-enriched and pre-heated, is blown through from below and products are separately tapped (slag higher and metal lower). Used to smelt iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, and other minerals.
- Blasting
-
- A marked increase in amplitude distortion due to overloading the capacity of some part of a sound-reproducing system; e.g., attempt to exceed 100% depth of modulation in a radio transmitter, or break of continuity in carbon granules in a carbon transmitter.
- The operation of disintegrating rock etc. by boring a hole in it, filling with gunpowder or other explosive charge, and firing it.
- Blasting fuse
- Compound designed to burn at a regulated speed when closed in a tube, used to ignite detonator or explode blasting charge. Types include safety (slow) and detonating (instantaneous).
- Blast pipe
- Device located in the smoke-box of a steam locomotive used to improve the draft through the fire-tubes. Exhaust steam passing from the nozzle of the blast pipe reduces smoke-box pressure and induces the draft.
- Blatthaller loudspeaker
- First electrodynamically driven loudspeaker used for high-quality sound reproduction. It has a flat surface which is large compared to the wavelength of the radiated sound and it generates sound of high intensity.
- Blavier's test
- A method of locating a fault on an electric cable; resistance measurements are taken with the far end of the cable free, and again with it grounded.
-
A model of SUV produced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors from 1969 to 2005
Click image for books on
Blazer
- BLC
- Acronym for Backlight compensation
- Bleed
-
- To remove air bubbles from hydraulic lines and Components of a system.
- To reduce the air pressure in tires that have been run, warmed up, and thus increased from their starting pressure -- an action which should be avoided.
- Bleeder jar
- A glass or transparent plastic container used to detect the escape of air while bleeding brakes
- Bleeder resistor
- Resistor placed across secondary of transformer to regulate its response curve, esp. when the transformer is not loaded with a proper terminating resistance. One placed in a power supply or rectifier circuit to control its regulation.
- Bleeder screw
-
- A hollow screw used to open a bleeder valve to allow fluid and air bubbles from a system like the Brake system during a bleeding process.
- A small hollow screw or valve found at drum brake wheel cylinders, in disc brake calipers, and adjacent to the outlet ports of some master cylinders. It is opened to release pressure and bleed air and fluid from the hydraulic system after reconditioning or in the event air has gotten into the system.
Also see
- Bleeder tank
- A container that stores brake fluid under pressure. When connected to the master cylinder, the fluid is forced through the system and facilitates bleeding.
- Bleeder valve
-
- A valve on a wheel cylinder, caliper, or other hydraulic component that is opened to purge or release air from the hydraulic system.
- The device which vents air from the Brake system.
- Bleeding
-
- The tapping of air from a gas turbine compressor to prevent surging.
- The tapping of air from a gas turbine compressor to feed some other equipment, e.g., cabin pressurization or a de-icing system.
- A paint defect in which a constituent in an underlying surface discolors subsequent coatings, prevented by applying a barrier coating.
- A method of improving the thermal efficiency of a steam plant by withdrawing a small part of the steam from the higher-pressure stages of a turbine to heat the feed-water.
- Removing undesirable entrapped air from a hydraulic (e.g., braking) system.
- Diffusion of dye from an photographic image.
- In fibers, yarns or fabrics of two or more colors, the running of the darker colors, and consequent staining of the lighter colors; during finishing, washing, or solvent cleaning.
- The action of venting air from a liquid-filled (Hydraulic) system.
- Reducing the air pressure in tires that have been run, warmed up, and thus increased from their starting pressure -- an action which should be avoided.
- Slowly reducing the pressure of liquid or gas from a system or cylinder by slightly opening a valve
- The separation of components of a dried adhesive, coating, or sealer film, resulting in an oil-like stain on the surfaces to be bonded, or on finishes
- A lower (older or previous) color coming through a fresh Coat of paint.
- Bleeding a system
- Remove air bubbles from a Brake system, a Fuel injection system, or a Cooling system so that they won't impede the flow of liquid through that system.
- Bleeding the brakes
- This refers to the removal of air from the Hydraulic system, bleeder screws are loosened at each Wheel cylinder, (one at a time) and Brake fluid is forced from the Master cylinder through the lines until all air is expelled.
- Bleed screw
- A screw used to release the air from a system like the
Brake system.
Also see
- Bleed valve
-
- A valve with small opening inside which permits a minimum fluid flow when the valve is closed.
- The device which vents air from the Brake system.
- Blem
- An abbreviation for Blemish tire.
- Blemish
- A tire with a slight imperfection in appearance that will not affect tire life or safety. Also called a blem.
- Blending
- Mixing of two compatible fuels having different properties in order to produce an
intermediate fuel
Also see
- Blending plant
- A facility that has no refining capability but is either capable of producing finished motor gasoline through mechanical blending or blends oxygenates with motor gasoline.
- BLEU
- Acronym for Blind Landing Experimental Unit operated by the Royal
Aircraft Establishment which developed a fully automatic blind landing system.
Also see
- Blind counts
- A method of inventory count that does not rely on the inventory database's record of what is supposed to be in stock until after the whole inventory is counted.
- Blind flying
- The flying of an aircraft by a pilot who, because of darkness or poor visibility, must rely on the indication of instrument.
- Blind flying instruments
- A group of instruments, often on an individual central panel, essential for Blind flying. Commonly airspeed indicator, altimeter, vertical speed, turn-and-slip, artificial horizon, and directional gyro.
- Blinding
-
- Sprinkling small chippings of stone over a tar-dressed road surface.
- Placing a thin layer of concrete over a foundation area before the structural concrete is placed.
- Blind rivet
- A type of rivet which can be clinched as well as placed by access to one side only of a structure. Usually based on a tubular or semitubular rivet design such as a Pop rivet, Chobert rivet, and Explosive rivet.
- Blind spot
-
- An area not visible from the driver's seat. It is usually the area behind the rear quarter and not visible to the driver either through the windshield, side windows, or mirrors. When approaching another vehicle in a lane beside you, avoid being in its blind spot. Also do a shoulder check before switching lanes to check for vehicles in the blind spot.
- Areas around a commercial vehicle that are not visible to the driver either through the windshield, side windows or mirrors.
Also see
- Bling
- Bright ornamentation (in chrome or gold plating) on a vehicle's wheels, grill, moldings, trim and badges in order to give the impression of wealth and status.
- Blinkie
-
A red taillight on a bicycle which has a switch which turns it to a steady light or a flashing (blinking) light
Blinkie
- Blinking
- Modification of a loran transmission, so that a fluctuation in display indicates incorrect operation.
- Blister
-
- A bubble on a paint surface.
- A localized bubble on the surface of a tire, normally caused by a separation between plies or between surface rubber and a ply.
- A raised area on the surface of solid metal produced by the emanation of gas from within the metal while it is hot and plastic.
- Blister copper
- An intermediate product in the manufacture of copper. It is produced in a converter, contains 98.4-99.5% copper, and is subsequently refined to give commercial varieties, e.g., tough pitch, deoxidized copper.
- Blister pack
- Transparent, thin sheet of plastic thermoformed to cover product for display purposes. Also called bubble pack.
- Blister steel
- Wrought-iron bars impregnated with carbon by heating in charcoal. Before 1740 this was the only steel available, but is now obsolete.
- BLM
-
- Acronym for Block Learn Multiplier--a term replaced with Long Term Fuel Trim
- Acronym for the Bureau of Land Management
- Block
-
Click image to supersize
Engine Block- That part of the engine containing the Cylinders.
- Rectangular, square or cylindrical deck spacer, often identified by its location within a pallet as corner block, end block, edge block, inner block, center block, or middle block.
Also see- Angle block
- Bearing block
- Big-block engine
- Bilge Blocks
- Block heater
- Brake block
- Brake pad
- Breech block
- Cylinder block
- Die
- EN-block
- Engine block
- Hollowing block
- Hydraulic control block
- Keel blocks
- Long block
- Long block engine
- Monoblock
- Rubbing block
- Sanding block
- Short block
- Terminal Block
- Tread block
- Wedge Block
- Block brake
- A vehicle brake in which a block of cast-iron is forced against the rim of the
revolving wheel, either by hand-power, electromagnetic mechanism, or fluid-pressure
acting on a piston.
Also see
- Block clutch
- A Friction clutch in which friction blocks or shoes are forced inward into the grooved rim of the driving member, or expanded into contact with the internal surface of a drum.
- Block coefficient
- The ratio of the underwater volume of a ship to the volume of a rectangular block with the same effective lengths, draft and beam.
- Blocked impedance
- The impedance of the input of a Transducer when the output load is infinite, e.g., when the mechanical system, as in a loudspeaker, is prevented from moving.
- Blocker ring
-
A component in a synchromesh system which contains the internal cone. It separates the collar and gear, and prevents the dogs from engaging until all parts are precisely synchronized. When the shift fork engages the cones, the blocker ring shifts slightly so that its dogs prevent the sleeve from engaging the gear wheel. The shift lever resists any effort to push it into gear. When the speed of all three parts are synchronized, the blocker ring shifts again, allowing the sleeve to move forward and engage the aligned dogs on the blocker ring and gear.
Blocker ring
- Block heater
- A devices which, during very cold weather, keeps the engine warm when the vehicle
is not being used -- thus making cold starts easier. The free end is plugged into
110 volt AC wall socket. It is especially important for starting
Diesel engines at very low temperatures.
Also see
- Blocking
-
- Cut-off of anode current in a valve because of the application of a high negative voltage to the grid; used in Gating or Blanking.
- Tendency of polymer film to adhere to itself, a problem in manufacture. Inhibited with surface coating of an anti-blocking agent.
- Wood or metal supports used to secure freight in place when loaded on a trailer.
- Block system
- The system of controlling the movements of trains by signals and by independent communication between block posts, where the instruments indicating the position of trains, condition of the block sections, and controlling levers for signals, points, etc. are situated. It is absolute if one train alone is permitted within a block section, and permissive if trains are allowed to follow into a block section already occupied by a train.
- Block time
- The time elapsed from the moment an aircraft starts to leave its loading point to the moment when it comes to rest. It is an important factor in airline organization and scheduling. Also called chock-to-chock, buoy-to-buoy (seaplanes), flight time.
- Bloom
-
- A surface film on rubber, caused by the migration to the surface of sulfur, wax, or other unreacted ingredients of the compound. It may be protective to the tire and detrimental only if appearance is a major factor.
- Semifinished metal, rectangular in cross-section and for steel not more than twice as long as it is thick. Compare Billet
- Surface film on glass, the thin dielectric layers vacuum deposited on a lens to alter its reflectance properties, hence blooming
- The film of sulfites and sulfates formed on glass during the annealing process.
- The film on glass caused by weathering. Obsolete.
- Blooming
-
- A formation of an undesired thin surface film or a milky white haze or mist on paintwork. It is caused when paint is applied during humid, cold conditions as moisture is trapped in the wet film.
- Treatment of the glass-air surfaces of a lens with a deposit of magnesium fluoride or other substance, which reduces internal reflection and increase light transmission.
- Spread of spot on cathode-ray tube phosphor due to excessive beam current.
- Coating of dielectric surfaces to reduce reflection of electromagnetic waves.
- Blooming mills
- The rolling mills used in reducing steel ingots to blooms. Called cogging mills in the UK, and not always distinguished from billet (slab) mills.
- Blow
-
- To become defective either by leaking or burning through.
- In a Bessemer converter, passage of air through molten charge.
Also see
- Blow back
-
- Because of a sticky valve or the intake valve closing late, some of the air-fuel mixture is blown back through the carburetor.
- The return, at low speeds, of some of the induced mixture through the carburetor of a gasoline engine; due to the late closing of the intake valve during compression, or by worn or sticking valves.
- Blowby
- The Mixture of fuel-air which escapes past the Piston rings and causes fumes that form acid and Sludge in the Crankcase and smoking from the oil filer hole. Generally there is a loss of engine power. Most are removed through the PCV system.
- Blow-by
- The Mixture of fuel-air which is lost past the Piston rings and causes fumes that form acid and Sludge in the Crankcase and smoking from the oil filer hole. Generally there is a loss of engine power. Most are removed through the PCV system.
- Blowdown
-
- The escape of gases between the opening of the exhaust valve and the piston reaching bottom dead center, or in a two-stroke engine between exhaust port opening and transfer port opening.
- The difference between the opening and closing pressures of a relief/safety valve.
- Blowdown period
- In a two-stroke engine, it is the time between the exhaust port opening and the transfer port opening which should be sufficiently long enough to allow time for the cylinder pressure to drop below the crankcase pressure, so that the exhaust gases can be expelled more easily.
- Blower
-
- Also called a Supercharger or Turbocharger. This is a Pump which forces air into the Cylinders at higher than Atmospheric pressure. The increased pressure forces more air into the Cylinders than what would be drawn in normally. In this way the engine can burn more fuel and thus produce more power. There are two main types of blowers the Turbocharger, which uses some of the waste heat energy in the Exhaust gases to drive a Compressor and pump the air; and the belt-driven or shaft-driven supercharger which uses engine power to pump air.
- A fan for an interior heating and ventilating system or even for an air-cooled engine.
- A fan used to force air and/or gas under pressure.
- A ring-shaped perforated pipe, encircling the top of the
Blast pipe in the smoke-box, to which steam is
supplied while a steam engine is standing, the jets providing sufficient draft
to keep the fire going.
Also see
- Blower fan
- An electric motor-driven fan which forces air through the evaporator and duct assembly, then forces the cooled air out of the duct work and circulates it through the vehicle passenger compartment.
- Blow gun
-
A paint spray gun with a wide nozzle which is fed by air pressure. It is used to blow out crevices in material that is otherwise hard to reach.
Blow gun
- Blowhole
- A gas-filled cavity in a solid metal. Usually formed by the trapping of bubbles of gas evolved during solidification, but may also be caused by steam generated at the mold surface, air entrapped by the incoming metal, or gas given off by inflammable mold dressing.
- Blowing engine
- The combined steam-engine or gas-engine and large reciprocating air-blower for supplying air to a blast furnace.
- Blowlamp
- A British term for Blow torch
- Blow molding
- Two-stage route for making hollow products, e.g., bottles, surfboards (when filled with foam). Extruded Parison is dropped into the split, female-only tool, and blown to shape by air pressure.
- Blown
-
- An engine equipped with a Turbocharger or
Supercharger.
Also see
- An engine which is ruined. Usually the Piston is
Seized.
Also see
- An engine equipped with a Turbocharger or
Supercharger.
- Blown engine
- An engine which has suffered some internal damage and will need extensive repair or replacement.
- Blown flap
- A Flap, the efficiency of which is improved by blowing air or other gas over its upper surface to maintain attached airflow even at high angles of deflection.
- Blown head gasket
- A Gasket that has a break between the opening for the Cylinder and an opening for the Coolant. The Coolant will leak into the Combustion chamber. This condition can be diagnosed by a loss in Coolant and white smoke out the Exhaust.
- Blowoff valve
-
A one-way valve that opens to the atmosphere above a certain set pressure to relieve excessive internal pressure buildup; often used with a Turbocharger installation to limit Boost pressure to the engine. Also called Pressure-relief valve.
Blowoff Valve
Also see
- Blowout
- A sudden rupturing of tire body, causing complete loss of air pressure which flattens the tire.
- Blow-out
- A sudden rupturing of tire body, causing complete loss of air pressure which flattens the tire.
- Blowout magnet
- A permanent or electromagnet used to extinguish more rapidly the arc (in a switch, etc.) caused by breaking an electric circuit.
- Blow pin
- Device through which air is blown in final stage of Blow molding. Usually ascends into base of descending Parison
- Blow through
- A turbocharger system in which the turbocharger blows air through the carburetor(s) or fuel injector(s), i.e., the air and fuel mixing occurs downstream from the turbocharger.
- Blow torch
-
A tool which is attached to a bottle of flammable gas. The gas is ignited to give an intense flame for brazing and soldering. The British term is blowlamp
Blow Torch
- Bluebird
- Trucker slang for a Martin Truck company's truck as in "Can I get a smokey report there Bluebird."
- Blue book
- A listing of the Current prices for used cars, based on age, condition, and Optional equipment; published in the Kelly Blue Book. Available at banks, loan offices, libraries, and insurance companies.
- Blue brittleness
- Embrittlement of medium and high carbon steels during tempering in the range of 205°C - 315°C, so named because the surface of the steel becomes coated with blue colored oxidation film.
- Blue flag
-
The blue or passing flag has different meanings depending on how it is held and whether it is used during practice, qualifying, or racing. Generally when it is held motionless it is an indication to a driver that there is a faster car following closely behind, but not yet close enough for a pass. A waving flag generally indicates that the driver is about to be overtaken and should take care to permit the following vehicle a safe pass. Some drivers resist moving over for an over-taking car when they feel they are racing for position. Controversy can follow the use of the passing flag. Some tracks use a blue flag with a diagonal yellow stripe.
Blue flag
- Blueing salts
- Caustic solution of sodium nitrate, used hot to produce a blue oxide film on the surface of steel.
- Blue metal
- Condensed metallic fume resulting from distillation of zinc from its ore concentrates. Blue tint is due to slight surface-oxidation of the fine particles.
- Blueprinting
- Dismantling engine and reassembling it to exact Specifications and Tolerances. This process may help to improve engine performance, smoothness, and reliability. Sometimes called Balancing.
- Blue smoke
- The color of the exhaust which indicates that oil is escaping into the combustion chamber and being burned. It is probably due to worn rings, valve seals, etc.
- Bluing
-
- The blue color that appears on chrome pipes when subject to intense heat. In some cases, it can be removed; but most often it is permanent.
- The production of a blue oxide film on polished steel by heating in contact with saltpeter or wood ash, either to form a protective coating, or incidental to annealing
Also see
- Blunt start
-
- End of a threaded screw which is rounded or coned to facilitate insertion.
- The removal of the partial thread at the entering end of thread.
- Blushing
- The formation of a whitish or misty appearance on the Finish color of the paint surface.