First line of defense is obviously the spare tire. Today's space saving, high-pressure "convenience" spare or donut can run from 3,000 to 5,000 miles, depending on ply type, with decent handling. But, after sitting in the trunk for years, is your spare properly inflated to 60 psi to meet the call? Probably not.
Sealant tires were invented before the turn of the current century, but they only work if the puncture is in the tread area and under 1/4-inch in diameter. But even if effective, future tire failure may be masked. Without periodic inspection, any object puncturing the tread can work loose, just moving the spare-tire option down the road.
Popular with late-night TV addicts is the tire inflator or "spare in a can." But to be useful the liquid must coat the entire inside of the tire--leaving a mess for the repairman. And water-based sealants may degrade tire material.
Custom wheels and tire inserts are the high-cost alternatives. Special wheels were developed 10 to 20 years ago to keep tires seated on the rim. A tire insert is a "tire within a tire," such as the Goodyear Lifeguard, a version of which is used for NASCAR racing.Tire inserts have also been made of metal or fiberglass for low-speed, heavy-load applications such as military vehicles and presidential limousines.
By experimenting with the photovoltaic reaction in solar cells, researchers at MIT have made a breakthrough in energy efficiency that significantly pushes the boundaries of current commercial cells on the market.
In a world that's going green, industrial operations have a problem: Their processes involve materials that are potentially toxic, flammable, corrosive, or reactive. If improperly managed, this can precipitate dangerous health and environmental consequences.
With LEDs dropping in price virtually every year, automakers have begun employing them, not only on luxury vehicles, but on entry-level models, as well.
From Dell / Intel® New Paradigms in Design Work Scott Hamilton, vertical market strategist for Dell Precision workstations, 5/2/2013 3
Early in my career, I worked as a draftsman and remember the days of drawing on vellum with numbered pencils and Mylar with plastic lead. This was a fun experience in the sense that I ...
I've been using workstations for more than 10 years and love finding ways to get more performance from my system. With demanding professional applications that require more power each ...
A lasting memory from my first job as an engineer in an auto assembly plant is standing on hard concrete at six in the morning, vending-machine coffee clutched in hand, listening to ...
A quick look into the merger of two powerhouse 3D printing OEMs and the new leader in rapid prototyping solutions, Stratasys. The industrial revolution is now led by 3D printing and engineers are given the opportunity to fully maximize their design capabilities, reduce their time-to-market and functionally test prototypes cheaper, faster and easier. Bruce Bradshaw, Director of Marketing in North America, will explore the large product offering and variety of materials that will help CAD designers articulate their product design with actual, physical prototypes. This broadcast will dive deep into technical information including application specific stories from real world customers and their experiences with 3D printing. 3D Printing is
To save this item to your list of favorite Design News content so you can find it later in your Profile page, click the "Save It" button next to the item.
If you found this interesting or useful, please use the links to the services below to share it with other readers. You will need a free account with each service to share an item via that service.
Tweet This
3 
