Types of Automobiles ~ Automobile Engineering.

The automobile industry is a fast developing industry. From the later 18th century when the first automobile was put on road, this industry has developed tremendously. Now there are thou-sands of factories all over the world manufacturing numberous types, of automobiles. This industry employs crores of men and women directly and indirectly in allied industries. The automo-bile engines are also being used in engine powered machines for agriculture, construction and manufacturing processes. Vari-ous types of small engines are also being used in lawn movers, power saws, now removers and similar equipments. The auto-mobile In-dustry is a developing and demanding industry which does not find its end or saturation point. There is a great demand for varied types of automotive products, vehicles and engines. There is also a great demand for trained and experi-enced per-sons in this Industry for diagnosing motor vehicle troubles, re-pairing and replacing engines, components, transmissions, pro-peller shafts, differentials, axles, steering system components, brake systam components, suspensian components, alrconditioners, heaters, body and glass work.

There are numberous types of automobiles used in the world. There are in general three main classifications of the various types of vehicles.

1. The single-unit vehicles or load carriers.

2. Articulated vehicles.

3. The heavy tractor vehicles.

Single-unit vehicles are of conventional four-wheel type. The great majority of vehicles are of two axle design. In these ve-hicles the front axle is a steering non- driving axle and the rear axle is the driving axle. With the pas-sage of time, a great many changes have taken place in the number of axles and the driving arrangements.

In this classification, digital terms like 4 X 2, 4 X 4, 6 X 4 etc.. are commonly use. The first figure denotes the total number of wheels and the second figure the number of driving wheels.

A lower powered three-wheeler with a single steering wheel in front and a conventional rear driving axle is an ex-ample of articulated vehicles. It has a greater handling a-bility in awkward places. It can be turned about its own tail due to the three-wheel construction. The coupling mecha-nism between semi-tailer and tractor in most ot these vehi-cles in arranged for automatic con-nection and coupling up necessitating only tis reversing into the position. But for uncoupling operation, a lever is provided within the driver's cabin to reverse the whole process. A pair of retract-able wheels in front are also provided. Along with the coupling or uncoupling operation, they can be raised or lowered au-tomatically.

To move heavy loads, heavy tractor or independent tractor vehicles commonly operate in pair either in tandem or as "puller" and "pusher".

A special consideration is made in respect of the drive to front, wheels in all-wheel-drive vehicles. We know that the front whees are to travel farther than the rear wheels on every band. The wind-up produced by this differ-ence of travel over-stresses the transmission system. To avoid this a great necessity of some form of differential or its equivalent has been felt to provide it the front and rear drives, It has been seen that if the conditions are not very abnormal, surficient amount of tyre slip taking place un-der running conditions would release these stresses completely.

An all-wheel drive is better than the introduction of differen-tials between the various axles. It provides adhe-sion under the worst Possible conditions. On the other hand, the drive to all the other axles is liable to be lost if any one axle or group of axles loses adhesion.

Types of automobiles. There are numerous types of auto-mobile found in different parts of the world. With respect to dif-ferent purposes, the various types of automobiles are classified as under:

I. With respect to the use:

(a) Auto-cycln and Moppets, (b) Scooters and Motor cycles, (c) Cars, Station. Wagons and Pick-ups. (d) Lorries (Buses) and Trucks. (e) Tractors.

II. With respect to capacit:

(a) Heavy Transport Vehicles or Heavy Motor Vehicles: Tata, Leyland (b) Ligh Transport Vehicles, or Light Motor Vehicles (Oars, Jeesp, Scooter/Motor cycles). (c) Medium Vehicles: Tempo, Minebus, Station Wagon.

III. With respect to the fuel used:

(a) Petrol Vehicles: Cars, Scooters Motor Cycles. (b) Diesel Vehicles: Tata, Leyland Vehicles, Meredes Car. (c) Gas Ve-hicles: Coal-gas, Gas Turbine or Producer-Vehicles. (d) Electric Vehicles-using electric strorage batteries or accoumulators to drive electric motors attached to the front or rear wheels, e.g. Heavy cranes. (e)Steam Vehi-cles-It is now obsolete.

IV. With respect to the make:

(a) Leyland, Tata. (b) Ambassador, Fiat (Premier-Presi-dent), Standard, Herald etc. (c) Vespa/Bajaj, Raj, Hans, Rajdoot, Royal Enfield, Vijay Delux, Vijay Kesari, Priya.

V. With respect to whels and axles:

(a) Two Wheelers: Motor Cycles/Scooters. (b) Three wheel-ers: Tempos, Auto Riskshaws. (c) Four Wheelers: Oars, Jeeps, Buses, Trucks (6 Tyres) etc. Buses and Trucks have six tyres out of which four are carried on the rear wheels for additional trac-tion (d) Axle 6 wheelers (10 tyres) Vehicles: Shaktiman, Dodge.

VI: With respect to the drive:

(a) Left hand drive-most of the American vehicles.

(b) Rigt hand rive-most of the Indian vehicles.

(c) Fluid drive-Vehicles using Fluid Coupling Engine and Transmission. (d) Front wheel drive-yolks Wagon, Sko-da, Aus-tin. (e)Rear wheel drive-most of the Indian vehi-cles. (f) All wheel drive-Jeep 4X4.