For questions about words, phrases and definitions that are specific to engineering.
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2answers
36 views
What is the protective part of a staircase handrail called?
Below the handrail of a staircase is some kind of gridwork to prevent people or objects from falling off the staircase into the space below. What is the term for this gridwork? - perhaps "handrail ...
2
votes
3answers
91 views
Meaning of “female eye” in a list of parts
A fellow translator is translating a list of parts into Russian, and can't understand the meaning of "female eye". Here's the table:
Maybe someone here could come up with some ideas about the ...
0
votes
1answer
30 views
What is the entirety of breadth of road called?
As roadway consists of a width of road on which a vehicle is not restricted by any physical barriers or separation to move laterally source, what is a similar term which encompasses the width of the ...
1
vote
1answer
27 views
Difference between a Part and a Detail
I'm not sure I'm in the right place for this, if not, Apologies.
In my education material under Construction Steel, in its application it lists Masking Details.
Under Tool Steel it list an ...
5
votes
2answers
56 views
What is the technical name for a water reservoir that retains its contents via vacuum and ambient air pressure?
This is a strange question for me because this is so extremely common, but I have never heard a name to describe exactly what it is.
This is commonly used to provide water to animals from a trough or ...
0
votes
1answer
27 views
What do I call this shaft that drives the rubber stopper into the glass vial in a vial stoppering machine?
I'm translating a Russian text about a drug product manufacturing process. The text mentions briefly the vial stoppering machine, in which rubber stoppers are first fed into the hopper and then ...
0
votes
2answers
54 views
What type of supports exists for ballscrews or leadscews?
For Linear actuators, a common mechanism is to use ballscrews with ballnuts.
The ballscrew is supported at the two sides by a set of bearings which permit the rotation of the screw while keeping the ...
2
votes
1answer
40 views
Terminology: Flexible protrusion for a latch
What is the name for a protrusion of material that's built to be flexible in order to act as a latching mechanism? These show up in all kinds of products, but one of the most recognizable is in a snap-...
2
votes
3answers
73 views
How do I call this “cogwheel” that feeds tin cans to a specific position?
This is an above view of a system in which tin cans arrive via conveyor (1) to a "feeding star" ("подающая звезда" in Russian; No. 5) and are placed firmly in slot 4. (source in Russian)
How does one ...
0
votes
1answer
39 views
Fluid-dynamics question: proper term
I am looking for the term used to describe a situation I've encountered. I'll use a standard hydraulic cartridge that you'd use to keep a door shut as an example, except this one can be locked out ...
2
votes
3answers
57 views
Are there standard terms that correspond to the anatomical axes, planes, and directions?
The field of human anatomy seems to have standardized on a number of useful terms to unambiguously describe the human body. For example the three planes and axes as well as various directions seem to ...
3
votes
3answers
282 views
What exactly is the sample period?
I thought the term sample period referred to the time interval between one measurement and another. But I've come across this article which says
About every tenth of a second, a dataset, $S(i)$, of ...
1
vote
1answer
89 views
Two angular velocities on two segments connected by a hinge joint differ only by the joint angle velocity
I was reading this article called "Joint Axis and Position Estimation from Inertial Measurement Data by Exploiting Kinematic Constraints", but I'm not understanding one part, which doesn't let me ...
3
votes
1answer
72 views
Translating the name of a type of beam from Russian to English
I am trying to translate the name of a special kind of beam from a set of Russian-language drawings.
The dictionary translates the name as simply supported beam, but it's not that simple. There is a ...
1
vote
5answers
2k views
What is the opposite of “parallel” in engineering?
The two towers of the Verrazano Bridge are not parallel: they are [???] to account for the curvature of the earth.
What is that word?
3
votes
1answer
81 views
Name of a keel between the bilge keel and the main keel
I'm working on a seaplane and find myself doubting about the specific nautical term for a keel placed between the bilge keel and the main keel. This might be a bit academic in nature since I have a ...
0
votes
0answers
451 views
Difference between a “Joint” and a “Kinematic pair”
So far I know the definition of a "Joint":
A connection between two links which imposes a constraint on the motion of the links.
And on the other hand I know one of them is a special case of the ...
0
votes
2answers
1k views
Difference between Linkage, Kinematic chain, Mechanism, Mechanical element, Mechanical machine and their precise definitions
Recently I started to study about "Design of mechanical machinery". Since I am a person who is very sensitive about words I want to know the difference between these notions and their precise ...
2
votes
1answer
66 views
Channel or Canal?
This is about navigable or irrigation water ways.
Examples:
Navigable channel or navigable canal? (it is about approach water ways to sea ports, or artificial inland water ways).
Channel dredging or ...
0
votes
2answers
86 views
What would you call this mining vehicle? (Ural-20R, used in mining)
On the image below is a mining machine produced by the Kopeysk Machine-Building Plant. I'm not sure how to call it in English. The Russian name is "prokhodchesko-ochistnoy kombain".
Multitran offers ...
3
votes
3answers
112 views
Base or foundation?
Please help, what is the correct term for:
The bottom/foot part of building or structure which carries loads from the building/structure and transfers the loads to the soil/earth/ground beneath it?
...
4
votes
1answer
345 views
What does the abbreviation “B.C.” mean on a weld joint diagram?
A translator posted this diagram of a weld joint on a translator's forum (the figure below). What does the abbreviation "B.C." mean on the diagram?
0
votes
2answers
83 views
What's the term used for machine parts orientation naming on the sagittal plane and from inside the machine?
I know that the current title can be hard to understand. Let me try to explain our problem: We do manufacture and service industrial machines and we are currently updating our spare parts manuals for ...
4
votes
2answers
110 views
How do you call the intersection with barrier and you can always right turn?
In the photo above I can name the first 3 intersection
a) Regular intersection
b) T intersection
c) Skewed intersection
I am having a hard time on identifying the fourth intersection, what do you ...
0
votes
1answer
72 views
What is the etymology of “bridge cam gauge”?
On the pictures below is a tool called "bridge cam gauge", mentioned in this answer. I wonder why the words "bridge" and "cam" are used in its name.
I found a definition of "cam" that might be ...
4
votes
2answers
819 views
What tool does one use to inspect pipe bevel angles?
My translation of a document published by the Pervouralsk New Pipe Plant:
Inspection of pipe-end root face (“face ring”)
Inspection of this type is carried out as required by the ...
1
vote
1answer
55 views
Is “critical pipe” a proper term for a pipe used in a critically important role?
My translation:
Internal pipe diameter inspection
This kind of inspection is carried out on a by-order basis using a certified gauge (for sizes 40 mm and above) of the go/no go type, with ...
2
votes
1answer
81 views
Looking for a common term for “non-circular pipe”
In Russia, there's a special term for a pipe that is not circular in its section: "a profiled pipe" (профильная труба). There's even a Wikipedia page for it: профильная труба. Such pipes come in a ...
2
votes
3answers
177 views
Phrase for describing a cable without a connector at the end
I've been translating a truck scale description in a business offer letter, and the specification table there, listing the five parts comprising the prospective order, says on line five:
Cable for ...
4
votes
2answers
145 views
Questions on machinery terminology
I have some questions in the basics of machinery terminology
Can a spring ever be a link? Most books (eg. Ham et al. 58, Shigley pg. 5) consider links to be rigid. However, I have come across ...
4
votes
1answer
210 views
What is the correct term for long cuts in a floor joist?
I would like to identify the correct term for a long, lateral cut within a floor joist.
Based upon this guide and several other sources that I have come across, a ...
6
votes
3answers
726 views
What do you call a mechanism where rotation is transfered in one direction only?
I have the following to wheels that rotate on the same axis:
Assuming that they are stuck together, if I rotate the green one the red one rotates at the same speed and when I stop the green one the ...
1
vote
2answers
199 views
What is the meaning of 'clutch fill'?
What is the meaning of clutch fill?
See for example this paper.
4
votes
1answer
105 views
What is a slotted open ring with a thread called (like on bicycle brake levers)?
I'm looking for a small ring that allows a thin cable to pass through but can also lock to close that opening, like on bicycle brake lever screws (shown below). However, I'm having trouble finding the ...
4
votes
3answers
448 views
What do you call the steel property that reduces the likelihood of shattering?
What is the property of not shattering, in for example a brisant explosion, called? And what kind of steel would I want that has this property?
5
votes
1answer
94 views
What is Byte Alignment Time in radio communication?
According to this paper, which deals with time synchronization in wireless networks, this kind of delay occurs, however I do not understand its explanation. The paper says the reciever (radio) has to ...
3
votes
4answers
317 views
How would you refer to a bolt mounting slide as opposed to a simple hole?
I'm writing a patent application and my device incorporates a similar design as what I've seen used on Dovetale plates. However, instead of a preset hole for positioning a bolt to mount to, a grooved ...
7
votes
5answers
9k views
What do you call the difference between the on and off temperatures in a simple thermostat?
A simple thermostat will turn on at one temperature and off at a higher temperature. This keeps the thermostat from cycling on and off too quickly. The difference between these values is sometimes ...
1
vote
1answer
109 views
What is the meaning of a “trip angle” in a level sensor?
What does trip angle mean in the context of slope / level sensors / inclinometers?
2
votes
4answers
322 views
What is the Technical Term for this kind of slot?
I am looking for the technical term which describes the kind of slot one finds commonly in modern phones to hold SIM cards. More specifically, what does one call a slot that one pushes the SIM card ...
5
votes
2answers
681 views
Is there a term for a circular dependency in system design and engineering
Is there a term used in systems engineering that describes a situation in which the design of one subsystem (call it "A") affects the the requirements for another subsystem (call it "B") while at the ...
0
votes
1answer
50 views
What is the technical term for a document that contains the results of a final test for a specific product?
Currently, I have to design a final test for a product. I want to summarize the results in a test report. The report is automatically generated and gives a summary (quantitatively) of which ...
2
votes
3answers
615 views
How to describe the rotation of opposite ends of a body due to an applied moment
Summary
A short way to phrase this question is:
Shear describes the translation of one part of a body relative to another given an applied force. What is the equivalent rotational term? That is,
...
1
vote
4answers
734 views
Why the word “mileage” is used for vehicles, instead of efficiency?
Why is the word "mileage" used for vehicles, instead of efficiency?
Is there any difference between mileage and efficiency?
-1
votes
1answer
104 views
What does the word “pararail” mean? [closed]
What does the word "pararail" mean? I would like to know the meaning. Search over web does not help much.
9
votes
5answers
2k views
Is systems engineer an IT profession or an interdisciplinary field of engineering?
The term Systems Engineer has always interested me as it generally involves many different fields of engineering.
Systems Engineer - Interdisciplinary
The definition I'm familiar with is usually ...
5
votes
2answers
418 views
Term for double slope from street
One of the places I frequent recently had the curb and sidewalk rebuilt by the city. Previously, there was a roughly continuous transition from the street to the rest of the private drive next to the ...
7
votes
5answers
917 views
What was that?! Quantifying the impact of a martial arts strike
Measuring things like a martial artist's strike can be challenging because it is a complex motion and common vernacular will use imprecise or incorrect terms. This question is an attempt to identify ...
