Gavin's Miscellany
Personal encyclopedia and learning curriculum119 entries

Category

Engineering & Machines

Practical mechanisms in built systems, currently focused on vehicles, drivetrains, engines, suspension, and electrical infrastructure.

Topics

Vehicles & DrivetrainsHow vehicle systems create, transmit, absorb, and control motion.3Electrical SystemsPractical electrical infrastructure and the physical reasoning behind common components.1

All Entries

Vehicles & Drivetrains

  • Car Suspension BasicsA car suspension has two jobs that fight each other: keep the tires in useful contact with the road while isolating the body from bumps and wheel motion.
  • Differential GearsWhen a car turns, the outside driven wheel travels a longer arc than the inside wheel, so it must rotate faster. A differential lets the two axle shafts turn at different speeds while both are driven by one input.
  • Four-Stroke Engine CycleA fourstroke piston engine completes one thermodynamic/mechanical cycle in four piston strokes and two crankshaft revolutions:

Electrical Systems

  • Household Electrical Junction BoxesA junction box is a protective enclosure for electrical connections. Its job is not cosmetic: it contains splices and live conductors, provides mechanical protection, helps contain sparks/arcing, and provides a place to bond/ground metal enclosures where required.