Components of the Automobile

The automobile is made up of a frame to which the engine, body and wheels are attached. A series of gears and shafts carry the power from the engine to the car wheels. A steering system and a braking system provide control of the car.

The car frame supports the engine and the car body. It is supported by springs and wheels. The frame is made up of several steel beams.

The engine, wheels, steering system and braking system are attached to the frame form the car chassis. The chassis is the working part of the car since it contains all mechanisms necessary for the operation of the car.

Attaching the body to the chassis completes the automobile.

Vocabulary:

1. frame (n) – рама

2. wheel (n) - колесо

3. shaft (n) – вал

4. rear (adj) – задний

5. the steering system – система управления

6. the braking system – тормозная система

7. control (n) – управление

8. beam (n) – балка

9. spring (n) – рессора, пружина

10. attach (v) – прикреплять

11. complete (v) – завершать, заканчивать

12. support (v) – поддерживать

13. body (n) – корпус, кузов

Questions to the text:

1. What are the engine, the body and the wheels attached to?

2. What mechanisms carry the power from the engine to the rear wheels?

3. What systems provide control of the car?

4. What supports the engine and the car body?

5. What is the frame made up of?

6. What is the frame supported by?

7. What forms the car chassis?

8. Is the chassis a working part of a car?

9. What completes the automobile?

Engine

The automobile engine is a remarkable mechanism. It uses gasoline, air, oil, water and electricity for producing mechanical power. The engine is a device with different moving parts. These parts are crankshaft, connecting rods, pistons, valves and valve-operating mechanism. The engines usually have six or eight cylinders. The engine cylinder block contains all cylinders and valve ports.

The valve ports are steel rings. Each valve moves up and down in a valve guide.

The lower part of the cylinder block is often called the crankcase, since it contains the crankshaft. The connecting rod connects the piston and crankpin on the crankshaft. The piston is cast of iron or aluminium. It has cast iron piston rings.

Vocabulary:

1. remarkable (adj) – замечательный

2. oil (n) – масло, нефть

3. device (n) – прибор

4. move (v) – двигаться

5. crankshaft – коленчатый вал

6. connecting rod – соединительный стержень, шатун

7. piston (n) – поршень

8. valve (n) - клапан

9. contain (v) – содержать

10. port (n) – отверстие, гнездо

11. ring (n) – кольцо

12. guide (n) – направляющее устройство

13. crankcase – картер двигателя

14. crankpin – шатунная шейка

15. cast (v) – отливать

16. cast iron – чугун

Questions to the text:

1. Is the automobile engine a remarkable mechanism?

2. What fuel does it use?

3. What are the moving parts of the engine?

4. How many cylinders do the engines have?

5. What does the engine cylinder block contain?

6. What are the valve ports?

7. How does each valve move?

8. Where does each valve move?

9. What is the lower part of the cylinder block often called?

10. What does the crankcase contain?

11. What does the connecting rod connect?

12. What is the piston cast of?

Cranes

T he lifting crane is a very old construction equipment. It is a machine that can lift weights and move them from place to place. Modern cranes are used for many purposes, most of them are versatile and convertible. They have different attachments and devices for handling materials such as buckets, hooks and grapples. There are different types of cranes, for example: truck-cranes, travelling cranes, rail-mounted cranes, tower cranes, bridge-cranes, etc.

M any modern cranes are operated by remote control. Some cranes are transported to the place of job. Cranes are required at the building sites. They help us to build multi-storeyed buildings, highroads and bridges. Using cranes we increase the speed of construction and save the building costs.