A Glossary of Saint-Gobain Engineering Terms

Most of our engineering terms will be familiar to you, however, we sometimes use phrases in a very specific context.

Here’s the Saint-Gobain guide to many of the terms you’ll come across on our website and in our literature.

 

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Assembly force

The force needed to assemble components.

 

 

 

Bearing

A bearing is a component that facilitates movement between two parts, while reducing friction. Different types have the same basic structure and purpose: two surfaces that move over each other, enabling mating parts to move with low friction. The main difference is whether they are working with rotational or linear motion. Variants can be sliding, roller, ball, and needle, as well as sleeve, journal or plain bearings (also known as bushings).

 

Bearing mount

Bearings are mounted differently depending on their type and use. Typically, bearing housing fulfils both fixing and retention force functions.

 

Belt tensioner

If power is transferred from the engine to other components by a belt, this belt needs to maintain a pre-determined level of tension to prevent it from slipping. A belt tensioner ensures the necessary tension and reduces the impact of vibration.

 

Bushing

Another name for the sleeve or plain bearing, the bushing is a cylindrical component that’s used for radial loads. Bushings have a sliding action, and because bushings are often self-lubricating, they provide a smooth operation.

 

Buzz-squeak-rattle (BSR)

Buzz, squeak and rattle describe the types of noises produced by components and parts that are fitted in such a way that they create annoying sounds. Buzz, squeak and rattle is caused by the relative motion between installed parts, which make them interact, sometimes only at certain environmental conditions. BRS is a standard sound quality check for a vehicle. Using our semi-anechoic chamber we can simulate real-time driving conditions to test for nuisance noises. See also NVH.

 

Collapse force

This is a structural safety feature used in vehicles when an axial load is applied. An example is the collapsible steering column which allows an inner tube to slip inside an outer jacket during a vehicle collision to reduce the impact for the driver.

 

Composite PTFE bearing

PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) is a high-performance, engineering plastic. Our NORGLIDE^® composite PTFE bearings combine steel or other metals with compounded PTFE for low-friction strength.

 

Corrosion resistance/stability

The resistance of a material to withstand elements that can cause corrosion.

 

 

Electrification

Electrification is the conversion of a former power to electricity, often a shift away from the combustion engine.

 

Electrophoretic deposition

Electrophoretic deposition (sometimes called EPD, electrocoating, e-coating or e-painting) is the process of coating metal parts, often used in the automotive sector as the initial chassis coat. The components to be painted are submerged into an electro paint bath, then a charge is applied.

 

 

Finite element analysis (FEA)

FEA simulates the behavior of a component under certain conditions. It predicts how the part or system will respond to real-life conditions and situations.

 

 

Friction brake

Friction is applied to the moving parts to convert kinetic energy into thermal energy, resisting motion and slowing and eventually stopping movement. These can also be integrated into sensor systems, such as high-end vehicle hoods.

 

 

 

 

 

Lock washer

A lock washer is also known as a push nut. It slides onto the shaft then locks into place securely with its teeth and has no need for threads. Once fixed, it’s impossible to remove. These are found in a range of applications from the automotive industry to children’s toys.

 

Low-friction bearing

Made from a low-friction material (such as PTFE or PTFE composite) for maintenance-free, low-friction operation.

 

 

Noise Vibration Harshness (NVH)

Noise, vibration and harshness is a measure of the feedback experienced by users from a mechanical machine, system or component. Noise is used to describe unwanted or undesirable sound. Vibration refers to the oscillating, reciprocating, or other motion of a rigid/elastic body or medium forced from a position or state of equilibrium. A more common phrase for harshness is psychoacoustics and considers the human perception to sound based. More information about the NVH considerations for future vehicles can be found in our blog.

 

One-way clutch

A one-way clutch facilitates easier movement in one direction than the other. It’s housed between inner and outer rings, transmitting torque in one direction while preventing it in the other.

 

Plain bearing

Bearings are made from thin-walled metal or composite materials. It’s also known as a sleeve bearing or a bushing.

 

PTFE

PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) is a high-performance engineering plastic that provides low friction, noise-dampening, and maintains constant torque. It’s found in many everyday items under its better-known brand name, Teflon™.

 

PTFE bearing

These bearings are made from a composite material, consisting of low-friction PTFE reinforced by steel or other metals for rigidity. These bearings are typically self-lubricating and maintenance-free.

 

Pulley mount

A pulley is a (grooved) wheel. A ball bearing is located in the centre of the pulley to allow high speed rotational motion (e. g. accessory belt system). The fixation of the pulley on a driving shaft is called a pulley mount.

 

 

 

Retention force

In this context, retention force is the means by which two components are held together. A good example is a tolerance ring, where the spring elements of the tolerance ring provide a secure retention force, which helps to keep all the components in place.

 

 

Running board bearings

Mainly an US light truck application, the running board is a step that helps users reach their high car doors.

 

Seat height adjustment bearing

These bushings are located in the brackets or linkages of a seat structure. They allow for the seat height to be adjusted with low forces while compensating tolerances and misalignment. NORGLIDE^® PTFE Bearings are maintenance-free and provide noise and vibration dampening properties.

 

Seat folding bearing

Seat folding bearings operate using pivot points to fold away unused seats for saving space. This allows more flexible interior designs. NORGLIDE^® Bearings offer high adjustability and stiffness of seat structures and their damping properties eliminate cab noises.

 

Self-lubricated bearing

Bearings either require lubrication using a grease or fluid or are made from a material that is self-lubricating, such as PTFE. As well as being lower-maintenance, self-lubricating bearings attract fewer contaminants.

 

 

 

Sliding armrest bearing

The center console is often used as armrest. When adjusting the seat front-back, the center console will need to be positioned, too. Sliding armrest bearings allow the center console to be shifted in a smooth way; on purpose and not by chance.

 

Sliding plain bearing

A sliding plain bearing is generally designed for slow, low-friction sliding or oscillating movements, and is also known as a sleeve bearing or a bushing.

 

Slip clutch

If a set level of torque is reached, a slip clutch, or slip torque limiter, disconnects the components by slipping, preventing overload and possible damage.

 

 

SPRINGLIDE™ Spring Energised Bearing

The SPRINGLIDE™ Spring Energised Bearing eliminates the need for large clearance and reduces rattles in automotive applications. SPRINGLIDE™ combines the low friction properties of our sliding NORGLIDE^® Bearings with the tolerance compensation capabilities of RENCOL^® Tolerance Rings. The outer surface has corrugated waves that act as springs over a low-friction PTFE lining.

 

 

 

 

Thermoclad

Our RENCOL^® Thermoclad is a bimetallic material that increases thermal transfer rates. The steel core of Thermoclad provides the pressure (plus the mechanical performance of the ring, such as load capability). The softer cladding provides the low-hardness and high-conducting interface at the joint, improving the joint conductance by eliminating microscopic gaps.

 

Throttle body

The throttle body is a tube containing a pivoting valve, and it controls the air that enters the vehicle’s engine. In an electronically fuel-injected car, there is a throttle position sensor that communicates with the computer. In a fuel-injected engine, the throttle body is located between the air filter and the intake manifold, connected to the accelerator. It opens to increase the air flow to the manifold when the driver moves the pedal down.

 

 

Torque

Torque is the force you need to gain rotational movements.

 

Torque control

This is a means of preventing damage to components by setting a maximum torque level. The torque is controlled using a slip or disconnect torque limiter, which disengages the parts from the drive shaft if this level of torque occurs.

 

Torque limitation

The torque limiter is set to a specific level of torque, which if exceeded, causes the torque limiter to disengage the driving shaft from the components being driven. A slip torque limiter disconnects the components by slipping, hence its other name, the slip clutch or the overload clutch. A disconnect limiter works by physically disconnecting the drive.

 

Torque overload

When a set level of torque is reached, the torque limiter slips or disconnects to prevent torque overload. Mechanical overload can cause damage to the driving shaft and the driven parts.

 

Torque slip

The slip torque limiter (slip clutch) disconnects the components by slipping when a specific level of torque is reached, preventing damage.

 

Tribology

Tribology is the science of friction. The term comes from the Greek meaning “rub”, and that’s essentially what we’re studying: the frictional properties of solid surfaces in relative motion. Tribology enables us to better understand the wear processes of materials.