Brexit, for once some facts.

[Kudoscycles]

Lots of letters about HS2 in the Telegraph,most against it.
Chris Grayling say it's not just about speed but the need of more capacity.....I am sure anyone who regularly catches a Euston to Birmingham train cannot fail to notice all the almost empty 1st class carriages,change them to standard class or discount 1st class,instant capacity upgrade with minimal cost.
HS2 is a vanity project,didn't realise that 31 miles will be tunnelled!
KudosDave

 

[oldgroaner]

From the New York Times
"Republican lawmakers have been so alarmed by the size and intensity of the demonstrations — for women’s rights, immigrants and the environment — and by protests around the country before the election, that they have introduced measures in at least 10 states to intimidate free speech by criminalizing it.

While their proponents say the bills and initiatives are needed to protect public safety and ensure civility, these efforts would crush the right of free protest at a time when key American principles and institutions are under attack."

No doubt coming to a Country near you too!

 

[oldgroaner]

If the Government is serious about Brexit, it needs to have British manufacturers and investors pull out of China immediately.
Another item from the New York Times
"
In return for becoming politically acceptable, capitalists and top business managers at private firms would come under the party’s chain of command.

The year before the party started controlling the managerial classes, it had already begun to manipulate how private companies ran their businesses. Starting in 2001, every private-sector firm with at least three C.C.P. members among its employees was required to have a party unit. Much like the party cells in the Red Army decades earlier, party units in companies were expected to “firmly implement the Party’s line, principles and policies,” as the Constitution of the C.C.P. stipulates.

"A foreign firm employs a Chinese senior manager, giving him access to its proprietary technology; he is also a member of the C.C.P. and the firm’s party unit. One day his party superior orders him to transfer a trade secret from the firm to a local rival. In the name of party and country, he can only comply."

 

[Woosh]

is this the first sign of buyers remorse?

http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/8203-one-in-five-people-in-bristol-who-voted-for-brexit-would-not-do-it-again/story-30130469-detail/story.html

Voters change side all the time but there seems to be a trend, as inflation start to bite.

 

[oldtom]

they have introduced measures in at least 10 states to intimidate free speech by criminalizing it.

For those who don't understand the word fascism and what it really means, just read this for a perfect example of how freedoms and rights disappear under extreme right-wing government.

Post #11344 provides an example of how things work under an extreme left-wing government.

Choose neither if you value your freedom. Thanks OG.

Tom

 

[flecc]

If the Government is serious about Brexit, it needs to have British manufacturers and investors pull out of China immediately.
Another item from the New York Times
"
In return for becoming politically acceptable, capitalists and top business managers at private firms would come under the party’s chain of command.

The year before the party started controlling the managerial classes, it had already begun to manipulate how private companies ran their businesses. Starting in 2001, every private-sector firm with at least three C.C.P. members among its employees was required to have a party unit. Much like the party cells in the Red Army decades earlier, party units in companies were expected to “firmly implement the Party’s line, principles and policies,” as the Constitution of the C.C.P. stipulates.

"A foreign firm employs a Chinese senior manager, giving him access to its proprietary technology; he is also a member of the C.C.P. and the firm’s party unit. One day his party superior orders him to transfer a trade secret from the firm to a local rival. In the name of party and country, he can only comply."

This is why General Motors preferred to let SAAB cars collapse and disappear, rather than let the Chinese buy the troubled company from their stable. For some while GM had been using the basis of their older Opel designs (Cavalier/Vectra) in SAAB models, equipping them with current Opel engines. Selling to the Chinese would give them GM engine technology which they weren't prepared to do, and the Chinese refused to buy minus the engine designs.
.

 

[KTM Bike Industries UK]

One for those of you who don't think anyone in the UK was "stupid" enough to fall for the lie about giving the NHS £350m a week.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1733071507002851

It was promised.

(and I know it was only suggested, on the bus, but there was other promition, like this one, which is even clearer.)

Have a watch of the video.

yes there was lies / potential exaggerations on both sides. Which does make a mockery of the entire thing doesn't it?

Clearly no ones won, anything.

 

[oldgroaner]

For those who don't understand the word fascism and what it really means, just read this for a perfect example of how freedoms and rights disappear under extreme right-wing government.

Post #11344 provides an example of how things work under an extreme left-wing government.

Choose neither if you value your freedom. Thanks OG.

Tom

I fear that warning people is actually a waste of time, the pursuit of short term profit makes fools of people who consider themselves astute investors.
Without the funds provide by these "useful idiots" (as the Chinese correctly view them) China would still be a largely agrarian economy, not an artificially created Frankenstein's Monster and World Power that it is today.

And now thanks to Brexit, we are likely to want to have trade agreements and let them build Nuclear Power stations here?
We may as well go the whole hog and teach Mandarin as the primary language in our Schools.

And as for Freedoms disappearing, with the "Snooper's Charter" now law. you can forget Freedom too.

 

[Zlatan]

At moment its looking as though Chinese are going to be first to bring to mass market cam less engines.
Will be another step in search for greater efficiency ( compressing valve springs and or air absorbs lots of energy)
Don't underestimate the Chinese on technology front...They just keep quiet about much of it.. Their production techniques, quality control are equal of ours when needed..their investment potential and single mindedness dwarfs anything in eu..( Visited an outboard firm 5 years ago, their factories, attention to detail, and even quality (when required) is fantastic.
Production wise on anything I don't think anybody anywhere can compete. Its already amazing just how much stuff they are already supplying engine,gearbox,diff etc etc builders throughout world.

On one of our RIBS we had to buy a support frame, sent measurements to China. They replied they didn't need them, already building them for the American firm....

 

[Zlatan]

is this the first sign of buyers remorse?

http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/8203-one-in-five-people-in-bristol-who-voted-for-brexit-would-not-do-it-again/story-30130469-detail/story.html

Voters change side all the time but there seems to be a trend, as inflation start to bite.

I wonder how many didn't want to admit wanting to vote leave for fear of insult ? But either way, I cant see problem with another referendum to clarify situation...perhaps in a years time ???
Don't forget every poll in entire country told us we,d be remaining. People say one thing to pollsters and do another on ballot sheet.

 

[flecc]

At moment its looking as though Chinese are going to be first to bring to mass market cam less engines.

A desmedromic form of such engines without valve springs have been around for decades, as have electronically controlled valve designs.

The all conquering Mercedes SLR series sports and Grand Prix cars of the mid 1950s were all desmedromic engined and Ducati have used desmedromic V twins for decades in their motorcycles.

Companies have moved away from desmedromic designs as they find ways to improve engines with conventional valve spring technology, such as variable valve timing and/or variable lift. These are more flexible so better suited to real world conditions.

Electrical valve operation in production engines hasn't proved worthwhile so far.
.

 

[Woosh]

I wonder how many didn't want to admit wanting to vote leave for fear of insult ?

must be quite a few and true for both sides.
Don't forget that about 4 hundreds constituencies voted to leave, 2 hundreds to remain.
I think we should wait and see - the trend should show up in results of by-elections.
If there is enough swing, then fresh election is the way to go. Different parties will have to tell the electorate how they plan to govern. I don't think there is enough ground for fresh referendum, we'll just repeat the same mistake.

 

[Zlatan]

A desmedromic form of such engines without valve springs have been around for decades, as have electronically controlled valve designs.

The all conquering Mercedes SLR series sports and Grand Prix cars of the mid 1950s were all desmedromic engined and Ducati have used desmedromic V twins for decades in their motorcycles.

Companies have moved away from desmedromic designs as they find ways to improve engines with conventional valve spring technology, such as variable valve timing and/or variable lift. These are more flexible so better suited to real world conditions.

Electrical valve operation in production engines hasn't proved worthwhile so far.
.

You are right with desmo, ducati still use it but essententiallythe valves motion. Is still contolled by an offcentre device rotating, accepted not a cam in general sense. The Chinese. ( with help from Koenisburg I believe) are working on electronically opened and closed. Current valve control ( electro mechanical) activates the opening of the valve but closes under either hydraulic or pneumatic pressure..
Current systems require a storage of one of the two.
As far as I,m aware the Chinese system involves no
energy storage other than electrical to close valves)

Desmodrimic has inherent setting up and wear problems , but you are right is very efficient. We,ll never see it in mainstream tho..( Advocates swear by it for removing any possibility of valve bounce,)
Its a nightmare to set up...

 

[flecc]

The Chinese. ( with help from Koenisburg I believe) are working on electronically opened and closed.

This has been experimented with in various forms by the western car companies but with no worthwhile gains it seems. If there were, these valves would have appeared in F1 race engines at least.

There could be a sales advantage in production cars, since consumers are suckers for new technology!
.

 

[Zlatan]

This has been experimented with in various forms by the western car companies but with no worthwhile gains it seems. If there were, these valves would have appeared in F1 race engines at least.

There could be a sales advantage in production cars, since consumers are suckers for new technology!
.

In a way its already in F1...
The goal is to get totally away from the limitations of the cam for 2 reasons.
Firstly on grounds of efficiency. ( ie bot compressing anything on valve opening)

2) More importantly to get total freedom within one engine to have a vast range if characteristics. Variable valve timing allthough ab improvement still does not offer the range required. For example look at A Suzuki Hayabusa. Extreme duration ( valve open a long time)and very high lift, to give upwards if 150bhp per litre. Stick that engine in ab outboard and it would be useless unless you changed Cam , to give lower BHP/ litre but much better torque mid range. The 2 engines would be different animals. Now imagine being able to offer both engines at one go...superb midrange, fantastic top end. The day we have total control of valve timing ( as in Chinese experiments) is the day such engines will be built. They will be more efficient and or more powerful and cheaper.( cam system is expensive to engineer)
It will come flecc. Its the next step.

VTEC, Vanos, and double Vanos are with us but give only 20% or so the advantages total valve timing/ duration will give...

They have been playing around with rotary valve two strokes trying for same,not really achieved it..( well they,ve got 300bhp/ litre easy enough ) buyt electronic control of poppet valve is future...one day...

Just like electronic ignition and electronic injection moved us on a bit electronic valve control will be next....

Its not if its when...opening and closing valves with offround blocks of iron spinning at 1/2 engine speed is Victorian engineering...It works...but its a compromise.

Electronic control of valves is normal technology in lower revving marine diesels, I think even some Mann engined lorries utilise it...

Would not surprise me in slightest if technology was already developed , waiting to be fed to us. Car idustries sell us just what we want next year, they keep stuff back and slowly introduce it, spreads sales over more years.

 

[oldtom]

And now thanks to Brexit, we are likely to want to have trade agreements and let them build Nuclear Power stations here?

It saddens me that we appear to no longer have the engineering ability to both design and build our own nuclear power stations.

At the start of the 1970s, I was involved in the construction of Dungeness B station which, at that time, was the first of the new, British designed AGR stations. It proved to be very complicated and took forever to complete as changes to plans occurred several times during the build. Nonetheless, it proved its worth by allowing the changes to be incorporated pre-build into the subsequent stations to use that type of reactor.

In effect, Dungeness B was the test-bed for the new design, moving on from Magnox reactors and subsequent builds were achieved much quicker, a couple of stations actually being commissioned into service before Dungeness B.

The scale of the type of engineering project required to construct a nuclear power station from start to finish is simply awesome but in the 1970s, we had some of the best engineering companies in the world and many of those contributed to the construction in one way or another.

It pleases me that just last year, Dungeness B was granted permission to continue electricity production until 2028 so the design and build integrity seems to be standing the test of time. As for all the tradesmen who contributed their skills in that enterprise, I'm afraid they were killed off when Thatcher's government held office for 18 years, never replaced, so we no longer have those skills readily available.

I have this horrible feeling that if our future Nuclear power requirements continue to be placed in the hands of Chinese and French control, they will use the cheapest labour they can find and regardless of whether we are in the EU or not, that labour will almost certainly be from countries elsewhere in Europe and maybe even Asia.

Tom

 

[flecc]

In a way its already in F1...
The goal is to get totally away from the limitations of the cam for 2 reasons.
Firstly on grounds of efficiency. ( ie bot compressing anything on valve opening)

2) More importantly to get total freedom within one engine to have a vast range if characteristics. Variable valve timing allthough ab improvement still does not offer the range required. For example look at A Suzuki Hayabusa. Extreme duation and very high lift, to give upwards if 150bhp per litre. Stick that engine in ab outboard and it would be useless unless you changed Cam , to give lower BHP/ litre but much better torque mid range. The 2 engines would be differbt animals. Now imagine being able to offer both engines at one go...superb midrange, fantastic top end. The day we have total control if valve timing ( as in Chinese experiments) is the day such engines will be built. They will be more efficient and or more powerful and cheaper.( cam system is expensive to engineer)
It will come flecc. Its the next step.

As I said, it's been tried already for many years, so one has to ask why it hasn't arrived in practice. Of course there's no problem with getting the electrical operation timing right, but there is a very big problem with magnetic latency. Magnetic fields take time to die so solenoid progression rates are difficult to control.

It's too late for this technology though, progress and the needs of the market have overtaken it. For polution control reasons we are rapidly shifting to hybrid where the ICE support engines have much less need to operate in flexible modes, especially when they are essentially only charging engines as in the GM designs. There the engine just runs at a constant rate compatible with the generator's maximum efficiency. BMW likewise.

That change in the market and the gradual inroads of fully electric cars means a limited future for valve operating variants of ICE engines.
.

 

[oldgroaner]

In a way its already in F1...
The goal is to get totally away from the limitations of the cam for 2 reasons.
Firstly on grounds of efficiency. ( ie bot compressing anything on valve opening)

2) More importantly to get total freedom within one engine to have a vast range if characteristics. Variable valve timing allthough ab improvement still does not offer the range required. For example look at A Suzuki Hayabusa. Extreme duration ( valve open a long time)and very high lift, to give upwards if 150bhp per litre. Stick that engine in ab outboard and it would be useless unless you changed Cam , to give lower BHP/ litre but much better torque mid range. The 2 engines would be different animals. Now imagine being able to offer both engines at one go...superb midrange, fantastic top end. The day we have total control of valve timing ( as in Chinese experiments) is the day such engines will be built. They will be more efficient and or more powerful and cheaper.( cam system is expensive to engineer)
It will come flecc. Its the next step.

VTEC, Vanos, and double Vanos are with us but give only 20% or so the advantages total valve timing/ duration will give...

They have been playing around with rotary valve two strokes trying for same,not really achieved it..( well they,ve got 300bhp/ litre easy enough ) buyt electronic control of poppet valve is future...one day...

Just like electronic ignition and electronic injection moved us on a bit electronic valve control will be next....

Its not if its when...opening and closing valves with offround blocks of iron spinning at 1/2 engine speed is Victorian engineering...It works...but its a compromise.

Electronic control of valves is normal technology in lower revving marine diesels, I think even some Mann engines lorries utilise it...

1950 Norton Rotary Valve engine, we have been there and done that long a time ago

 

[Zlatan]

As I said, it's been tried already for many years, so one has to ask why it hasn't arrived in practice. Of course there's no problem with getting the electrical operation timing right, but there is a very big problem with magnetic latency. Magnetic fields take time to die so solenoid progression rates are difficult to control.

It's too late for this technology though, progress and the needs of the market have overtaken it. For polution control reasons we are rapidly shifting to hybrid where the ICE support engines have much less need to operate in flexible modes, especially when they are essentially only charging engines as in the GM designs. There the engine just runs at a constant rate compatible with the generator's maximum efficiency. BMW likewise.

That change in the market and the gradual inroads of fully electric cars means a limited future for valve operating variants of ICE engines.
.

I,ll have you a bet on that one flecc...
ICE is here for decades with plenty of improvements coming online.

Problem encountered with e valve control has been reaction time. Un slower revving its fine...

 

[Zlatan]

1950 Norton Rotary Valve engine, we have been there and done that long a time ago

Yep, Ducatti copied it and called it their own. Like I explained earlier tho, still has limitations inherent in cam design..(which its actually a variation of, the crown wheel us the cam)
But I get your drift .