Carbon-fiber composite adds power to auto manifold.The first auto intake manifold Noun 1. intake manifold - a manifold consisting of a pipe to carry fuel to each cylinder in an internal-combustion engine fuel system - equipment in a motor vehicle or aircraft that delivers fuel to the engine molded of continuous carbon-fiber and thermoplastic A polymer material that turns to liquid when heated and becomes solid when cooled. There are more than 40 types of thermoplastics, including acrylic, polypropylene, polycarbonate and polyethylene. provides more horsepower and 75% lower weight than metal aftermarket Aftermarket See: Secondary market. aftermarket See secondary market. manifolds. Produced by Diaphorm Technologies, LLC (Logical Link Control) See "LANs" under data link protocol. LLC - Logical Link Control , Salem, N.H., the new FiberTuned manifold is aimed at the "tuner" market for enhanced-performance auto customization. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Diaphorm president Robert M. Miller, it offers high strength with very low weight, plus the "carbon-fiber look" prized by this market. The first FiberTuned manifold is designed for the Honda H22 engine. With bonded aluminum plates and ports, it weighs only 4.5 lb, or 11 lb less than a metal manifold. Its larger internal volume and improved air flow provide a 13-hp increase over metal aftermarket manifolds. Its wall thickness of just 0.080 in. withstands internal pressures up to 60 psi. The manifold is molded in two pieces that are adhesively bonded. (The parting line is just above the logo in the photo.) The material is a fabric of 60% stretch-broken carbon-fiber tows co-woven with 40% nylon 12 fiber. It is produced by Schappe Schap´pe n. 1. A silk yarn or fabric made out of carded spun silk. Techniques in Charnoz, France. The manifold is hot-press molded at low pressure in matched aluminum tooling using an internal-pressure-generating mechanism, which includes an inflatable bladder. The fabric is not preheated prior to lay-up in the press, but heat from the tool causes the nylon fibers to melt and wet out the carbon tows. Overall cycle time is under 30 min. The tools accept interchangeable parts interchangeable parts Identical components that can substitute one for another, particularly important in manufacturing. Mass production, which transformed the organization of work, came about by the development of the machine-tool industry by a series of 19th-century for quick, inexpensive modification to mold different manifold models. The manifold reportedly involves more complex shapes than have been seen before in continuous-fiber thermoplastic composites, and is formed without cutting or darting the fabric. "Heretofore, you could find such intricate shapes only in custom hand lay-ups," says Miller. Diaphorm: (603) 893-0992/www.diaphorm.com * Schappe: +33 474 46 3100/www.schappe.com [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] |
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