Search results

AN attempt has been made to include most of the major aspects of the subject and to provide material for discussion by both maker and user of flexible pipe assemblies. Such an assembly is a complete unit consisting of both hose and end couplings for conveying liquids and gases between component parts of an airframe or engine under widely varying conditions.

High‐pressure steel‐cored hose for hydraulic, oil and petrol systems on aeroplanes has recently become available in this country from a number of different firms. By “high‐pressure” hose is meant flexible piping capable of withstanding proof pressures of 10,000–20,000 lb./sq. in., as compared with cotton‐braided hose suitable for proof pressures of 3,000–4,000 lb./sq. in.

A technique has been developed at IPA Stuttgart which allows automated assembly of elastomer and thermoplastic hoses. The development work includes both experimental and theoretical investigations.

THE introduction into both civil and military service of high‐speed, high‐altitude, turbojet‐powered aircraft has posed some particularly formidable problems for the manufacturers of aircraft equipment. As the operational performance of aircraft has increased so too have the demands placed upon the systems. In particular, hydraulic systems must be capable of operating at higher temperatures and pressures using advanced hydraulic fluids and as a result conventional rubber hose assemblies have been developed to the limit of their operational capabilities. Recognition of the limitations of this conventional hose led the engineers of Palmer Aero Products Ltd.—the Hydraulics Section of the Engineering Products Division of BTR Industries Ltd.— to seek an alternative hose lining and construction that would substantially extend the reliability and life of hose assemblies under modern service conditions.

The purpose of this paper is to design the whole structure of high-speed automatic casing system (HSACS) for lithium-ion battery (LIB), and verify its rationality and reliability by kinematic simulation and casing test.

Based on the software of SolidWorks and ADAMS, the structure of working mechanisms for HSACS was designed, and virtual prototype models of HSACS and main turntable were established to realize the kinematic analysis. The HSACS casing test was also carried out and compared with simulation.

Simulation results for the designed HSACS were presented graphically and analyzed. The graphical results indicate that the coordination motions among the working mechanisms of HSACS are reasonable and no interference occurs. Casing test results show that the casing quality and production efficiency of HSACS equipment are satisfying.

In the present work, the developed virtual prototype models of HSACS provide reliable kinematic analysis results for the structural design of HSACS, and reasonable motion relations are realized in the designed structure of HSACS. Furthermore, not only the casing quality requirements can be met, but also the production efficiency of high-speed automatic casing machine for LIB is greatly improved via this kind of new HSACS structure.

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) play an important role in modern economies because of their flexibility and ability to innovate. In nearly every country, SMEs play a significant role in providing employment opportunities and supporting large scale manufacturing firms. However, there are not many studies reported in the literature that deal with productivity problems in SMEs. Considering the importance of SMEs, the experiences of a small company engaged in continuous improvement and a related conceptual model are discussed here to highlight how productivity can be improved with limited resources. The case study presented in this paper was conducted at Valeo; a French company located in England that produces wiper systems for the automotive industry in the UK. The wiper systems include containers, pumps, jets and hoses. Valeo produces a wide variety of low volume parts for various customers in a job shop environment. The objective of the project was to improve productivity in two cells of the company, namely the Honda/Rover cell and the headlamp cleaning cell. Next, the aim was to identify potential areas for cost savings resulting from productivity gains. Finally, implementation issues associated with productivity improvement strategies in a small company are discussed.

Gives an elaboration of the systematic design approach on a practical level, i.e. the redsign of a fire hose reel. Describes the redsign process from the problem definition phase to the detail design phase. Looks at methods and techniques used during the design process and presents the design results of every phase from design specification to the relevant details of the new design. These design result have been used in the frequent communication between the client and the external engineering bureau Stevens & Van Vreeland. Gives special attention to the DFA‐method because assembly is a very important aspect (cost saving) for this product. Analyses and compares the old and new product using DFA. The advantages were to show explicitly (in terms of costs and assembly time) the obtained improvements, to optimize details in the new design and to invent some efficient assembly methods and tools. Finally shows the achievement of a reduction of assembly costs of approximately 50 percent.

This paper aims to propose an approach to broaden the focus of a low-fidelity prototype (i.e. mock-up) to enable user experimentation in a real environment at the early stages of the product development process. The functionality approaching a real solution enables customers to experience the key functionality, and therefore, the perceived customer value of the new product idea before major investments in the development.

The study is based on an interventionist case study in a manufacturing company. The researchers were involved in the development of two new products and analysing the potential process and cost implications.

Mock-ups enable the preliminary measurement of cost and value implications of a new product at the early stages of the development process. This holds significant potential for advancing development practices and reducing the uncertainties present in such processes. Thus, the business case at the early stage of the development process can be argued with “user-experienced” cost information and, therefore, also “perceived” customer value.

The use of mock-ups to gain customer feedback is well aligned with the fail-fast mentality emphasised in the contemporary start-up scene, but this study also encourages developers/practitioners from mature industries to use mock-ups to assess perceived customer value.

The originality of the paper lies in broadening the focus of mock-ups to enable user experimentation in a real environment at the early stages of the development process.

WHETHER it delivers lubricant to working surfaces or conveys a column of fluid transmitting mechanical thrust, a flexible hose unit becomes a potential weak link if its performance falls short in any way of that of the remainder of the installation of which it is an integral part. A weak oil seal not up to its job impairs the fluid conductor systems. That much might seem obvious but, with increasing application of hydraulics in industry, and with heat and pressure conditions far more severe now than a couple of decades ago, new standards of reliability in fluid conductors and seals have become mandatory.

The priority of this study is to contribute to the literature by examining herding behavior at different periods of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, this study aims to investigate the herding behavior conditioned on market liquidity and information demand.

This study investigates herding behavior in Vietnam's stock exchanges (Ha Noi Stock Exchange and Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange) on a sample of daily stock closing prices of 425 firms from 2018 to the first half of 2022.

The research confirms the existence of herding behavior not only for the whole but also during and post-COVID periods. These results are robust in both bull and bear markets, further confirming the influence of COVID-19 on herding in Vietnamese background. Moreover, when the authors condition exogenous factors for each period, the herding tendency is more evident at the medium market liquidity level than at high and low levels. Besides, the pandemic causes herding behavior of investors with low and medium information demand.

These findings imply some recommendations that facilitate investors, policymakers and researchers in the context of the COVID-19 crisis.

The study contributes to the herding literature by examining herd behavior during the post-COVID period, suggesting the long-term impact of the health crisis. Furthermore, the research provides new evidence of herding behavior conditioned on market liquidity and information demand during different COVID sub-periods.