Tachometer - Revision history

Red marquis at 07:37, 9 June 2009

2009-06-09T07:37:47Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:37, 9 June 2009
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	[[Image:Techometer-1.jpg\|thumb\|200px\|Tachometer showing engine [[revolutions per minute]], and a [[redline]] near 5800 RPM]]		[[Image:Techometer-1.jpg\|thumb\|200px\|Tachometer showing engine revolutions per minute, and a redline near 5800 RPM]]

	A '''tachometer''' is a device used for measuring the speed of a moving body or substance (''from Greek: tachos = speed, metron = measure''). The most common form of the tachometer is one that measures the ''speed'' of a rotating shaft, as in an [[engine]] or other [[machine]]. The readout is traditionally in the form of an [[analog ~~(signal)\|analog]]~~ dial, but [[digital]] displays are increasingly common.		A '''tachometer''' is a device used for measuring the speed of a moving body or substance (''from Greek: tachos = speed, metron = measure''). The most common form of the tachometer is one that measures the ''speed'' of a rotating shaft, as in an [[engine]] or other machine. The readout is traditionally in the form of an analog dial, but digital displays are increasingly common.

	== History ==		== History ==

	The first, mechanical, tachometers were based on measuring the [[centrifugal force]]. The German engineer [[Dietrich Uhlhorn]] is assumed to be the inventor, he used it for measuring the speed of machines in 1817. Since 1840 it was used to measure the speed of ~~[[locomotive]]s~~.		The first, mechanical, tachometers were based on measuring the centrifugal force. The German engineer Dietrich Uhlhorn is assumed to be the inventor, he used it for measuring the speed of machines in 1817. Since 1840 it was used to measure the speed of locomotives.

	==Automotive==		==Automotive==
	[[Automobile\|Automotive]] tachometers show the rate of rotation of the engine's [[crankshaft]] by measuring the spark rate of the [[ignition system]], typically in [[revolutions per minute]] (RPMs). This can assist the driver in selecting the most appropriate throttle and gear settings (more applicable to [[manual transmission]]s than automatics) that the driving conditions call for; or, perhaps more frequently, allow automotive enthusiasts to admire how fast they are "revving" the engine.		[[Automobile\|Automotive]] tachometers show the rate of rotation of the engine's [[crankshaft]] by measuring the spark rate of the [[ignition system]], typically in revolutions per minute (RPMs). This can assist the driver in selecting the most appropriate throttle and gear settings (more applicable to [[manual transmission]]s than automatics) that the driving conditions call for; or, perhaps more frequently, allow automotive enthusiasts to admire how fast they are "revving" the engine.

	Tachometers fitted to cars, [[aircraft]], and other vehicles typically have markings indicating a safe range of speeds at which the engine may be operated. Prolonged use at high speeds may cause excessive wear and other damage to engines. On an analog tachometer this maximum speed is typically indicated by an area of the gauge marked in red, giving rise to the expression of "[[redline\|redlining]]" an engine - i.e. running it at (dangerously) high speed.		Tachometers fitted to cars, aircraft, and other vehicles typically have markings indicating a safe range of speeds at which the engine may be operated. Prolonged use at high speeds may cause excessive wear and other damage to engines. On an analog tachometer this maximum speed is typically indicated by an area of the gauge marked in red, giving rise to the expression of "[[redline\|redlining]]" an engine - i.e. running it at (dangerously) high speed.


	[[Category:Technology]]		[[Category:Technology]]

MQuan at 20:02, 20 November 2006

2006-11-20T20:02:25Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:02, 20 November 2006
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	[[Category:~~Automotive technologies]]~~		[[Category:Technology]]
	~~[[Category:Auto parts~~]]

Carguy at 18:38, 30 June 2006

2006-06-30T18:38:44Z

New page

[[Image:Techometer-1.jpg|thumb|200px|Tachometer showing engine [[revolutions per minute]], and a [[redline]] near 5800 RPM]]

A '''tachometer''' is a device used for measuring the speed of a moving body or substance (''from Greek: tachos = speed, metron = measure''). The most common form of the tachometer is one that measures the ''speed'' of a rotating shaft, as in an [[engine]] or other [[machine]]. The readout is traditionally in the form of an [[analog (signal)|analog]] dial, but [[digital]] displays are increasingly common.

== History ==

The first, mechanical, tachometers were based on measuring the [[centrifugal force]]. The German engineer [[Dietrich Uhlhorn]] is assumed to be the inventor, he used it for measuring the speed of machines in 1817. Since 1840 it was used to measure the speed of [[locomotive]]s.

==Automotive==
[[Automobile|Automotive]] tachometers show the rate of rotation of the engine's [[crankshaft]] by measuring the spark rate of the [[ignition system]], typically in [[revolutions per minute]] (RPMs). This can assist the driver in selecting the most appropriate throttle and gear settings (more applicable to [[manual transmission]]s than automatics) that the driving conditions call for; or, perhaps more frequently, allow automotive enthusiasts to admire how fast they are "revving" the engine.

Tachometers fitted to cars, [[aircraft]], and other vehicles typically have markings indicating a safe range of speeds at which the engine may be operated. Prolonged use at high speeds may cause excessive wear and other damage to engines. On an analog tachometer this maximum speed is typically indicated by an area of the gauge marked in red, giving rise to the expression of "[[redline|redlining]]" an engine - i.e. running it at (dangerously) high speed.

[[Category:Automotive technologies]]
[[Category:Auto parts]]