TERMIUM Plus®

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IDLE RUNNING [4 records]

Record 1 2015-01-15

English

Subject field(s)
  • Control Instrumentation (Mechanical Components)
  • Traction (Rail)
  • Diesel Motors
CONT

Once a diesel engine is running, the engine speed is monitored and controlled through a governor. The governor ensures that the engine speed stays high enough to idle at the right speed and that the engine speed will not rise too high when full power is demanded. The governor is a simple mechanical device which first appeared on steam engines.... The governor consists of a rotating shaft, which is driven by the diesel engine. A pair of flyweights are linked to the shaft and they rotate as it rotates. The centrifugal force caused by the rotation causes the weights to be thrown outwards as the speed of the shaft rises. If the speed falls the weights move inwards. The flyweights are linked to a collar fitted around the shaft by a pair of arms. As the weights move out, so the collar rises on the shaft. If the weights move inwards, the collar moves down the shaft. The movement of the collar is used to operate the fuel rack lever controlling the amount of fuel supplied to the engine by the injectors.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Dispositifs de commande (Composants mécaniques)
  • Traction (Chemins de fer)
  • Moteurs diesel

Spanish

Save record 1

Record 2 2011-03-22

English

Subject field(s)
  • Engines (Motor Vehicles)
OBS

idling: term recommended by the Terminology Committee and standardized by the Validation Committee of the Sustainable Mobility Glossary.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Moteur (Véhicules automobiles)
OBS

marche au ralenti : terme recommandé par le Comité de terminologie et normalisé par le Comité de validation du Lexique de la mobilité durable.

Spanish

Save record 2

Record 3 2010-05-21

English

Subject field(s)
  • Motor Vehicles and Bicycles
DEF

To run with a closed throttle at a speed dictated by that of the vehicle it drives, as on a decline.

OBS

Trailing throttle defined as : engine condition when, with the accelerator pedal released, engine speed is above idle and being driven by the car's momentum, eg when running downhill in gear.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Véhicules automobiles et bicyclettes
DEF

Fait de laisser rouler un véhicule automobile sur sa lancée en relevant le pied de l'accélérateur.

CONT

Des sifflements superflus se font [...] entendre surtout à la retenue.

Spanish

Save record 3

Record 4 1981-12-23

English

Subject field(s)
  • Servicing and Maintenance (Motor Vehicles and Bicycles)
  • Engines (Motor Vehicles)
OBS

Rough idle is a sign that the engine isn’t running(...) efficiently(...) One dead cylinder in a four-cylinder engine, for example, causes rough idle and wastes 25 percent of your gas.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Entretien et réparation (Véhicules automobiles et bicyclettes)
  • Moteur (Véhicules automobiles)

Spanish

Save record 4

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