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Predictable and unpredictable forces will change the direction of the charge-air systems industry. The driver of diesel engine development will be the stringent emissions regulations of the 1990s. The drivers in the gasoline engine market will be improved fuel economy, performance, durability and emissions. Forces will also influence the charge-air marketplace, including changes in emission standards, national fiscal policies, political issues, fuel prices, alternate fuels and consumer tastes. The world community mandate for engines that are clean, quiet, durable and fuel efficient will be satisfied, increasingly, by first-tier component suppliers developing integrated systems solutions.

Synthesizing different customer and functional requirements into an acceptable design configuration within a given space constraints is a challenging task for design engineers. The principles for designing efficiency, noise levels, maneuverability, safety, durability, etc. into the product are well understood. However, designing for reliability, maintainability and quality turns out to be a long-drawn laborious process due to unavailability of simplified design procedures. The author in this paper develops the understanding of reliability, maintainability and quality design principles and methods for products, with specific reference to vehicle designs.

Many areas of the world are in various stages of development which frequently includes a rapid increase in the motor vehicle population. As a result, some areas are beginning to show the effect of increased motor vehicle use on air pollution. The vehicle's contribution to California's air pollution has long been recognized and studied, and measures have been implemented to reduce emissions from motor vehicles. The history of light duty vehicle emission control in the South Coast Air Basin of California is reviewed. Emission reductions achieved, current levels, projected future emissions and the need for further emissions reductions from light duty vehicles are discussed. For other areas of the world where motor vehicles contribute to air pollution, suggestions are made which can improve the effectiveness of emission control efforts; which should be consistent with political and economic realities, and efforts to achieve international harmonization of standards.

An all-ceramic swirl chamber has been developed and analyses and evaluations concerning the strength of silicon nitride ceramic (Si3N4) have been performed with a view to using it for the entire internal wall surface of the swirl chamber. The strength characteristics of Si3N4 and their effect and variation have been determined. On the basis of measurements and analyses of thermal stresses, assembling stresses, etc., investigation of the most suitable construction and assembling methods to reduce load stresses on ceramic, and various kinds of duration tests, the swirl chamber has been confirmed to have the required durability. This engine was found to comply with the 1987 U.S. diesel particulate regulation.