Speed limiter
A speed limiter is an automated, technical device on internal combustion engines or power machines that prevents a further increase in speed when an upper speed limit is reached .
purpose
A speed limitation is provided if there is a risk of mechanical destruction if a critical maximum speed is exceeded, but also if increased wear is to be expected or if optimal operating conditions are maintained.
In vehicle technology, some manufacturers, such as B. Daimler (Mercedes), an additional idle speed limiter is also installed, which additionally limits the engine speed when the vehicle is stationary in order to avoid possible damage to the drive train or engine due to incorrect behavior by the driver (e.g. slipping off the clutch) or deliberate crack starts .
Diesel engines are generally equipped with a speed limiter, since in mechanical injection systems without additional control the amount of fuel injected increases with the engine speed (leakage losses in the injection system decrease). Gasoline engines do not necessarily require a speed limitation in all cases, since the intake and flow losses have a throttling effect at high speeds.
execution
With gasoline engines , both the ignition and the fuel supply can be interrupted. The ignition was previously interrupted by a centrifugal switch in the distributor , which in today's vehicles would inevitably lead to damage to the catalytic converter . Speed limiters are now integrated into the electronic engine controls of internal combustion engines. Today the amount of fuel is consistently being reduced, also in diesel engines and gas turbines .
Special applications
Speed limiter
In principle, a speed limiter can also be used to limit any speed. For this purpose, the engine speed combined with a specific gear can be converted into a speed and the fuel supply can be throttled again when a target value is reached.
Thus, for example, fast passenger cars can be limited to a (reasonable) speed, trucks to a permissible maximum speed or any vehicles to a particularly economical top speed.
Removal of speed limiters
Tuning companies that shut down the speed limiter put an electronic module in the signal line. This plays to the control that there is a speed below the target size. It is then still possible to “accelerate”. Massive dangers here are overloading the drive train from the engine, transmission to the wheels and, above all, the insufficient maximum permissible maximum speed of the tires. Furthermore, the general operating license and insurance cover expire .
literature
- Max Bohner, Richard Fischer, Rolf Gscheidle: Expertise in automotive technology. 27th edition, Verlag Europa-Lehrmittel, Haan-Gruiten, 2001, ISBN 3-8085-2067-1
- Kurt-Jürgen Berger, Michael Braunheim, Eckhard Brennecke: Technology automotive engineering. 1st edition, Verlag Gehlen, Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, 2000, ISBN 3-441-92250-6
