Search the Community

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a38036111/ford-patent-exhaust-tips-retractable/ "Retractable Exhaust Tips Star in New Ford Patent The point of the 'exhaust tip retract module,' or ETRM, is to protect it during off-road driving. Don't worry, the "where's the problem, we have a solution" squad over at Ford has been busy, apparently, with figuring out a way to make your truck's exhaust tips disappear. Well, at least retract back into the safety of the rear of the truck when you're going off-roading, for example, in order to allow for better departure angles. The idea is called ETRM, for "exhaust tip retract module," and it appears in an application Ford filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.. It's nuts what some people will hang off of their truck's rear bumper. A new Ford patent shows that strange ideas can be a part of the entire back end of a truck. Say hello to the retractable exhaust tailpipe. While this kind of chrome turtle head has elicited its share of ridicule online, it's not like having an exhaust tip that doesn't stick out as far is a worthless idea. Especially when installed on a truck that is going to see some off-road time, thinking about departure angles is a worthwhile experience. Ford's patent even says a system like this "reduces a probability of vehicle tailpipes contacting a ground surface in an off-road condition." Ford calls this invention the "exhaust tip retract module," or ETRM. The idea here, as Ford takes great pains to point out in its patent application, which was published earlier in October, is not just to extend the tailpipe, but to retract it to protect it. The ETRM "enables the exhaust tips to be retracted a certain length when in an off-road mode in order to take the exhaust tips out of the way and changing the limiting component to be a rear bumper instead of the tips," the application reads, after talking about two other, similar patents for retractable exhaust tips that didn't solve the off-road problem. Ford really thinks it's solving a problem here. What are the benefits of a tailpipe that moves instead of just building the exhaust system so that the tips don't stick out in the first place? you might ask. The obvious answer is that Ford knows how worried some truck drivers are about how they might appear to the outside world if their exhaust tips don't poke out. Or, in Ford's words, "the application of this system does not interfere with the looks, styling, or aesthetics of a vehicle." Ford's ETRM patent was filed in both the U.S. and Europe, according to CarBuzz, which first surfaced the application, so if Ford ever wants to build a real-world ETRM, it might do so on both markets. It is worth noting, though, that a lot of European cars have faux tailpipes due to insurance policies. If the actual tailpipes are too close to the rear bumper, a small rear-end accident can cost more if the exhaust system gets damaged."

This young Singapore boy do us proud in US invention Convention 2019! [THUMBSUP] Award Name Invention Country Kindergarden: 1st Place Charles Smith Benge Beacon United States Kindergarden: 2nd Place Chua Howe Run Night Patch Singapore http://inventionconvention.org/blog/2019/06/05/2019-invention-convention-u-s-nationals-award-winner/ https://www.zaobao.com.sg/zvideos/news/story20190721-974305?fbclid=IwAR18cTlrn02OBUKrlYW8SrFEHECflT1_sP0tdv3hSvos_UchCw3P3zVn9vc

just like table tennis and swimming

Austrian artist Klemens Torggler has reinvented the door with his latest project. Called the Evolution Door (which we first spotted on the blog Colossal), the 4-panel door opens and closes elegantly as though it’s made of pieces of paper. Roggler calls it a “flip panel door” (or “Dryehplattentür”). Torggler has a few variations on this door, one with the origami-esque triangles that fold out to help the door move, and another system with rods that rotate two square panels. Currently the door is a prototype, and comes in a glass, steel, and wood version. Watch the triangle version in action below: And here’s the steel door with rod system:

[extract] For those who drive, they are aware of a car's blind spots, and if you ride a motorcycle, you would know that being or passing through that blind spot could be scary at times. A motorcyclist would not know if the other motorist is aware of his or her presence. The side mirrors on our car, including the rear view mirror, does not offer much view in terms of blind spot areas and we often have to check for any passing motorists before we make a turn or switch to another lane. A university professor in the United States has found a solution to this problem with an invention of a mirror that literally eliminates the blind spot in a driver

Saw it today on Inventions, shown on Channelnews Asia. They did a 15 min feature from how the owner was thinking of improving his car wash without hassle and wastage of water. Visit http://www.carwash.com.sg/. Looks pretty interesting. I may get it. $70 only. Any thoughts?

Driving is easy, or as what I used to think. Mine is a manual licence but have driven an autocar since after. Thought manual car driving can't be any much different as well. Took my friend's manual vehicle yesterday and realise what a noob I am! Normal road was better but when on a steep slope and I have absolute no way of getting the car to move, the engine just keeps stalling even what I employ the stuff I have learnt on manual car many years ago. Engine stalled 2 times and I decided that manual car is just not for me. Afterthoughts on this is 1. Auto gearbox is really an amazing invention 2. I respect all manual vehicles driver - taxi uncles, lorry and pickup drivers included 3. I will be nice to all vans in future

i wonder y the ERP is only turned off between 10am to 12pm..... (in bugis city area) i understand during morning n evening peak hrs, ERP is on........ but between 12pm to 5pm oso on?? i dun see any difference in the number of vehicles during the 10am-12pm period and the 12pm-5pm period... my work involves driving ard in city area n i got zapped by erp so many times even though the traffic is not heavy from 12pm to 5pm... some erps even operate on sat..... there r so few cars n yet they turn on the erp... for what??? Well LTA can say "its due to the erp thats y cars on tat road is so few.".... i can say that even if they turn off the erp, the cars will remain few cos some roads are not heavily used..... ERPs on roads with few cars - plain stupid.... ERPs on roads with alot of cars - even more stupid cos we pay ERP n the road is stil jammed....

BY TEH ENG HOCK While most people mope and whine about the hike in fuel prices, lecturer Fauzi Zakaria, 37, was inspired to innovate an engine component cleaner which uses sand instead of diesel. Together with his Pusat Giat Mara Bachok colleague Alias Endut, 56, and students Mohd Ayub Jaafar, 20, Mohd Syuwari Mohd Salleh, 19, and Mohd Khaidir Mohd Asri, 19, their innovation won the best overall award at the sixth Mara Invention and Innovation competition held recently at Insitut Kemahiran Mara, Johor Baru.

Do you gurus think this might work or if you have some added value or suggestion. A self contained portable air-tank filled with compressed air to create a pressure on a body of water inside a pail, pushing the water out at a adjustable pressure for washing the car. The self-contained air-tank should last something like 15~25 minutes, refillable at any petrol kiosk; insert the compressed air hose at the kiosk into the portable airtank until full, then put into the boot and drive off. At the car washing point, place and secure the air tank onto the pail of water; release the compressed air. Aim the water hose at the car and wash away the soap studs and all. Advantage: one time fixed cost for the equipments, each time you filled the pail with water is $0.20. Filled the airtank@petrol kiosk = $0.00 + time.