New Citroen C3 Features Lightweight Seat Structure

A lightweight seat structure from JSP offering a 2.2kg reduction in weight and increased levels of 'perceived quality' has been launched in Citroen's new C3. Engineers replaced the heavy and costly steel structure with JSP's Arpro, a strong, light and recyclable material. Material properties such as deformation resilience and moulding accuracy enabled Citroen to achieve improved alignment with visual design features such as leather stitching.

Paul Compton, JSP's president and chief executive officer in Europe, said: 'The objective was to create a lighter seat that could achieve excellent crash-test results. 'In prototype form, Arpro reacts in the same way as mass-produced components. 'This allowed us to create applicable parts quickly and without tooling. 'For a very small investment and within a short timeframe, we were able to validate and prove the concept in a real crash test.

'This gave the programme engineers the confidence to back the project for mass production,' he added. Arpro is strong and resilient enough to replace the metal anti-submarining ramp, which is there to help retain rear-seat passengers in their seats in the event of a vehicle collision, contributing to a simpler and lighter vehicle structure. Compared to the previous-generation C3 rear seat, switching to Arpro provided Citroen with a metal weight reduction of 1.79kg.

The balance of the saving is achieved through lower polyurethane content and a simpler fastening system; the latter serves to lower the assembly cost. Perceived quality has also been improved with the new seat design. This latest project follows on from other seating projects with Volvo and Daimler and applications for other global original equipment manufacturers such as interior trim, sun visors and impact protection products.

JSP recently completed a study to highlight the environmental benefits of using lightweight seating cores. The results of calculating a comparative CO2 (global-warming potential) figure for the production of an Arpro seat core show that Arpro delivers an environmental benefit 12 times that of its impact. Assuming a vehicle lifetime of 100,000km, Arpro can enable a reduction in CO2 of 2.65g/km.

IA System Measures Multiple Structure Movement

Inertial Aerosystems (IA) has introduced a solution to monitoring and measuring movement of multiple structures and machinery. The system consists of a portable tiltmeter (Model 800P) and a hand-held, battery-powered readout module. The 800P has no moving parts, so needs no maintenance and virtually no calibration. When continuous monitoring is not required, the 800P can be used to make scheduled measurements at an unlimited number of points.

Applications include the long-term movement of structures, foundations and machinery, measuring mechanical response to applied loads, as well as surface levels. Angular position measured with the 800P is referenced to the unchanging vertical gravity vector. The system can operate primarily in two modes; the first is the Tilt Plate Option, where measurements are taken from tilt plates that have been attached to any horizontal or vertical surface. The second mode is the Metrology Option, where the instrument can be manually leveled, enabling the continuous monitoring of any horizontal or vertical surface. Software is available to convert a set of inclination measurements into a contour map of surface relief.

The tiltmeter has an angular range of + or - 5deg from null position with linearity of one per cent of full scale and a resolution of .36 arc/sec. Operating temperature range is -25 to 70C. Measuring 143 x 102 x 127mm, it weighs 2.7kg and is constructed from stainless steel with plastic sensor housing. The readout module powers the tiltmeter and switches the tiltmeter output to the digital display. It measures 111 x 62 x 32mm and weighs 285g. A single 9V battery provides up to 24hrs of continuos tiltmeter operation. This system can be used for surveying surface flatness, settlement, retaining walls, bridges, columns, roofs, tunnels, tanks and machinery.

Bearings Cut Stress On Ship Structure

Bearings from Trelleborg Bakker improve FPSO manoeuvreability and safety. One of company's most complex projects was the supply of 42 specially designed bearings for the Sea Rose. Constructed of steel and rubber, these compensated for the flexing of the hull, lowering the stresses on the ship's structure.

As floating production storage offloading (FPSO) vessels travel further offshore to extract oil and gas, the demands on them become greater. They need to house more large pieces of machinery such as compressors and pumps. Weighing considerable amounts, these can create significant stresses on the vessel, affecting manoeuvreability and safety.

This effect is intensified by the potential severe weather conditions of deeper waters, with increased forces from waves and wind. Another complication is that the tonnage of the ship constantly changes as oil is pumped in and then offloaded to tankers. Trelleborg Bakker, an operating unit of Trelleborg Engineered Systems, has worked with leading FPSO fabricators and operators since the inception of these floating rigs.

Machinery fitted to FPSOs is commonly installed on Trelleborg Bakker bearings. These, constructed of steel and rubber, compensate for the flexing of the hull, lowering the stresses on the ship's structure. One of Trelleborg Bakker's most complex projects was the fitment of the Sea Rose. This required the installation of 42 bearings in three special designs. Each of them over 2m high and the heaviest weighing close to 10 tons, they can withstand exceptional load vertically up to 10,000kN and horizontally up to 3500kN. They are also capable of compensating for distortions up to 75mm. The Trelleborg Bakker bearings fitted on the Sea Rose are proving successful in her assignment extracting oil off the coast of Newfoundland in Canada. Technology developed for this project and others globally, allows Trelleborg Bakker to offer cost-effective bearing solutions for frames a secondO vessels worldwide.