IndustrialDictionary

Terms starting with K

52 terms.

K-factor

The bending capacity of sheet metal, as calculated using a formula.

K-swap

A car where the engine has been replaced by a Honda K-series internal combustion gasoline engine.

KD

Initialism of knockdown (“collection of parts to assemble a product”).

keel

A broad, flat vessel used for cooling liquids; a brewer's cooling vat; a keelfat.

keepalive

A short message sent by one device to another to check that the link between the two is operating, or to prevent this link from being broken due to inactivity.

KERS

Acronym of kinetic energy recovery system, an electric generation, storage, and propulsion system used in Formula One, which generates electricity during slow down, stores energy in batteries, and boosts acceleration with electric drive motors assisting the gasoline engine.

key

An object designed to fit between two other objects (such as a shaft and a wheel) in a mechanism and maintain their relative orientation.

keybounce

Multiple recorded keystrokes from a single press of a key on a computer keyboard due to poor electrical contact.

keyhole

A hole or excavation in beams intended to be joined together, to receive the key that fastens them.

kick wheel

A wheel or disc used to throw pots, turned by kicking or pushing a heavy stone or concrete base with the foot.

kickdown

In a vehicle with automatic transmission, a downshift triggered by pressing down the throttle pedal.

kicker

A device that periodically displaces a newspaper from the print production line, to aid in gathering the newspapers into fixed-size bundles.

kidnapped robot problem

The situation where an autonomous robot is carried somewhere and as a result has trouble determining its own location.

kinematic envelope

The outline of the space occupied by a rail vehicle when in motion, including the effects of tilt, sway, track cant, etc.

kinetics

The branch of mechanics concerned with motion of objects, as well as the reason i.e. the forces acting on such bodies. This, along with kinematics constitute dynamics, which is concerned purely with the effects of forces on moving bodies.

Kirkendall effect

The motion of the interface between two metals that occurs due to the difference in diffusion rates of the metal atoms.

kitting

The process of assembling or bundling various related goods for sale to increase revenue.

kludge

An improvised device, typically crudely constructed to test the validity of a principle before implementing a finished design.

knee

A piece of timber or metal formed with an angle somewhat in the shape of the human knee when bent.

kneecap

A metal cover trim that fits over a panel rib after it has been cut and bent.

kneepiece

An angular piece of timber strengthening a joint where two roof timbers meet.

knife pleat

A type of sharply pressed pleating, especially in a skirt or kilt, in which all of the folds are turned in one direction, with each pleat being three layers of fabric thick.

knife-edge

A small piece of metal, usually steel, sharpened to an acute edge or angle, and resting on a smooth surface, serving as the fulcrum of a pendulum, scalebeam, or other piece required to oscillate with minimal friction.

knit cap

A soft, head-hugging cap usually without a specified front or back, barring those with designs or logos

knobble

To produce wrought iron by treating (semirefined puddled iron) on a hearth before shingling.

knuckle

A convex portion of a vessel's figure where a sudden change of shape occurs, as in a canal boat, where a nearly vertical side joins a nearly flat bottom.

kräusen

To condition (beer) by adding fermenting wort, so as to restart fermentation and introduce fresh carbon dioxide.