regional converter
A tool used to convert the voltage from one region's standard to another.
Industrial supplies, equipment, and components
401 entries in this trade.
relay room
A room in a railway signalling installation where relays for operating signals and points or switches are housed.
remote keyless entry
The remote control device used for this purpose.
resettable fuse
A passive electronic component used to protect against overcurrent faults in circuits.
residual-current device
An automatic circuit breaker that rapidly disconnects an electric circuit when the imbalance of the currents going through it exceeds a specific value.
reverse link
In radio communications, the link from a mobile user to a fixed base station. If the link includes a communications relay satellite, the reverse link will consist of both an uplink (mobile station to satellite) and a downlink (satellite to base station).
ripper
A tool or plant used to reduce soil compaction.
rocker switch
An electromechanical device used to control electrical circuits by rocking or pivoting a hinged actuator around a central axis to connect or disconnect contacts.
Rollbock
A bogie used to carry a railway carriage on a line of different gauge to the one it was built for, usually a narrower gauge.
roof assembly
an assembly of interacting roof components including the roof deck, vapor retarder (if needed), insulation and roof covering.
rotor
A rotating part of a mechanical device; for example, in an electric motor, generator, alternator, or pump.
RSDS
Initialism of reduced swing differential signaling: an electrical signal standard between electrical components that employs differential signaling technology.
running gear
The wheels, suspension, steering, powertrain and usually the chassis of a motor vehicle.
sand battery
An unspillable electrochemical battery whose cells use electrolyte soaked sand, typically used to test telegraph cables at sea.
sanding gear
Equipment for applying sand onto rails, to aid adhesion in slippery conditions.
saucisse
A long and slender pipe or bag, made of cloth well pitched, or of leather, filled with powder, and used to communicate fire to mines, caissons, bomb chests, etc.
screen mask
A component used for precise printing on devices such as circuit boards.
seam allowance
The part of the material or fabric added to the dimensions of a sewing pattern outside the seam.
second source
A company that is licensed to manufacture and sell electronic components originally designed by another company (the first source).
seeder
A device used to plant seeds; a seed drill.
self-drilling screw
A fastener similar to a self-tapping screw, which taps and drills its own hole during application.
sequential manual gearbox
A type of manual gearbox which can be designed with either a manual or fully-automated clutch system. Gear shifts by the driver can only be chosen in a successive order, and the driver cannot skip gears, like with a standard H-pattern manual transmission. This type of transmission is most commonly used in motorcycles and racecars, and is a form of manual motorcycle transmission.
sequential valve timing
An automobile variable valve timing technology in which the timing of the intake valves is varied by using hydraulic pressure to rotate the camshaft.
serger
A type of sewing machine designed to produce an overlock stitch and to cut the fabric as it stitches.
shielded twisted pair
A pair of twisted wires which is surrounded by a metal shield in order to protect from EMI.
shoegear
train equipment, usually mounted on bogies, used to transfer electric current from the third rail.
side valve
A type of valve in an internal combustion engine, and thus also (metonymic) the type of valvetrain design, the type of engine that uses it, or an instance of such an engine; this design has the inlet and exhaust valves in the cylinder block beside the piston. The cylinder head is then a simple dome extending across the valves and piston.
signal tracer
A piece of electronic test equipment used to troubleshoot radio and other electronic circuitry.
skateboard
A skateboard vehicle chassis: A chassis format, used for electric vehicles, which holds the drive motors and power energy store (i.e. batteries), forming the vehicular base; an instance of this format.
slick
A camera-ready image to be used by a printer. The "slick" is photographed to produce a negative image which is then used to burn a positive offset plate or other printing device.
slow speed control
An electronic device fitted to locomotives which enables them to operate at a very slow speed when their train is loaded or unloaded on the move.
slug
An accessory to a diesel-electric locomotive, used to increase adhesive weight and allow full power to be applied at a lower speed. It has trucks with traction motors, but lacks a prime mover, being powered by electricity from the mother locomotive, and may or may not have a control cab.
snail
A locomotive with a prime mover but no traction motors, used to provide extra electrical power to another locomotive.
snifting valve
A small valve opening into the atmosphere from the cylinder or condenser of a steam engine, to allow the escape of air when the piston makes a stroke.
soil stack
A sanitation pipe that penetrates the roof used to vent toilet fixtures.
SPD
Initialism of surge protective device (surge protector).
splice tape
Cured or uncured synthetic tape used for splicing materials.
split-phase power
A type of electrical power distribution system using two line wires connected to the ends of a distribution transformer and a grounded neutral wire connected to the center tap of the transformer, allowing loads to be connected between line and neutral and receive the normal line voltage (120 or 240 volts), or between the two opposite-phase line wires and receive twice the normal line voltage (240 or 480 volts).
spot UV
A printing technique in which a clear, shiny coating (ultraviolet varnish) is applied to areas of a printed material.
squeegee
A tool consisting of a roller attached to a handle, used for applying pressure, removing liquid, etc.
SRM
Initialism of standard reference material (“a standardized material of known composition used as a reference, to calibrate testing equipment, to validate testing equipment, to test materials and equipment”).
starter motor
An electrical motor, part of a modern car or truck, etc., which is used to initially turn the internal combustion engine of the vehicle to make it start.
starting handle
a crank handle fitted to or supplied with older vehicles for the purpose of starting the engine, even if fitted with a starter motor.
steam shovel
An excavating machine designed to effect a shovelling action through steam power.
stick clip
a non-penetrating fastener that is adhered to the waterproofing surface; typically used to retain insulation, drainage panels, etc., against the waterproofing to prevent sliding and displacement.
stripper plate
Part of a die assembly that separates the material strip from a punch during the return stroke.
suicide battery
A battery whose purpose is, in addition to powering an electronic device, making the powered device permanently unusable once the energy is exhausted.
super high frequency
The frequency area from 3 GHz through 30 GHz, commonly used for microwave devices, WLAN, and radars.
Swiss-turn
Any lathe, screw machine, or turning center with a Swiss-style headstock (that is, one with a guide bushing that remains quite near the tool).
switchgear
A device used to control, meter, protect, and regulate electronics as part of electricity generation, transmission, and distribution.
switchyard
Part of a railway with an arrangement of switches (or points) allowing trains to be diverted and reassembled.
synchro
A type of rotary electrical transformer that is used for measuring the angle of a rotating machine such as an antenna platform. In its general physical construction, it is much like an electric motor.
synthesizer
An electronic device that generates electronic signal patterns to test an electronic circuit.
tag strip
Solder tags/lugs on a strip used to connect wires by soldering.
tamping machine
A self-propelled rail-mounted machine used to pack or tamp ballast under railway tracks; a ballast tamper.
tapper
In early wireless telegraphs, a device used to shake loose the filings of a coherer.
telecommunications tower
A structure intended to support antennas, waveguide and associated equipment for the transmission of signals for wireless communication.
telluric gold
Gold telluride ore, a gold-bearing mineral where gold is chemically bonded to tellurium.
thermal design power
The maximum amount of heat generated by a computer chip or component which the cooling system in a computer is designed to dissipate under any workload.
thermopile
An electronic device that converts thermal energy into electrical energy. Usually constructed using a series-combination of thermocouples