Top20 technical inventions in the car details author: helmut drexler blog created: 06.03.2017 views: 15708
The car market never sleeps. Automobile manufacturers and their suppliers are constantly on the lookout for the latest technical innovations and trends.
a look at a list of optional extras in the 1970s shows how rapidly cars evolved:
in the 1974 VW golf I, for example, the selling points were the "easy-to-operate folding device for the rear seat set" and the "bad weather package consisting of two halogen fog lights and a more powerful three-phase alternator". Many VW extras could be ordered individually, such as a lockable gas cap or the "super-wide ’70s tires that made the golf even sportier". Three-point safety belts in the front and safety belt screw connections for all seats, a rear ashtray, a trip meter, a coolant temperature gauge and a steering wheel with a plastic-wrapped steering wheel rim were other luxury components of the golf I. Descriptions such as "so that you can load your car comfortably – up to the roof if necessary (for the prescribed "consideration" you can get an outside mirror on the passenger side as extra equipment)" seem almost a little strange nowadays, but in the brochures of 1974 they were perfectly normal.
The mercedes dash eight of the late 60s and 70s already had a little more equipment highlights on board. For example, the manufacturer advertised a center armrest on the rear seat bench, total and trip odometers, coolant temperature gauge and oil pressure gauge. Even air conditioning, an electric sunroof, 3-speed wipers, an optional automatic transmission and on-board tools could be ordered in dash eight.
Yesterday’s luxury equipment has become today’s standard equipment. But what were the biggest innovations in the automotive industry and how long have they been around??
We present the TOP 20 technical automotive achievements
1.The airbag
The original inventor of the airbag was walter linderer from munich, germany. in 1951, it received a patent for a "device to protect persons in vehicles against injury in the event of collisions". In the USA, john W. Hetrick in 1953 a similar patent. However, the systems were still not very practical and were constantly being developed further.
In the USA, the installation of front airbags for drivers and passengers became mandatory in 1997. The first german car with an airbag was a mercedes with the W126 (S-class) 1981. This was followed by mercedes W123 and then many other manufacturers. Although the airbag is still not a legal requirement in germany today, it is fitted as standard in almost every car.
2.Seat heating
For many drivers, it is indispensable as a pleasant seat and back warmer, especially in the winter months, while others still consider seat heating to be a superfluous gimmick. In fact, it is hard to imagine the automotive world without it, even though recalls have been made time and again because of sweltering seat heaters. Even the fact that studies have shown it to have a negative effect on male fertility when sitting for very long periods of time could not stop its triumphant success. Seat heating was first installed in a series-produced vehicle by saab in 1971.
3.Central locking system
According to its own information, the traditional company kiekert near dusseldorf, which has been in existence for around 150 years, is the inventor of the central locking system (CC). In simple terms, the function of a central locking system is the simultaneous locking and unlocking of all doors and hatches on the vehicle by operating a single lock. For the central locks we use different systems. The first cruise control systems were mostly pneumatic, but were soon replaced by electric radio remote controls on the key. 1914 the central locking system was first used by scripps-booth in his luxury cars.
4.Air conditioning
the american engineer willis haviland carrier is considered the inventor of air conditioning at the age of only 25 years. In 1939, packard installed the invention in a vehicle for the first time.
5.Power windows
The first mechanical crank windows were manufactured as early as 1928, electric window regulators were introduced in the USA in 1941. In europe, it was not until the 1950s that they were first used in a BMW 503. today, only a few vehicles are offered without power windows.
The anti-lock braking system originated in the railroad industry and subsequently found its way into aviation. Brake force regulators for rail vehicles were discovered as early as 1903. The anti-lock braking system was first used in aviation tests by the manufacturer bendix. The purpose of the test series was to keep an aircraft on track during the braking process after landing, despite its high speed. ABS prevents the wheels from locking continuously. In 1966, the ABS was installed for the first time in a jensen FF, which was only produced in small numbers.
7.Xenon
The manufacturer philips developed the first xenon D1 lamp, osram followed shortly thereafter. The xenon light was first installed in a BMW 7 series from the year of manufacture. 1991. Bi-xenon headlights followed, xenon with cornering lights and more. The current lighting trend is toward LED headlights, which could sooner or later replace xenon headlights.
8.cruise control
Cruise control system GRA (z.B. SEAT), tempostat (porsche) or tempopilot are the most common names of the cruise control system. The engine speed is automatically regulated to maintain a certain speed set by the driver. the speed control system was first used by chrysler in 1958; in europe, mercedes-benz was the pioneer in 1962.
9.Trailer coupling (AHK)
The spherical-head coupling revolutionized transportation. in 1934, the manufacturer westfalia obtained the patent for the ball-head coupling and is still known worldwide for it today. The spherical head diameter of 50 mm is still today’s standard.
10.seat belt
The first patent from 1903 was intended for M.Gustave-desire leveau. in the same year, the five-point seat belt was invented by louis renault. In 1959, a swedish volvo engineer patented the three-point seat belt and the volvo 544 became the first car with a standard three-point seat belt. The 1976 compulsory use of seat belts met with great resistance at first. Today, it is impossible to imagine a car without the safety belt. Its use saved thousands of lives.
11.Turn signal
The turn signal – originally called a "direction blinker" – was invented by a woman. In 1914, the famous and beautiful hollywood starlet florence lawrence tinkered with an invention to indicate to following traffic when to brake and in which direction to drive. Florence lawrence invented a pivoting arm that swung out when the car changed direction. Over many years, this gave rise to the turn signal in its present form.
12.Cornering lights
the cornering light celebrates its 100th birthday next year. 1918 it was installed for the first time in a cadillac type 57. In europe, it made its debut in a citroen DS in 1968. The cornering light was steered by a cable connected to the steering system. In the 60s, the swivelling dipped beam was banned in europe and has only been permitted again since 2002. Since then, the bend lighting system has resumed its triumphant advance.
13.Stiffened passenger compartment
Patent EP 0608558 A2 contains another groundbreaking invention of the automotive world – "a passenger cell with a transverse stiffener arranged in the area of the seats". (cf. Https://google.Com/patents/EP0608558A2?Cl=en). The applicant was once again mercedes-benz AG, the patent was published on 03.08.1994.
14. Parking assistance – park distance control (also ASP, parktronic, parkpilot), . )
As early as the 1950s, attempts were made to protect vehicles from accidents and damage during maneuvering and parking by means of active systems. For this reason sog. Curb feeler (curb sensor) installed. Bars up to 30 cm long protruding horizontally from the sills were supposed to make a scraping noise when the driver got too close to the curb. the tail fin of the well-known tailfin mercedes was not only a design highlight, but also an orientation point and distance indicator.
Nowadays, these so-called passive systems are no longer conceivable and have been replaced by active systems that, depending on the manufacturer, warn visually, acoustically or in combination. The systems work with ultrasonic sensors and were first installed in 1982 in a toyota corona in japan. Camera-based systems are also extremely popular. the latest technology is offered by self-steering systems, in which the parking assistant takes over the parking process independently.
15.Navigation device
The roots of the automotive navigation system lie in aviation. At the beginning of the second world war, systems were developed to make it easier for pilots to orient themselves. the first car navigation system was installed by honda in 1981. year after year, more systems were added, until in 1990 the first built-in gps navigation system was used in a mazda eunos cosmo. The first european car with a navigation system ex works was a BMW 7 series in 1994.
16.DSG
The invention of the dual-clutch transmission goes back a long way to 1939, when the frenchman adolphe kegresse and a year later the german rudolf franke (prof.) the first patents applied for. Nothing happened for a long time. It was not until the 1980s that porsche introduced its double-clutch transmission, and the invention did not go into series production until 2003 by the manufacturer VW. The DSG quickly conquered large parts of the automotive world.
17.All-wheel drive
The discovery of all-wheel drive dates back to the beginning of the 19th century. century. Back when a steam-powered transport vehicle with rear-wheel drive and optional front-axle drive was designed in england. The front axle was operated by a cardan shaft. Other milestones in the history of all-wheel drive were a steam car (caffrey steam) designed in 1895, in which each wheel could be controlled separately by a lever, and the lohner-porsche electromobile presented in 1900. Various all-wheel-drive vehicles followed. the willys 1941, jeep CJ-2A, unimog 1945 or the jensen FF in 1966, were some of the most famous. After audi presented its quattro at the geneva auto salon in 1980 as the first mass-produced road vehicle with permanent all-wheel drive, the brand became legendary for the drive form.
Because of its increased traction and driving safety, all-wheel drive has long been popular not only with SUVs, but also with sports cars and mid- and luxury-class vehicles.
18.ESP
The first electronic stability program (ESP) was produced in 1995 by the manufacturer bosch on behalf of a mercedes-benz S600. Anton van Zanten and his 35-member research group designed one of the most important accident avoidance systems in automotive history, alongside the airbag and seatbelt, which has been in use for around 8 years.saved the lives of 500 people. The system is designed to prevent skidding by selectively braking individual wheels as soon as the vehicle moves in a direction other than that in which the driver is steering. Steering angle, ABS speed and yaw rate are permanently measured.
Anton von zanten was awarded the european inventor of the year prize for his life’s work in 2016. the ESP owes its worldwide success and rapid mass production to a PR fiasco at mercedes. The A-class tipped over during the "elk test", ridicule went through all the media. Mercedes reacted in an exemplary manner, stopped production and retrofitted ESP as standard. The drastic drop in the number of accidents spoke volumes, and ESP became mandatory throughout Europe in 2014.
19.Safety glass
The invention of safety glass dates back to 1903. the french painter, composer and chemist edouard benedictus discovered it by accident when he accidentally dropped a glass flask from a shelf that did not break. the piston previously contained liquid celluloid, which evaporated and then left a thin film that held the piston together. For a long time, the automotive industry was disinterested because of the high costs, especially since very few cars were even closed at that time. But that quickly changed. Just ten years later, in 1929, 90% of cars were already equipped with windshields. In addition, the industrial production of continuous glass reduced time and costs. 1927 kinon safety glass was first used by ford and horch. In 1956, safety glass became an integral part of the road traffic regulations.
20.Windshield wiper
mary anderson from alabama received the patent for the windshield wiper in 1903. the patent was valid for 17 years. Also their windshield wiper was still operated by hand. You have to imagine that today, it was a lot of work in the pouring rain. 1926 the first electrically operated windshield wiper was introduced by bosch – a real relief for car drivers.
What other innovations are there?
What are your personal highlights in terms of innovations / inventions in the automobile, what should not be missing in the above list in your opinion? Just write to us.
Free infographic for download
TOP 20 innovations and inventions in the automobile" infographic to the article as a free download (jpg with 2 mbyte, 1650 x 5000 pixel).
If you would like to embed the infographic on your website, we would be happy to receive a backlink.
