This research aimed to analyze the possibility of installing an ultrasonic emitter in an already manufactured car and to prove the possibility of cleaning the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine through the action of an ultrasonic wave due to coagulation and examining the optimal regimes of its work. The existing theoretical solution to describe the proposed process was analyzed. A Mercedes-Benz M-Class ML 270 CDI MT car with the OM 612 DE 27 LA Diesel engine was used for the experiment. An ultrasound generator and an ultrasound emitter were connected to the muffler. The stand was connected to the car via the inlet with a rubber hose that directs the exhaust gases out of the car. The crankshaft speed of the engine was changed in the range of 750 to 1250 rpm, which corresponds to urban conditions when cars are moving in heavy traffic jams. The content of CH, CO, CO₂, and O₂ in the exhaust gas of the vehicle was determined as a function of the crankshaft speed without ultrasonic exposure and with ultrasonic exposure at an ultrasound frequency of 25, 28, and 40 kHz. The results of the experiment showed that the introduction of an ultrasonic emitter into the muffler reduced the smoke content of the gas, increased the oxygen content, and reduced the amount of carbon dioxide in the exhaust gases. With an increase in the ratio between the ultrasonic frequency and the angular velocity of the engine crankshaft (f/ω), the smoke content of the gas also decreased. At the maximum values of ultrasonic frequency and angular velocity of the engine crankshaft selected in the experimental studies, the minimum value of the ratio of gas smoke indicators was achieved, and the degree of purification was 10–13%. Such results correspond to the condition of optimal operation of the ultrasonic muffler, where the ratio of gas to smoke values should tend to a minimum. These results confirm the potential of using ultrasound as a method for cleaning exhaust gases and underline the need for further research in this area.

The article presents the results of phase transition studies in which the following substances and their mixtures were tested: 100% palm oil, 100% paraffin, 100% hydrogenated palm oil, 50% palm oil + 50% paraffin, 50% hydrogenated palm oil + 50% palm oil, 33% hydrogenated palm oil + 33% palm oil + 33% soft paraffin, 20% hydrogenated palm oil + 30% palm oil + 50% soft paraffin, 50% hydrogenated palm oil + 50% palm oil + copper, and 50% hydrogenated palm oil + 50% palm oil + iron. The measurements were carried out on a station for testing phase-change materials (PCMs) designed specifically for the analysis of phase changes. Viscosity values were also determined for the tested materials, and their potential impact on heat accumulation was assessed. The primary goal of the experiment was to determine some key thermodynamic parameters, including transition time, transition heat, specific heat, and dynamic viscosity at 58 °C. A one-way ANOVA test confirmed the statistical significance of minimum transition temperature, maximum transition temperature, and phase transition time, validating the reliability and utility of the results. The melting point, crucial for applications involving phase changes, was identified as an important factor. The careful selection of components allows for the customization of properties tailored to specific applications. A significant result is that the analyzed substances with higher specific heat values tend to have a higher average dynamic viscosity. The Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.82 indicated a strong positive association between the average dynamic viscosity and the heat of fusion of the substances examined. This suggests that changes in the heat of fusion significantly influence alterations in dynamic viscosity. Substances with higher specific heat values tend to exhibit higher average dynamic viscosity, emphasizing the direct impact of composition on viscosity.

The innovative activity of machine-building enterprises is the main guarantee of their sustainable and effective development, which makes it possible to compare technical and technological innovation in the production of products in different periods and between different enterprises in points. Quantitative numerical assessment of the innovative component of the enterprise is a prerequisite for developing a strategy for further effective production management. After all, in addition to financial performance indicators, technical innovations play a decisive role in the modern market environment, although little attention is paid to them. In the work, based on organizational and technical modeling and logical methods of exploratory evaluation, the author’s method of establishing a quantitative comparative level of innovative activity of a machine-building enterprise was built. The developed methodology for evaluating the innovative component of machine-building production is based on three basic criteria: mastering new machines, mastering technological processes, and the effectiveness of implementing design and technological solutions. The first two criteria take into account the nomenclature, novelty, the risk of introducing a new solution and the technical level of products. To determine these criteria, several levels of novelty of machines and technologies are proposed and the author’s understanding of their content is given. The third criterion, the effectiveness of implementation, is evaluated by indicators that take into account the intensity of adjustments at various stages of design. The result of the study is a method of comparative assessment of the level of innovative components of the development of machine-building production with a set of indicators that provide professionals with a tool for monitoring the processes of introducing new equipment and technologies into production and the subsequent formation of an effective innovative strategy for the development of a machine-building enterprise. The capability of the proposed methodology is presented in the given example of evaluating the innovative development (state) of an abstract machine-building enterprise.

This article presents a case study on estimating the real service inspection intervals for German-brand passenger cars in Kazakhstan and Poland. This study aimed to identify disparities between the official recommendations of manufacturers for car maintenance and the real data collected in these two countries. The following passenger cars were examined: Audi A6, Q5, and Q8; Porsche Cayenne and Cayenne coupe; and Volkswagen Passat, Polo, Teramont, Tiguan, Touareg, Arteon, Golf, T-Cross, Tiguan all space, Touran, T-Roc, and Up. To assess the difference between real and recommended values, the manufacturer criteria of a recommended mileage of 15,000 and 30,000 km or a time frame of 365 and 730 days to the first service inspection were applied. The data analysis showed that in Kazakhstan, 31.4% of cars did not meet the warranty conditions, while in Poland, it was 21.0%. The dominant criterion that was not met was the time criterion. The assessment of these factors emphasizes the importance of customizing vehicle maintenance schedules to the specific conditions and driving behaviors prevalent in each country. The practical contribution of the article lies in uncovering the discrepancies between official manufacturer recommendations for car maintenance and the actual data collected in Kazakhstan and Poland. By identifying specific models, Volkswagen Touareg and Tiguan in Kazakhstan and Volkswagen Up in Poland, for which the maintenance intervals deviated significantly from those recommended, this study offers valuable insights for optimizing service schedules and improving the efficiency of maintenance practices in these countries. From a scientific perspective, this article contributes by providing empirical evidence of real-world maintenance behaviors for German-brand passenger cars.

Centrifugal disk dispensers are widely used in various tasks of dosing bulk, dispersed materials. The design of the disk depends on the physical and mechanical characteristics of the dosing medium. The work discusses the development of an analytical model of the movement of a material particle along a conical centrifugal disk depending on the kinematic characteristics of the dosing process and the characteristics of the dosing material, as well as experimental confirmation of the theoretical model, which is relevant for the calculation and design of working elements of this type. The obtained system of differential equations is solved using the Runge–Kutta numerical method. Experimental studies were carried out using the method of a planned factorial experiment. The experiment was conducted for three factors at three levels. The feedback criterion was the performance of a centrifugal conical disk dispenser for bulk materials. The disk cone angle was set at 10, 20, and 30°. The disk diameter was 130, 150, and 170 mm, the gap between the disk and the edge of the hopper neck was 6, 8, and 10 mm, and the rotational speed of the conical disk was 0.65, 1.02, and 1.39 rad/s. The dispensing rate of the dispenser ranged from 15 to 770 g/s, depending on the values of the experimental factors. For use in the regression equation of the natural values of the factors, a method of transforming the terms of the equation from coded values to natural ones is provided. The obtained experimental correlation dependencies were checked for reproducibility with Cochrane’s test, and the adequacy of the model was checked using Fisher’s test. The significance of the coefficients in the correlation equation was evaluated using the Student’s t-test. The difference between the experimental data and the results of the theoretical modeling does not exceed 5%. The obtained system of differential equations makes it possible to model the radial velocity of the ascent of bulk material from the conical rotating disk depending on the rotation frequency, disk diameter, and the height of the annular gap between the discharge throat of the hopper and the conical disk. The analytical model enables the modeling of the productivity of the conical dispenser for bulk materials for arbitrary parameters of rotation frequency, disk diameter, and the size of the annular gap between the discharge throat of the hopper and the conical disk.

Lifting structures are critical components in the automotive industry, yet their excessive weight and bulk often impede mobility and ease of use. This paper presents a comprehensive study on the structural optimization of a scissor lift, focusing on the topological redesign of its lever. The primary objective is to achieve significant mass reduction while preserving structural integrity, load-bearing capacity, and safety. The core hypothesis is that strategic topological modifications can induce favorable stress redistribution, leading to material savings without compromising safety margins. The research methodology, implemented in the spring of 2024, was based on numerical modeling using the Finite Element Method (FEM) in Ansys Workbench. Numerical analysis of the base lever identified a maximum equivalent stress of 152 MPa, corresponding to a safety factor of 2.27. The proposed optimizations yielded a new lever topology that reduces the component’s mass by 39% (to 35 kg) while maintaining a high safety factor of 1.52 under a maximum stress of 226.5 MPa. The results confirm that the proposed design approach successfully enhances the lift’s performance-to-weight ratio, offering a viable solution for developing more efficient and portable automotive lifting equipment.