Guide to the Stanford University, Engineering Case Program, Case Files
SC0269
Finding aid prepared by Daniel Hartwig
Dept. of Special Collections & University Archives
Stanford University Libraries.
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford, California, 94305
Repository email: speccollref@stanford.edu
2000
Note
This encoded finding aid is compliant with Stanford EAD Best Practice Guidelines, Version 1.0.
Title: Stanford University, Engineering Case Program, case files
Identifier/Call Number: SC0269
Contributing Institution:
Dept. of Special Collections & University Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
3.5 Linear feet
Date (inclusive): 1948-1972
creator:
Fuchs, H. O. (Henry Otten), 1907-
creator:
Fuchs, H. O., ((Henry Otten),), 1907-
Scope and Content
The Engineering Case Program, which began at Stanford University in 1964, provided written accounts of engineering problems
to be used in the training of engineers. This collection consists of the master files from 114 cases where the author was
a Stanford faculty or staff member or the event described happened in the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition to the case
description, some files include correspondence, memoranda, diagrams, and photographs.
Following the container listing are abstracts for most of the cases included in this collection.
Biography
Henry O. Fuchs was professor of mechanical engineering at Stanford University, 1964-1973, and director of the Engineering
Case Program.
Preferred Citation:
Stanford University, Engineering Case Program, Case Files (SC0269). Department of Special Collections and University Archives,
Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
Provenance
Gift of Henry O. Fuchs, 1981.
Publication Rights
Property rights reside with the repository. Literary rights reside with the creators of the documents or their heirs. To obtain
permission to publish or reproduce, please contact the Public Services Librarian of the Dept. of Special Collections and University
Archives.
Access Restrictions
None.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Stanford University. Engineering Case Program.
Engineering--Case studies.
Engineering--Study and teaching.
Photoprints.
Box 1
Ion Exchange Case Study, J. E. Arnold, R. S. Welther, M.I.T., Case 1-4:
1955.
Box 1
Box Car Design Project, J.E. Arnold, M.I.T., Case 1-5:
1952.
Box 1
Sick Room Equipment, J.E. Arnold, G.H. Wood, M.I.T., Case 1-6:
1956.
Box 1
Arcturus IV, J.E. Arnold, M.I.T. Case 1-7:
Box 1
Ceres Project, J.E. Arnold, A.T. Ling, M.I.T. Case 1-8:
Box 1
Rice in Burma, J.E. Arnold, A.T. Ling, M.I.T., Case 1-9:
1952.
Box 1
Zylerium Blindness, J.E. Arnold, Stanford. Case 1-10:
Box 1
Chinese typewriter, J.E. Arnold, A.T. Ling, M.I.T., Case 1-11:
1952.
Box 1
Telephone Information Service, Need for a Better Directory System, J.E. Arnold, Stanford, Case 1-12:
1959.
Box 1
Development of an Oil Well Tubing Stripper Rubber, P.E. Bickel, H.O. Fuchs, UCLA, Case 1-13:
1964.
Box 1
The Wright Brothers's Airplane, H.O. Fuchs, UCLA, Case 1-14:
1964.
Box 1
Design and Development of an Automatic Refrigerator Car Heater, H.O. Fuchs, UCLA, Case 1-15:
1963.
Box 1
Selected Design Notes, reproduced from the Flight Safety Foundation. Case 1-16:
Box 1
Hoover Dam, H.O. Fuchs, P. Searles, UCLA, Case 1-17:
1964.
Box 1
The Story of Eight-Four Minutes, J.P. Den Hartog, Case 1001:
1966.
Box 1
A Critical Meeting on the Development of Inertial Navigation-Related to The Story of 84 Minutes, W. Bollay, Case 1002:
1966.
Box 1
Spin Stability of the Explorer Satellite, William Bollay, Case 1006:
1967.
Box 1
Hewlett-Packard Company I, (A) Mechanical Design of Coaxial Microwave Connectors, (B) History of Coaxial Microwave Connector
design, K.H. Vesper, (C) Commercial Development of the Sexless Connector by Amphenol Corporation, Sue Hays,
Case 1:
1964, 1967.
Box 1
Hewlett-Packard Company III, (A) Drill Jig Design for a Structural Plate, (B) Drill Jig Tolerances, P.Z. Bulkeley, E. Echterling, Case 15:
1964.
Box 1
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Digital Computer Simulation of a Hydroelectric Plant, R.E. Keller, R.D. Regier, Case 16:
1964.
Box 1
FMC Corporation, (A) Need for a Rice Sorter, (B) Rice Sorter Layout, (C) Mechanical Failures in a Rice Sorter, (D) Rice Sorter
Redesign, K.H. Vesper, J.K. Williams,
Case 17:
1964.
Box 1
Oxford Laboratories, Prothrometer Design, R.H. McKim, J.K. Williams, Case 18:
1964.
Box 1
Hewlett-Packard Company II, Mechanical Design of a Rotary Vane Microwave Attenuator, P.Z. Bulkeley, E. Echterling, Revised
by Sue Hays,
Case 19:
1967.
Box 1
Hewlett-Packard Company IV, Component Layout of an Electronic Signal Analyzer, P.Z. Bulkeley, E. Echterling, Case 20:
1964.
Box 1
Hiller Aircraft Company I, Preliminary Design of a Light Observation Helicopter, P.Z. Bulkeley, E. Echterling, Revised 1968
by Richard C. Bourne.
Case 21:
1964.
Box 1
Data International I, A Portable Sawmill, P. Z. Bulkeley, R.D. Regier, Case 22:
1964.
Box 1
Guy F. ATkinson Company, Clearance Between a Conveyor and Support Tower, H.O. Fuchs, R.D. Regier, Revised 1968 by Richard
C. Bourne.
Case 23:
1965.
Box 1
Philco Corporation I, (A) Patient Room Door Handles, (B) Opening Sliding Glass Doors, (C) Surgical Instrument Cabinet Doors,
(D) Label Dispenser Design, R. H. McKim, J.K. Williams,
Case 25:
1965.
Box 1
IBM II, Geneva Mechanism, K.H. Vesper. Case 26:
Box 1
Hiller Aircraft Company II, (A) Design of a Supercharger Inlet Duct, (B) Filter Housing Clearance Considerations, (C) Structural
Bracket Design, (D) Engine shroud Design, P.Z. Bulkeley, H.O. Fuchs, E.J. Echterling,
Case 28:
1964.
Box 1
Radiation Products Company, Failure of a Rotating Mirror, H.O. Fuchs, J. K. Williams, Case 30:
1965.
Box 1
Precision Instrument Corporation, Experience with a Tape Reel Hold-down Mechanism, H.O. Fuchs, R.D. Regier, Case 31:
1965.
Box 1
William Wohlfort, Design of a Variable Frequency Oscillator, R.E. Miller, W. Wohlfort, Case 35:
1965.
Box 1
Allied Solid Rocket Corporation, E.J. Fisher, Case 37:
1965.
Box 1
Dymo Industries, Inc., Design of a Typewriter Component, H.O. Fuchs, J.A. Alic, Case 38:
1965.
Box 1
Rucker Company, (A) A Centrifuge Project, (B) Inertia Starter for the Centrifuge, (C) Centrifuge Clutch Design, H.O. Fuchs,
O. Lorentsen, A. Krauter,
Case 39:
1965.
Box 2
Hughes Tool Company, Aircraft Division Development of a light Observation Helicopter for the United States Army, K.H. Vesper,
E.J. Echterling,
Case 41:
1965.
Box 2
Gar Wood Industries, Inc. Failures at Welded Joints in a Hopper Trailer, H.O. Fuchs, J.A. Alic, Case 42:
1965.
Box 2
Peterson Tractor Company, Design of a Side Sloper, H.O. Fuchs, J.A. Alic, revised by Richard C. Bourne, Case 43:
1965. 1968.
Box 2
Dynasham Truck Company, Ltd., Truck Suspension Bolt and Bushing Failures, H.O. Fuchs, J.A. Alic, Case 44:
1966.
Box 2
Marvetti, Inc., Design and Development of a Printing Calculator, H.O. Fuchs, J.A. Alic, Case 45:
1966.
Box 2
Beckman and Whitley, Inc. I, Design of a 16mm Portable News Film Camera, H.O. Fuchs, D.A. Horine, Revised by Richard C. Bourne, Case 46:
1966. 1968.
Box 2
Systron-Donner Corporation, Design of an Analog Computer, H.O. Fuchs, J.A. Alic, Case 47:
1966.
Box 2
Travaglio Engineering Company, Manufacturing Design for a Cycle Timer, R.E. Keller, Case 51:
1966.
Box 2
Development of a Dynamic Seal at Beckman Instruments, Inc.-Spinco Division, William J. Clemens, David Horine, Case 52:
1967.
Box 2
Ford Motor Company, Design of an Automatic Welding Machine, J.A. Alic Case 53:
1968.
Box 2
Beckman and Whitley, Inc. II, Design of a Mirror Mount, H.O. Fuchs, D.A. Horing, Revised by Richard C. Bourne, Case 54:
1966. 1968.
Box 2
Dalmo Victor/Alic-Hayes Case 56:
Box 2
Lawrence Radiation Laboratory, an Ultra-High Vacuum Flange Seal, K.H. Vesper, J.A. Alic, Case 57:
1966.
Box 2
Stanford Linear Accelerator Center I, (A) Development of a Remotely Operable High-Vacuum coupling, (B) The SLAC Design, (C)
Ring-spring Analysis and Load Spring Design Problems, (D) Coil Spring Design, (E) Material Selection, (F) Ring-Spring Material
Selection and Casting Problems, J.A. Alic,
Case 59:
1966.
Box 2
Art Whiting, To Weight A man in Space, K.H. Vesper, Case 60:
1966.
Box 2
Stanford Linear Accelerator Center II, Beam Pipe Cooling System, J.A. Alic, Case 61:
1966.
Box 2
General Electric Company, Vallecitos Atomic Laboratory, Ventilation Exhaust Stack, P.A. Bulkeley, D.A. Horine, Revised By
Sue Hays,
Case 62:
1967.
Box 2
Data International II, Voltage Regulation, J. W. Hill, Case 63:
1966.
Box 2
Data International III, Electrical Appliances, J.W. Hill, Case 64:
1966.
Box 2
UTC/Dix-Short-Ewbank/1966 Summer Institute Case 66:
Box 2
Hewlett-Packard V, Microwave Switch, W.E. Bullock, J.W. Hill, G.R. Powley, Case 67:
1966.
Box 2
Ampex Corporation, Tape Recorder Capstan Shaft, K.H. Vesper, J.A. Alic, Case 68:
1966.
Box 2
City of San Jose-IBM Corporation Computerized Traffic Control, D.O. Covault, G.A. Fleischer, P.F. Williams, Case 69:
1966.
Box 2
Bechtel Corporation, Process Analysis and Optimization of a Desalting Plant Design, J.W. McCutchan, R.P. Vail, E.N. Zeigler, Case 70:
1966.
Box 2
Varian Associates, Redesign of a Liquid Nitrogen Container, William S. Chalk, Ivan A. Shirk and Robert B. Thornhill, Case 72:
1967.
Box 2
Switching a Tracking Antenna, Sue Hays, Case 73:
1968.
Box 2
Precision Instrument Company, Modification of a Portable Video and Broadband Instrumentation Recorder, Karl H. Vesper and
William H. Clemens,
Case 76:
1967.
Box 2
Hewlett-Packard VI, Signal Generator Read-Out Design, Karl H. Vesper, Robert Beardmore and Charles Fernald, Case 78:
1967.
Box 2
Chaparral, Bolt Failure on a Racing Automobile, Henry O. Fuchs and William H. Clemens, Case 79:
1967.
Box 2
Consolidated Dynamics Corporation, Fracture of a Marine Gear Rim, William H. Clemens, Case 80:
1968.
Box 2
Design of an Electric Beam Dump at Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, Munir R. El-Saden, Case 82:
1967.
Box 2
Shedding a Toroid Amplifier at Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, Sue Hays, Case 90:
1967.
Box 2
Girder Alignment at Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, Henry O. Fuchs and Sue Hays, Case 91:
1968.
Box 2
Development of a New Drill at Ingersoll-Rand Company, H.O. Fuchs and Ronald J. Shuman, Case 94:
1967.
Box 2
Development of an Undersea Power Supply Aerojet General Corporation, William J. Clemens, Case 96:
1967.
Box 2
Pump Plunger Improvements at Kobe Inc., Robert Martin, Case 100:
1969.
Box 2
Development of a High Speed Weighing Machine at FMC, Sue Hays, Case 109:
1969.
Box 2
Design of a Hand Operated Film Drive Mechanism, John Sondeno, Case 111:
1969.
Box 2
The Go-Matic Accessory for Motorcycles, Prem Garg, Case 113:
1969.
Box 2
Development of a Circular Strike Plate at Schlage Lock Company, Richard C. Bourne, Case 114:
1968.
Box 3
Harvey La Branche: Spring Failures in a New Toy Rifle, Karl H. Vesper, Case 120:
1968.
Box 3
Warren Deutsch: Design of a Satellite Controlling Instrument Panel, Mitchel Blanton, Case 124:
1968.
Box 3
Plastic Pipe Saddle Design, Perm Garg, Case 126:
1969.
Box 3
Three Years to Design a Door, Drew V. Nelson, Case 127:
1969.
Box 3
Design of a Centrifuge Rotor Cap, P.C. Garg, Case 137:
1969.
Box 3
Electric Beam Collimator, M.J. Lum, Case 138:
1969.
Box 3
A Special Testing Problem at IBM, K. J. Waldron, Case 144:
1970.
Box 3
Howard Arneson's Pool-Sweep, P.C. Garg, Case 146:
1970.
Box 3
Design of a Ball Transfer Unit for Air Cargo, R. K. Ganeriwal, Case 149:
1970.
Box 3
Drop Master, R. Ganeriwal, Case 150:
1970.
Box 3
Underwater Pipeline, Dean C. Ing, Case 151:
1970.
Box 3
Positioning a Microwave Diode, S. Hayes and R. Ganeriwal, Case 156:
1970.
Box 3
Interfaces at Sterling Development Labaratories, Sue Hays, Case 157:
1970.
Box 3
Jumping a Derrick, Professor Ralph J. Smith, Case 159:
1970.
Box 3
Expansion of the Danville Pump Plant, James C. Collins, Case 160:
1970.
Box 3
Development of a Stainless Steel Trashrack, R. J. Shuman, Case 161:
1970.
Box 3
Variable Stability System of the X-14A VTOL Aircraft, J. Hill, G. Kardos, A. Winn, Case 162:
1970.
Box 3
To Find a Bullet, Geza Kardos, Case 174:
1971.
Box 3
Negligence, Drew V. Nelson, Case 178:
1971.
Box 3
A Four Barrel Step-and-Repeat Camera, Geza Kardos, Case 181:
1971.
Box 3
The Design of the Bart-AFC Barrier Drive System at IBM, R. Pizali, Case 185:
1972.
Box 3
The Pickup-Head Link Failure, R. Pizali, Case 186:
1972.
Box 3
Value Engineering Applied to an IBM Leveling Screw, R. Pizali, Case 187:
1972.
Box 3
The Stun-Gun, A. P. Shack and G. Kardos, Case 188:
1972.
Box 3
Lazer Hardware, Fred Moreno, Case 189:
1972.
Box 3
Transportation of Liquefied Natural Gas, Sterling Beckwith, Case 198:
1973.
Box 3
Amphibious Vehicle Models: Calibration and Testing, Al Nahas, Case 199:
1973.
Box 3
150 Ton Pipe: Easier To Make Than to Move, Al Nahas, Case 200:
1973.
Box 3
Design of an Improved Aircraft Seat, R. Stephen Ball, William B. Goodman, William J. Kennish, Case 201:
1973.
Box 3
Peterson Tractor, Albert J. Nahas, Case 205:
1973.
Box 3
Air Force A-7D Brake Problem, H.O. Fuchs, Case 212:
1974.
Box 3
Paul Hait and the Dental Unit, D. N. Howse, Case 213:
1974.
Box 3
Designing a Gantry for Kyung Won, Professor H. O. Fuchs and Professor S. Bae, Case 215:
1974.
Box 3
Difficulties with Modular Housing, G. Kardos, Case 219:
1975.
Box 3
Thermal Fatigue and Instrument Design, Laurie Rendall, Case 221:
1975.
Box 3
Measuring Motor Torque-Speed Curves, G. Kardos, A. Chuman, Case 222:
1976.
Box 3
The 3.5 Millimetre Sliding Load, R. Sloss, Case 223:
1960.
Box 3
Bart Dead Train Detection, O. Baskind, N. Y. N. Chu, J. A. Palomo, J. F. Rollings, Case 224:
1976.
The Story of Eighty-Four Minutes, J. P. Den Hartog,
ECL 1001
1966.
Physical Description:
Total 26 pages.
Scope and Contents note
A short elementary monograph by Professor Den Hartog on the special properties of a pendulum tuned to a period of eighty-four
minutes and on the application of this device to navigation gyroscopes. Thirteen problems related to this pendulum are stated.
A Critical Meeting on the Development of Inertial Navigation-Related to The Story of 84 Minutes, W. Bollay,
ECL 1002
1966.
Physical Description:
Total 24 pages.
Scope and Contents note
Dr. Bollay's report on a confrontation between the proponents of guided missiles and a scientist who had declared such guided
missiles to be impractical. A confrontation was arranged by the Secretary of the Air Force and resulted in changing the mind
of the scientist.
Spin Stability of the Explorer Satellite, William Bollay,
ECL 1006
1967.
Physical Description:
Total 49 pages, 14 pages of charts and figures.
Scope and Contents note
This case relates a number of instructive events from the development of the highly successful Explorer satellite. It was
designed to spin about its axis of minimum moment of inertia at a rate of about 700 RPM. But anomalies in the signals received
from its antenna led to the conclusion that after about one orbit it changed to a rotation about its axis of maximum moment
of inertia at a rate of about 120 RPM. Background and observed data are given in Part I. A dynamic analysis which explains
the behavior is presented in Part II. Other interesting dynamic phenomena observed in the Explorer are discussed in Part III.
The historical background is given in Part IV, documented by extracts from periodicals. The case includes a note for Instructors.
Ion Exchange Case Study, J. E. Arnold, R. S. Welther, M.I.T.,
ECL 1-4
1955.
Physical Description:
Total 48 pages.
Scope and Contents note
State-of-the-art in ion exchange systems is described as background from which student design projects can be selected. A
number of needs and problems are indicated to be awaiting solution.
Box Car Design Project, J. E. Arnold, M.I.T.,
ECL 1-5
1952.
Physical Description:
Total 16 pages with 10 text, 6 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
Illustrates the state-of-the-art in boxcar construction, giving dimensional and other data on the cars and suggesting some
disadvantages which may suggest a variety of possible design projects by students.
Sick Room Equipment, J. E. Arnold, G. H. Wood, M.I.T.,
ECL 1-6
1956.
Physical Description:
Total 36 pages with 21 text, 15 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
State-of-the-art in hospital beds, presenting background data on hospital beds as source material for student design projects.
Students are to ferret out their own problems and then develop solutions.
Rice in Burma, J. E. Arnold, A. T. Ling, M.I.T.,
ECL 1-9
1952.
Physical Description:
Total 29 pages with 23 text. 6 exhibits. OUT OF PRINT.
Scope and Contents note
Gives the state-of-the-art in Burmese rice growing. Intended as background from which students can identify design needs as
bases for design projects.
Chinese Typewriter, J. E. Arnold, A. T. Ling, M.I.T.,
ECL 1-11
1952.
Physical Description:
Total 38 pages with 21 text, 17 exhibits. OUT OF PRINT.
Scope and Contents note
Tells something about the characters of the Chinese language and about previous ideas for Chinese character typewriters. Intended
as a basis for student creative thinking towards better design.
Telephone Information Service, Need for a Better Directory System, J. E. Arnold, Stanford,
ECL 1-12
1959.
Physical Description:
Total 8 pages. OUT OF PRINT.
Scope and Contents note
Problems of providing telephone numbers quickly and economically to facilitate direct dialing are suggested.
Development of an Oil Well Tubing Stripper Rubber, P. E. Bickel, H. O. Fuchs, UCLA,
ECL 1-13
1964.
Physical Description:
Total 30 pages with 14 text, 16 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
Part one is a formal report submitted as evidence of accomplishment in applying for registration as Mechanical Engineer. Part
two is an informal tale of adventures recalled on the project.
The Wright Brothers' Airplane, H. O. Fuchs, UCLA,
ECL 1-14
1964.
Physical Description:
Total 29 pages with 14 text, 15 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
A history drawn from published sources including quotations of Orville Wright taken from a deposition he gave as a witness
in a 1920 lawsuit. Intended for introducing freshmen to engineering design.
Design and Development of an Automatic Refrigerator Car Heater, H. O. Fuchs, UCLA,
ECL 1-15
1963.
Physical Description:
Total 80 pages with 20 text, 60 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
History of a product from inception to large-scale use. Told by main customer and chief engineer. Includes samples of engineering
reports, patents, drawings, and suggested assignment problems for students.
Selected Design Notes, reproduced from the Flight Safety Foundation.
ECL 1-16
Physical Description:
Total 10 pages.
Scope and Contents note
A selection of one page illustrated descriptions telling of an aircraft component failure, explaining its cause and the recommended
remedy.
Hoover Dam, H. O. Fuchs, P. Searles, UCLA,
ECL 1-17
1964.
Physical Description:
Total 33 pages with 16 text, 17 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
Taken from published sources plus interviews with former engineers of the project, this historical description was prepared
to illustrate engineering design and its role in society for a freshman.
Hewlett-Packard Company 1, (A) Mechanical Design of Coaxial Microwave Connectors, (B) History of Coaxial Microwave Connector
Design,
K. H. Vesper,
(C) Commercial Development of the Sexless Connector by Amphenol Corporation, Sue Hays,
ECL 1
1964, 1967.
Physical Description:
Total 65 pages (Parts A, B, C) with 16 text, 49 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
Anthony Badger, a mechanical engineer has been asked by his management for the mechanical design of a better coaxial connector
for microwave frequencies. Part A relates the situation which he faced. Part B of the case shows how Mr. Badger approached
the problem, his idea sketches and his detail work. Part C shows the redesign done by Amphenol who purchased the patent and
marketed the connector.
Hewlett-Packard Company III, (A) Drill Jig Design for a Structural Plate, (B) Drill Jig Tolerances, P. Z. Bulkeley, E. Echterling,
ECL 15
1964.
Physical Description:
Total 43 pages (Parts A,B) with 9 text, 34 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
Part A describes a situation at Hewlett-Packard in which a drill jig is needed. Part (B) is a sequel showing a company engineer's
layout of the solution for which precise dimensional tolerances remain to be determined. Part A alone can be used as a design
problem. Students could later be given Part B to compare their solutions with a professional's. Or for a drawing problem alone
both parts could be handed out together for students to work out the tolerances and put on dimensions. Background description
includes how the problem came up, what the jig has to do with manufacturing, and why there is need for solution.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Digital Computer Simulation of a Hydroelectric Plant, R. E. Keller, R. D. Regier,
ECL 16
1964.
Physical Description:
Total 45 pages, with 15 text, 30 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
Written for a graduate system engineering course which emphasizes mathematical representation of system components and computer
simulation of complex systems, this case has also found application in a civil engineering course on hydraulic machinery.
The case begins with general discussion of the water power industry, then describes in some detail a particular hydroelectric
power station, the Kings River Plant in California.
FMC Corporation, (A) Need for a Rice Sorter, (B) Rice Sorter Layout, (C) Mechanical Failures in a Rice Sorter, (D) Rice Sorter
Redesign,
K. H. Vesper, J. K. Williams,
ECL 17
1964.
Physical Description:
Total 96 pages (Parts A,B,C,D) with 22 text, 74 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
Part A presents background in processed rice. Part B gives the concept selected by the company, carrying the story to the
point where layout of a specific design is needed. Part C describes some problems which arose in the first machine. Part D
tells how an FMC engineer went at the problems.
Oxford Laboratories, Prothrometer Design, R. H. McKim, J. K. Williams,
ECL 18
1964.
Physical Description:
Total 39 pages, with 20 text, 19 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
An industrial design consultant, Robert H. McKim, has been asked to redesign a device for measuring blood clotting time (prothrometer),
to improve its ease of assembly, ease of operation, and appearnace. The case is intended to give students practice in asking
questions. It comes with a selection of additional handouts and with an Instructor's Note to respond to student questions
asked about the general problems stated in this case.
Hewlett-Packard Company II, Mechanical Design of a Rotary Vane Microwave Attenuator, P. Z. Bulkeley, E. Echterling,
Revised by Sue Hays,
ECL 19
1967.
Physical Description:
Total 13 pages (Parts A,B) with 4 text, 9 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
In the first of two parts of this case, company engineers are faced with cracking in some shrink-fit parts of a rotary vane
waveguide attenuator. Suitable as a problem in stress analysis. In Part B of the case, the Hewlett-Packard engineers have
decided on the modification required to prevent cracking, and the remaining problem is to put dimensional tolerances on the
parts, a problem suitable for freshman drawing. An Instructor's Note is included.
Hewlett-Packard Company IV, Component Layout of an Electronic Signal Analyzer, P. Z. Bulkeley, E. Echterling,
ECL 20
1964.
Physical Description:
Total 41 pages, with 8 text, 33 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
Layout drawings are needed showing the arrangement with dimensions of electronic components and controls for a new model electronic
signal analyzer. Intended as a problem for freshmen, its background illustrates the role of mechanical drawing in design of
electronic equipment.
Hiller Aircraft Company I, Preliminary Design of a Light Observation Helicopter, P. Z. Bulkeley, E. Echterling,
Revised 1968 by Richard C. Bourne.
ECL 21
1964.
Physical Description:
Total 38 pages, with 7 text, 31 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
Intended as a simple design and sketching problem for freshmen, this case presents background of a major Hiller project in
development of a new helicopter to compete for an Army contract for the largest single quantity of aircraft purchased since
World War II. Description of how the project proceeds in the company and how compromises are required include by implication
some of the constraints which the student should observe in his arrangement of major components and sketching of possible
configurations.
Data International I, A Portable Sawmill, P. Z. Bulkeley, R. D. Regier,
ECL 22
1964.
Physical Description:
Total 35 pages, with 11 text, 24 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
A letter has been received from a Colombian missionary expressing need for a lightweight portable machine for cutting logs
into boards at stump site. Case intended to launch students into design projects of their own with minimal time wasted. Information
on conventional sawmill practices and existing machinery plus some words of advice from experienced sawmill equipment designers
are included.
Guy F. Atkinson Company, Clearance Between a Conveyor and Support Tower, H. O. Fuchs, R. D. Regier, Revised 1968 by Richard C. Bourne.
ECL 23
1965.
Physical Description:
Total 13 (Parts A,B) with 6 text, 7 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
Two parts comprise this case. The first presents a problem in descriptive geometry to assure clearance between a conveyor
and a tower over which it must pass at a skew angle. The other concerns design of a simple bracket for fastening one end of
the conveyor. All events are taken from circumstances of a current California canal construction project. General aspects
of the project are included in description of the background from which the problem emerges.
Philco Corporation I, (A) Satellite Tracking and Commanding Console Layout, (B) Student Console Layout Solution, (C) Panel
Evaluation and Testing,
R. H. McKim, J. K. Williams,
ECL 25
1965.
Physical Description:
Total 55 pages (Parts A,B,C) with 15 text, 40 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
Is human factors engineering really just application of simple common sense or does it require special professional competence?
Part A describes a test designed by the company to compare skills of professionals in this field with those of amateurs. Part
B shows the performance of one of the amateurs. Part C presents further overall results of the test from which conclusions
are to be drawn.
Hiller Aircraft Company II, (A) Design of a Supercharger Inlet Duct, (B) Filter Housing Clearance Considerations, (C) Structura
Bracket Design, (D) Engine Shroud Design,
P. Z. Bulkeley, H. O. Fuchs, E. J. Echterling,
ECL 28
1964.
Physical Description:
Total 42 pages (Parts A,B,C,D) with 14 text, 28 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
The company has decided to install a supercharger on the model 12-E helicopter to give it higher altitude capability. The
addition requires modification of an inlet duct. In the first of four subcases, the duct design is complete except for drawing
the intersection of two pieces, a descriptive geometry problem. Paper cutout patterns are included to save students' time.
In Part B, Bill Lancaster, a power plant engineer in the company has decided that clearance between the duct and part of the
airframe should be checked, another descriptive geometry problem, requiring consideration of motion of the engine on its mounts
as well. Part C presents the need for a simple structural bracket design. Part D presents the need for an engine shroud design,
mainly a sketching problem.
Radiation Products Company, Failure of a Rotating Mirror, H. O. Fuchs, J. K. Williams,
ECL 30
1965.
Physical Description:
Total 28 pages, with 13 text, 15 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
The company has been having problems with a mirror designed to rotate at speeds of around 10,000 revolutions per second for
taking high-speed photographs. Attempts at solution over a period of years have not yet provided the answer and the question
is what should be done next.
Precision Instrument Corporation, Experience with a Tape Reel Hold-down Mechanism, H. O. Fuchs, R. D. Regier,
ECL 31
1965.
Physical Description:
Total 26 pages, with 9 text, 17 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
Company engineers are dissatisfied with existing hold-down knobs used in one of their tape recorders, feeling they are not
simple or inexpensive enough. The case presents their viewpoints plus data on existing devices as background for student design
projects.
William Wohlfort, Design of a Variable Frequency Oscillator, R. E. Miller, W. Wohlfort,
ECL 35
1965.
Physical Description:
Total 30 pages (Parts A,B,C,D) with 15 text, 15 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
Electronic circuit design of a variable frequency oscillator is the focus of this case. Each of the first three sections ends
with an unresolved problem answered by the professional in the start of the succeeding section.
Allied Solid Rocket Corporation, E. J. Fisher,
ECL 37
1965.
Physical Description:
Total 47 pages (Parts A,B,C) with 26 text, 21 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
Need for expansion of a large and fairly complex facility for mixing solid rocket fuel has raised a variety of engineering
problems which are presented in three sections of the case. The first concerns decision among three specific alternatives
for general design of the expansion. The second concerns selection of a heat exchanger, and the third concerns selection of
a pump to move the mix.
Dymo Industries, Inc., Design of a Tapewriter Component, H. O. Fuchs, J. A. Alic,
ECL 38
1965.
Physical Description:
Total 12 pages (Parts A,B) with 5 text, 7 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
In the first of two parts a company engineer is asked to redesign a tape label dispenser so it can handle two different widths
of tape. The second part then goes on to tell how he did the job. An instructor's note is available.
Rucker Company, (A) A Centrifuge Project, (B) Inertia Starter for the Centrifuge, (C) Centrifuge Clutch Design, H. O. Fuchs, O. Lorentsen, A. Krauter,
ECL 39
1965.
Physical Description:
Total 16 pages (Parts A,B,C) with 7 text, 9 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
The design of a centrifuge is described in three installments, each ending with some unsolved problems. Suggested questions
for the student appear at the end of each installment.
Hughes Tool Company, Aircraft Division, Development of a Light Observation Helicopter for the United States Army, K. H. Vesper, E. J. Echterling,
ECL 41
1965.
Physical Description:
Total 36 pages (Parts A,B) with 12 text, 24 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
The first of two parts describes the need for sketching possible fuselage configurations for a new light observation helicopter.
The second part tells how the craft was designed by the company to win competition for a large Army contract. A brief instructor's
note presents a viewpoint regarding what can be learned from the experience.
Gar Wood Industries, Inc., Failures at Welded Joints in a Hopper Trailer, H. O. Fuchs, J. A. Alic,
ECL 42
1965.
Physical Description:
Total 27 pages (Parts A,B,C) with 11 text, 16 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
In three installments this case tells of attempts by company engineers to eliminate some failures which are occurring in welded
joints of a hopper trailer pulled by large diesel trucks.
Peterson Tractor Company, Design of a Side Sloper, H. O. Fuchs, J. A. Alic,
Revised by Richard C. Bourne,
ECL 43
1965. 1968.
Physical Description:
Total 30 pages (Parts A,B,C) with 13 text, 17 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
An angled blade for a bulldozer needs to be drawn, confronting one of the company engineers with a problem in descriptive
geometry. The first of three parts describes the problem situation and gives suggested questions for the student. The second
consists of notes for the instructor, and the third tells what the company engineer actually did.
Dynasham Truck Company, Ltd., Truck Suspension Bolt and Bushing Failures, H. O. Fuchs, J. A. Alic,
ECL 44
1966.
Physical Description:
Total 37 pages (Parts A,B,C) with 13 text, 24 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
Lance O'Leary, a young graduate engineer, is confronted with failure of a bolt and rubber bushing which connect a leaf spring
to a truck frame. By repeated analyses of the failure, investigation of the part, and redesign, he succeeds in overcoming
the problem. He also develops some designs which he would have used if the problem had not been solved by his earlier attempt.
Lance's work in this case includes stress calculations, life test specifications, material selection, and consultation with
various suppliers.
Marvetti, Inc., Design and Development of a Printing Calculator, H. O. Fuchs, J. A. Alic,
ECL 45
1966.
Physical Description:
Total 91 pages (Parts A,B,C,D,E) with 20 text, 71 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
Part A gives the background of the company, the state-of-the-art of printing calculators, and organization chart of Marvetti,
and a brief history of the management decisions before Harvey Shaw was assigned as Project Engineer. Part B discusses the
extensive test programs used in the development of business machines. Part C shows some of the moves which were made in order
to start production of this machine in a European plant of this American company. Part D shows a number of the design changes
which were necessary to debug the machine after pilot production had been started.
Beckman and Whitley, Inc. I, Design of a 16mm Portable News Film Camera, H. O. Fuchs, D. A. Horine,
Revised by Richard C. Bourne,
ECL 46
1966. 1968.
Physical Description:
Total 34 pages, with 9 text, 25 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
A leader in the field of scientific high-speed cameras enters the field of cameras for TV spot reporting. Progress of the
project from the initial decision through early idea sketches and several prototypes to the successful production design is
described in this case.
Systron-Donner Corporation, Design of an Analog Computer, H. O. Fuchs, J. A. Alic,
ECL 47
1966.
Physical Description:
Total 36 pages (Parts A,B) with 10 text, 26 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
Dick Dunlop is charged with the overall design of a small analog computer from given components and subsystems. Part A gives
the background of the company and of the product. Part B shows a number of Dick's early sketches and the finished product.
It also discusses a detail mechanical problem connected with a latch mechanism.
Travaglio Engineering Company, Manufacturing Design for a Cycle Timer, R. E. Keller,
ECL 51
1966.
Physical Description:
Total 14 pages, with 9 text, 5 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
Mr. Dalny Travaglio, consulting design engineer, had developed and tested the conceptual design for a high accuracy, high
repeatability cycle timer. This case presents the information required for carrying out the final mechanical design of the
timer and is intended as an exercise in design for mass manufacture.
Development of A Dynamic Seal at Beckman Instruments, Inc.-Spinco Division, William J. Clemens, David Horine,
ECL 52
1967.
Physical Description:
Total 14 pages, with 4 text, 10 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
Mr. Chet Arnessen, a young employee of Beckman Instruments, was asked to redesign part of the buffer pump of his company's
Model 130 Spectrochrom Analyzer. A few of Beckman's customers had complained that the moving seals in this pump developed
leaks after very little use; these complaints were reaching the company at the rate of one or two a month with some repeats.
Beckman's customers were scattered all over the world and, since the Spectrochrom Analyzer is not portable, the company had
to send its Field Service personnel to them to make whatever repairs were necessary.
Ford Motor Company, Design of an Automatic Welding Machine, J. A. Alic
ECL 53
1968.
Physical Description:
Total 25 pages; 9 drawings, 3 reproduced from Ford Motor Company originals, and 6 pages of other exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
Ray Rogers and Bill Fleming are assigned the problem of designing an automatic welding device to replace the manual spot welding
of rocker panels on the Mustang. Part A outlines the problem. Part B shows the solution which, however, introduced a new problem:
the machine interfered with the smooth flow of bodies along the production line. Part C shows how this difficulty was overcome.
Beckman and Whitley, Inc. II, Design of a Mirror Mount, H. O. Fuchs, D. A. Horine, Revised by Richard C. Bourne,
ECL 54
1966. 1968.
Physical Description:
Total 12 pages (Parts A,B) with 5 text, 7 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
Les Brown, who was in charge of the job said, We wasted a considerable amount of time due to the fact that we had all forgotten
our descriptive geometry. The case concerns the determination and communication of the specifications for a block which fits
into the camera and holds a mirror which reflects the light at 90 degrees to the side and 30 degrees upwards. The erroneous
original sketches and the finished shop drawing with tolerances are shown beside the data necessary as background for this
part. An instructor's note is available.
Lawrence Radiation Laboratory, An Ultra-High Vacuum Flange Seal, K. H. Vesper, J. A. Alic,
ECL 57
1966.
Physical Description:
Total 7 pages, with 4 text, 3 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
While developing a new ultra-high vacuum seal needed for connecting pipes in nuclear fusion research equipment (Project Sherwood),
Mr. Tom Batzer, a mechanical engineer, had to determine the size, spacing, and torque for flange bolts. A one page conclusion
section describes how he approached the problem.
Stanford Linear Accelerator Center I, (A) Development of a Remotely Operable High-Vacuum Coupling, (B) The SLAC Design, (C)
Ring-Spring Analysis and Load Spring Design Problems, (D) Coil Spring Design, (E) Material Selection, (F) Ring-Spring Material
Selection and Casting Problems,
J. A. Alic,
ECL 59
1966.
Physical Description:
Total 49 pages (Parts A,B,C,D,E,F) with 14 text, 35 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
The six parts present the history of a remotely operable high-vacuum coupling design. The story presents problems in materials
selection (including indium and stainless steel), elastic analysis and deflections, and design.
Art Whiting, To Weigh A Man In Space, K. H. Vesper,
ECL 60
1966.
Physical Description:
Total 15 pages, with 6 text, 9 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
Intended for freshman orientation, this case dealing with design of a means to weigh a man in space has also been used successfully
at graduate level. The analytic problem faced by Mr. Whiting at the end of the case is to determine the man's mass from Newton's
second law from stopwatch experimental data. The question then is what to do about the fact that the accuracy is not quite
satisfactory. Teaching objectives are similar to ECL 58, namely, to let the freshman see that his elementary science applies
but he needs more to become a pro.
Stanford Linear Accelerator Center II, Beam Pipe Cooling System, J. A. Alic,
ECL 61
1966.
Physical Description:
Total 93 pages (Parts A,B,C,D,E) with 29 text, 64 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
After general agreement had been reached that the pipe should be cooled by circulating liquid the question for SLAC mechanical
engineer Al Lisin was, how? In five parts this case unfolds the history of the design. Intended primarily for use in a graduate-level
heat transfer course.
General Electric Company, Vallecitos Atomic Laboratory, Ventilation Exhaust Stack, P. Z. Bulkeley, D. A. Horine, Revised by Sue Hays,
ECL 62
1967.
Physical Description:
Total 16 pages (Parts A,B,C,D) with 9 text, 7 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
During extension of the ventilation stack one of the construction engineers noticed cracks in the concrete base. Mr. Don Brown,
a mechanical engineer, undertook to analyze the problem and propose a solution. Four chapters describe how he proceeded with
the analysis, in which he assumed that wind-induced vibrations caused the cracking.
Data International II, Voltage Regulation, J. W. Hill,
ECL 63
1966.
Physical Description:
Total 19 pages (Parts A,B,C) with 5 text, 14 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
A practical case intended to interest students in the application of circuit analysis, presented in three parts. Need for
an inexpensive method for reducing the fluctuation of the voltage supplied to a mission in Guatemala is expressed in a letter
from a missionary. The first part defines the problem through an exchange of letters between Data International and the missionary.
The second part gives a solution suggested by a consultant, and presents a second letter from another missionary in Darjeeling,
India who has a similar problem. The third part is an answer from another consultant who uses a different approach to the
problem.
Data International III, Electrical Appliances, J. W. Hill,
ECL 64
1966.
Physical Description:
Total 11 pages, with 2 text, 9 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
A letter was received by Data International from a missionary going to Urguay raising some interesting questions regarding
the use of United States manufactured appliances on both the 60 cycle United States current and the 50 cycle Uruguyan current.
Three consultants replied in different ways, providing material for a comparative critical review.
Hewlett-Packard V, Microwave Switch, W. E. Bullock, J. W. Hill, G. R. Powley,
ECL 67
1966.
Physical Description:
Total 27 pages (Parts A,B,C) with 14 text, 13 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
In three parts this case briefly summarizes key engineering problems in the development of a high-speed broadband microwave
switch. Two main points of focus are concerned with innovations in the design and problems of transferring the design to manufacturing.
Ampex Corporation, Tape Recorder Capstan Shaft, K. H. Vesper, J. A. Alic,
ECL 68
1966.
Physical Description:
Total 44 pages (Parts A,B) with 5 text, 5 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
The first part of this short case describes design of a capstan shaft, which must operate smoothly in a precision tape recorder,
stopping at the point where bearings must be selected. A second part tells how the engineer on the job designed the bearings
and, in particular, how he solved problems of lubrication.
City of San Jose-IBM Corporation, Computerized Traffic Control, D. O. Covault, G. A. Fleischer, P. F. Williams,
ECL 69
1966.
Physical Description:
Total 61 pages (Parts A,B,C,D) with 38 text, 23 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
Part A of this case describes how IBM and San Jose try using a digital computer to control city auto traffic. Part B describes
the system, C describes strategies with which it was applied, and D gives the results which convinced the city to install
a modified system for regular control of certain intersections. Suggestions for the instructor are included.
Bechtel Corporation, Process Analysis and Optimization of a Desalting Plant Design, J. W. McCutchan, R. P. Vail, E. N. Ziegler,
ECL 70
1966.
Physical Description:
Total 39 pages (Parts A,B,C) with 15 text, 24 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
Mr. Rufus Crawford in 1964 was asked to help analyze large scale flash distillation of saline water to (1) improve the company's
competence in desalting technology and (2) to develop experience in computer aided optimization. The first part presents the
problem of deriving a general scheme and criteria for evaluations. The second part poses the problem of developing heat and
mass balance equations. A third section describes how Crawford went at the job. An instructor's note is included which suggests
assignments and references.
Varian Associates, Redesign of a Liquid Nitrogen Container, William S. Chalk, Ivan A. Shirk and Robert B. Thornhill,
ECL 72
1967.
Physical Description:
35 pages; 10 graphic exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
Varian Associates use a liquid nitrogen container made of polystyrene with metal inserts on their cold trap vacuum pumping
system. This container gave rise to a number of customer complaints. Paul Hait was assigned the problem and solved it. Part
A presents historical background with examples of trouble reports. Part B relates Paul Hait's attack on the problem and its
solution. Part C draws conclusions and examines future prospects.
Switching a Tracking Antenna, Sue Hays,
ECL73
1968.
Physical Description:
Total 14 pages: 6 pages text, 8 pages exhibits
Scope and Contents note
In 1963, Philco-Ford's Western Development Laboratories accepted a contract to design and assemble a sixty-foot satellite
tracking antenna for the military. Mr. Ed Fish was one of about one hundred engineers in the department that was to design
the antenna. His particular section was responsible for the design of the antenna's control system; this case concerns one
aspect of that design-the system of push buttons used to switch the antenna from one to another of its four operating modes.
Precision Instrument Company, Modification of a Portable Video and Broadband Instrumentation Recorder, Karl H. Vesper and William H. Clemens,
ECL 76
1967.
Physical Description:
13 pages; 6 graphic exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
A team of four engineers are working to modify an existing video tape recorder so that it can be operated without depending
on 60 cycle ac. current supply. Manchi Colah is one of the engineers on this team. The case is concerned with the experiments,
calculations, and inquiries which he made in order to arrive at a suitable motor to drive the tape of this recorder.
Hewlett-Packard VI, Signal Generator Read-Out Design, Karl H. Vesper, Robert Beardmore and Charles Fernald,
ECL 78
1967.
Physical Description:
47 pages.
Scope and Contents note
Anthony Badger's ingenious solution to the problem of packaging an extended instrumentation scale into a small space and keeping
it readable is shown in some detail with much interesting background. Seventeen pages of Part A contain mainly background.
Sixteen pages of Part B show the first solution with many pages of the notebooks of Anthony Badger and of Peter Rich. This
first solution is not satisfactory. Part C explains the final solution in three pages of text and eleven pages of photographs
and notes reproduced from Mr. Rich's notebook.
Chaparral, Bolt Failure on a Racing Automobile, Henry O. Fuchs and William H. Clemens,
ECL 79
1967.
Physical Description:
3 pages of text and 2 pages of exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
Mr. Jim Hall, designer and driver of the famous Chaparral race car, gave a talk shortly after reports of bolt failures on
his car had appeared in the press. He was asked about these bolt failures. His explanation of the failures and of the way
he fixed them are given in the case, together with some additional information.
Consolidated Dynamics Corporation, Fracture of a Marine Gear Rim, William H. Clemens,
ECL 80
1968.
Scope and Contents note
The rim of a large marine gear breaks during fabrication. Mr. George Reynolds, head of the metallurgical laboratory investigates
the failure and prescribes a remedy. Part A describes the problem and Part B shows the steps which Mr. Reynolds and his staff
took. Part A consists of 4 pages of text, 7 pages of graphic exhibits and 5 pages of a laboratory report prepared by Mr. Reynolds
at Consolidated Dynamics. Part B consists of 1 page of descriptive text and a 13 page laboratory report by Mr. Reynolds with
1 page of microphotographs. A brief instructor's note for this case is available.
Design of an Electron Beam Dump at Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, Munir R. El-Saden,
ECL 82
1967.
Physical Description:
16 pages: 7 text and 9 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
Early in 1964 Dieter R. Walz, a member of the technical staff at SLAC, was placed in charge of developing a beam dump. This
device is a heat exchanger capable of absorbing and dissipating the high energy electron beams which must be disposed of at
the end of the 2 mile long accelerator. The case describes performance and maintainance requirements for the beam dump and
tells how Walz proceeded with his design.
Shielding a Toroid Amplifier at Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, Sue Hays,
ECL 90
1967.
Physical Description:
Total 8 pages
Scope and Contents note
Scientists at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center planned to mount a field strength detecting device inside the pipe through
which the electron beam travels. The signal from this device would be passed through an amplifier mounted on the outside of
the pipe, then transmitted to a remote oscilloscope. This brief case study describes the design and construction of a shield
used to protect the amplifier from stray electromagnetic fields produced by power sources for the accelerator. Included as
exhibits are the chassis layout and cover assembly drawings prepared by Pete Demos, the designer assigned to the job.
Girder Alignment at Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, Henry O. Fuchs and Sue Hays,
ECL 91
1968.
Physical Description:
Total 21 pages; 12 text, 9 graphic exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
The alignment within 1/8 inch of the two mile long Stanford Linear Accelerator presents problems in metrology and in structures.
These are explained in part A. Part B is concerned with one of the details: the interconnection and support of the 250 girders
which carry the support tube. This interconnection permits adjustment of the alignment if it should ever be disturbed. Detail
drawings of parts which connect the girders are shown as originally made and as revised to conform with better drawing practices.
Development of a New Drill Steel at Ingersoll-Rand Company, H. O. Fuchs and Ronald J. Shuman,
ECL 94
1967.
Physical Description:
Total 20 pages, including text, drawings, material specifications, and a patent application.
Scope and Contents note
Rock drills are used in mining, in excavating, and in other applications where it is necessary to remove hard rock. The drills
produce holes into which blasting charges are later inserted. These holes may be as shallow as a few feet or as deep as one
hundred feet. Depths of fifty feet are common. The holes are produced by a bit which is attached to one end of the drill rod
(or steel). A pneumatic hammer hits the other end of the drill steel, through a so-called shank piece. The drill steels themselves,
each about ten feet long and one and a half inches in diameter, are threaded at both ends and joined by couplings. This case
study provides some background on the drilling process and the characteristics of existing drill steels, then traces the development
of an improved drill steel.
Development of an Undersea Power Supply at Aerojet General Corporation, William J. Clemens,
ECL 96
1967.
Physical Description:
Total 18 pages; 10 text and 8 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
In March of 1967, Mr. Carl Carney of Aerojet General's Nucleonics Division in San Ramon, California, was completing plans
for modifications to be included in the second prototype of Aerojet's Undersea Radioisotope Power Supply (URIPS). Mr. Carney
had been working on the project since late 1965 and this prototype was scheduled to be the last design model in the URIPS
series before production was started.
Pump Plunger Improvements at Kobe Inc., Robert Martin,
ECL 100
1969.
Physical Description:
Total 20 pages: 3 pages text, 17 pages exhibits
Scope and Contents note
Kobe Inc. manufactures a positive displacement type triplex pump which is used in their hydraulic oil well pumping system.
To achieve reliability in these pumps, which must operate continuously at high pressures (up to 30,000 psi.), Kobe engineers
must continually refine their design. As an example of such refinement, this case follows the development of the pump plunger
and liner over a period of 24 years.
Development of a High Speed Weighing Machine at FMC, Sue Hays,
ECL 109
1969.
Physical Description:
Total 23 pages: 17 pages text, 6 pages exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
The overall design process is traced step-by-step from an original concept to the manufacture of several commercially useful
prototypes. The designer was seeking a quantum improvement in a food-weighing device by using fluidics instead of electronics.
Design of a Hand Operated Film Drive Mechanism, John Sondeno,
ECL 111
1969.
Physical Description:
Total 19 pages: 9 pages text, 10 pages exhibits
Scope and Contents note
This is the story of a mechanical design undertaken by the R. A. Morgan Optical Engineering Company: a microfilm reader-printer
was to be modified so that it could accept 105 mm. roll film as well as 105 mm. cut sheets. The task, according to Mr. Morgan,
was to design some sort of transmission to manually turn drive shafts for the film spools in a manner that would be convenient
to the operator and aeshetically attractive.
The Go-Matic Accessory for Motorcycles, Prem Garg,
ECL 113
1969.
Physical Description:
Total 23 pages: 10 pages text, 13 pages exhibits
Scope and Contents note
Go-Matic is a gear shift mechanism which, when installed in place of the final drive sprocket on a lightweight motorcycle,
enables the rider to select either of two speed ranges (high, street range or low, trail range) by moving a lever. This case
traces the development and marketing history of the device from the point of view of Mr. Neal Williams, President of the Go-Power
Corporation, which manufactured it.
Development of a Circular Strike Plate at Schlage Lock Company, Richard C. Bourne,
ECL 114
1968.
Physical Description:
Total 50 pages (Parts A,B,C,D): 21 pages text and 29 pages exhibits
Scope and Contents note
Most doors are held in a closed position by a system comprised of a retractable latch bolt located in the door edge and a
strike plate fastened to the door frame, the plate being cut with a hole to receive the latchbolt. In 1963 Mr. Ernest L. Schlage,
Director of Research at the Schlage Lock Company, undertook the design of a new circular strike plate which could be installed
with a single boring operation rather than the hand chiseling or routing required with the traditional rectangular strikes.
Part A of the case includes background on the components of the Schlage cylindrical lock and design requirements for the new
strike. Part B describes the steps taken which resulted in the design and introduction of a circular strike meeting these
requirements. Parts C and D deal with the refinement and modicication of Schlage's original design which led to production
of an adjustable circular strike.
Harvey La Branche: Spring Failures in a New Toy Rifle, Karl H. Vesper,
ECL 120
1968.
Physical Description:
26 pages total (parts A and B): 8 text, 18 exhibits
Scope and Contents note
Mattel Incorporated was about to introduce a new toy rifle which used a recording to produce its cracking sound. Orders for
thousands of these rifles had been received and production tooling was underway. Some handmade samples of the guns had been
assembled, then cocked and fired over 6,000 times without failure. Then some phosphor bronze clutch springs began to break
on the first batch of 100 guns which had been assembled from production parts. Mr. Harvey LaBrance, Director of Product Development
Engineering, had to decide on a cure for the problem.
Warren Deutsch: Design of a Satellite Controlling Instrument Panel, Mitchel Blanton,
ECL 124
1968.
Physical Description:
Total 31 pages (Parts A and B); 12 text and 19 exhibits
Scope and Contents note
Ground control stations are equipped with instrumentation for sending to a satellite commands controlling its functions. Technicians
must be able to handle large numbers of such functions (Perhaps 100 for a typical satellite) from a single control panel.
To accomplish this task Philco-Ford engineers had designed a device called POK (Page Overlay Keyboard) which consisted of
an array of buttons plus overlays, or pages, which could adapt the panel to a variety of functions. Warren Deutsch, head of
the Value Engineering Department at Philco-Ford, felt this system was unnecessarily cumbersome and set out to improve on it.
Part A of the case describes the problem and Mr. Deutsch's approach to it. Part B deals with refinements of his design.
Plastic Pipe Saddle Design, Prem Garg,
ECL 126
1969.
Physical Description:
Total 43 pages: 9 pages text, 34 pages exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
Pipe saddles are functionally similar to T-joints. They are used extensively in piping networks for branching off from the
main line and can be mounted on existing networks without interrupting the flow in the main line. In 1965 there were no saddles
satisfactory for use on plastic pipe which had become increasingly popular for municipal, irrigation, gas and industrial uses.
The case describes the design and manufacture of a suitable plastic pipe saddle.
Three Years to Design a Door, Drew V. Nelson,
ECL 127
1969.
Physical Description:
Total 46 pages (A and B): 10 pages text, 36 pages exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
Part A tells how the Schlage Company started to design a service door for the Hilton Hotel in San Francisco and shows the
first two iterations including the patent issued for this design. Part B shows the final design and the end result of this
3 year effort on which about 5,000 man hours of engineering time had been spent. Instructor's Note is available.
Design of a Centrifuge Rotor Cap, P. C. Garg,
ECL 137
1969.
Physical Description:
Total 16 pages: 8 pages text, 8 pages exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
Mr. Ken Jacobsen, project engineer at the Spinco Division of Beckman Instruments Inc., had proposed to incorporate new features
in an ultracentrifuge. These features had been developed in a national laboratory. They now had to be improved and refined
for the Spinco production model. Some background on the operation of ultracentrifuges is given; attention is focused on the
detail design of a subsystem and on the technical difficulties which Mr. Jacobsen had to surmount to achieve a satisfactory
product.
Electron Beam Collimator, M. J. Lum,
ECL 138
1969.
Physical Description:
Total 11 pages: 8 pages, text, 3 pages exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
Research physicists at Stanford Linear Accelerator Center discovered secondary radiation effects accompanying certain experiments
with the electron beam. Because of these effects, the beam's cross section was difficult to define. The scientists asked the
Research Area Department at SLAC to design a collimator, an adjustable device to block out the outer portion of the beam allowing
only the central beam core to pass through. Dr. Ed. Seppi, head of the Research Area Department, gave the job to Mr. Aaron
Baumgarten, who told the case writer how he designed the collimator.
A Special Testing Problem at IBM, K. J. Waldron,
ECL 144
1970.
Physical Description:
Total 24 pages: 8 pages text, 16 pages exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
Chris Jako was asked to design a machine which would detect oil-canning of computer drum memory reading heads. Oil-canning
is caused by small differences in the lengths of six beryllium copper strips. They are mounted between a fixed base and the
moving head and serve as springs and conductors. This case can be used to practice elastic stability theory, amplifier circuit
design, or electro-mechanical precision design.
Howard Ameson's Pool-Sweep, P. C. Garg,
ECL 146
1970.
Physical Description:
Total 27 pages: 15 pages text, 12 pages exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
In 1958 Mr. Howard Arneson, rather fortuitously, came across an idea for a device to clean swimming pools automatically. To
pursue this idea further, he started a tiny company with $8,000 in 1960. By 1965 the device was in production and in 1969
his company had sales exceeding six million dollars. Mr. Arneson now heads the company he sold to Castle and Cooke Inc. for
9 million dollars in 1969. The case tells Mr. Arneson's story.
Design of a Ball Transfer Unit for Air Cargo, R. K. Ganeriwal,
ECL 149
1970.
Physical Description:
Total 11 pages (Parts A,B,C): 4 pages text, 7 pages exhibits
Scope and Contents note
Westscope was one of the companies which was requested to quote on a ball transfer unit for the cargo system on the Boeing
747. This case describes the development of a suitable unit at Westscope. The case is written in three parts, each part describing
a different phase of the design development.
Drop Master, R. Ganeriwal.
ECL 150
1970
Physical Description:
Total 23 pages (Part A and B): 11 pages text, 12 pages exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
Drop Master is a device used for monitoring the rate of fluid administered intravenously. The device was invented and developed
at Smith Kline Instruments Inc. After the Drop Master was put on the market, a number of service calls from the customers
indicated that the device was too sensitive to temporary flow rate changes. This case describes how the difficulty was overcome.
Underwater Pipeline, Dean C. Ing,
ECL 151
1970.
Physical Description:
Total 20 pages: (Parts A,B,C): 17 pages text, 3 pages exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
Robert Kinner, a structural analyst, had been loaned to the undersea pipeline project to check the design of pipe bundles
which drop down from a height of about 15 feet above the sea floor and are subject to several design constraints. He found
that the pipes would buckle unless the design was changed and proposed a feasible design. When the project management doubted
Rob's analysis he devised a very quick and inexpensive test to prove his assumptions. Part A outlines the problem. Part B
shows Rob's solution. Part C show his tests and the associated calculations. The case is useful in connection with beam bending
theory and to show the mechanics of interdepartmental cooperation in a large company.
Positioning a Microwave Diode, S. Hayes and R. Ganeriwal,
ECL 156
1970.
Physical Description:
Total 14 pages: 10 pages text; 4 pages exhibits
Scope and Contents note
The micro switches for the Apollo antennas had to withstand a temperature range of 140° and high vibration levels during lift-off.
The problems and the solutions are described in the case.
Interfaces at Sterling Development Laboratories, Sue Hays,
ECL 157
1970.
Physical Description:
Total 15 pages (Parts A,B,C)
Scope and Contents note
Sterling Development Laboratories contract was a large one: To build a complete data collection system which included two
antennas, two receivers, a transmitter, a data processing display, and recording center. Customer constraints and the nature
of the electronic interface between the digital recorder and the computer magnetic tape controller combined to cause difficulties.
Jumping a Derrick, Professor Ralph J. Smith,
ECL 159
1970.
Physical Description:
Total 13 pages: 8 pages text, 5 pages exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
In this case study in construction engineering, Dan Jeffrey, a young civil engineer, on his first field assignment for the
Bethlehem Steel Corporation, explains the decisions he must make in determining the safety of storing steel on a partially
completed floor of a new building. Instructor's note is available.
Expansion of the Danville Pumping Plant, James C. Collins,
ECL 160
1970.
Physical Description:
Total 55 pages: 20 pages text, 35 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
Increase in water demand and expansion of pump capacity for the Danville-San Ramon area, selection of pumps and reservoir
sites, and problems of design constraints are described chronologically from 1959 through 1969 when the new pumps were installed
and tested.
Development of a Stainless Steel Trashrack, R. J. Shuman,
ECL 161
1970.
Physical Description:
Total 29 pages: 9 pages text; 20 pages exhibits
Scope and Contents note
Few people have seen the second largest stainless steel structure in the United States-the trashrack system for the Oroville
Dam powerplant. The case details how stainless steel was substituted for mild steel. The substitution had to be justified
on a superior function and lower cost basis, leading to a sophisticated analysis of a rather prosaic component. The case is
interesting both as a technical achievement and as an example of the way engineering innovations are accomplished.
Variable Stability System of the X-14A VTOL Aircraft, J. Hill, G. Kardos, A. Winn,
ECL 162
1970.
Physical Description:
Total 28 pages: 7 pages text (Parts A&B); 21 pages exhibits
Scope and Contents note
The first part of this case describes the original control system and reasons for adding a variable-stability auxiliary system
to the Bell X-14 experimental aircraft. By means of excerpts from the original project notebook, the student is provided with
the technical requirements of the system. The second part includes the project notebook calculations for the first part and
poses the additional problems of writing a preliminary progress report, designing a simulator for the control system, and
drawing a block diagram of the control system. A brief instructor's note is available.
To Find a Bullet, Geza Kardos,
ECL 174
1971.
Physical Description:
Total 31 pages: 10 pages text, 21 pages exhibits
Scope and Contents note
This case tells of an unusual application of the engineering method, the location of a missing bullet in a police case. The
construction of the case is to show and to lead the student through the solution as carried out by Jorgen Vindum, the principal
investigator. The case is divided into three parts: each section ends at a critical decision point and students can be asked
to discuss the course of action to be followed. The case involves a mixture of technology, computer application, intuition,
experimentation, logical thinking and plain luck. Instructor's Note is available. Parts A, B, C.
Negligence, Drew V. Nelson,
ECL 178
1971.
Physical Description:
Total 65 pages: 57 pages text, 8 pages exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
A case study concerning a products liability lawsuit which arose out of an industrial accident in which Plaintiff was severely
injured while operating a large mechanical press. Emphasis is on engineering aspects of the case, as extracted from depositions
of expert witnesses. Important elements of Plaintiff's trial brief, legal arguments, etc. are also presented. Parts A, B,
C, D.
A Four Barrel Step-and-Repeat Camera, Geza Kardos,
ECL 181
1971.
Physical Description:
Total 32 pages
Scope and Contents note
Paul Piper was hired by the Friden Research Center to design, develop and produce a microphotographic camera for the production
of final stage integrated circuit masks. Piper's problems are described from the management decision to make instead of to
buy the camera through the design to the testing and modifications of the unit. An Instructor's Note is available.
The Design of the Bart-AFC Barrier Drive System at IBM, R. Piziali,
ECL 185
1972.
Physical Description:
Total 53 pages: 35 pages text, 18 pages exhibits
Scope and Contents note
This case describes in part the design effort and decision process associated with the development of an actuating system
at IBM, San Jose. The case starts when delivery is due in 16 months and only an unsatisfactory prototype exists. Parts A,
B, C.
The Pickup-Head Link Failure, R. Piziali,
ECL 186
1972.
Physical Description:
Total 27 pages: 12 pages text, 15 pages exhibits
Scope and Contents note
The IBM 2321 is a vast storage device which reads and writes data on a magnetic strip. These strips are stored in cells and
mechanically taken from the cells for read-write operations and then returned. With the 2321 in full production and in the
field, the pickup-head link began to fail. After a metallurgical fix of the link failed, stresses due to three independent
loads were re-examined.
Later the link was redesigned, but the pin on the end of the link began to fail. Further redesign involved metallurgical and
structural analysis. Parts A, B.
Value Engineering Applied to an IBM Leveling Screw, R. Piziali,
ECL 187
1972.
Physical Description:
Total 19 pages: 9 pages text, 10 pages exhibits
Scope and Contents note
This case provides a brief look at the methodology of Value Engineering. A leveling screw for the IBM 1311 disk storage drive
was assigned to students in an IBM Value Engineering Seminar. The students applied their newly learned techniques to redesign
the leveling screw to reduce cost while maintaining function. Their solution was so successful that it was put into production
on many IBM systems resulting in over one million dollars in savings.
The Stun-Gun, A. P. Shack and G. Kardos,
ECL 188
1972.
Physical Description:
Total 29 pages: 12 pages text, 17 exhibits.
Scope and Contents note
Bob Mawhinney recalls the invention and development of a riot-control weapon which shoots a non-lethal spin stabilized bean
bag. Part A gives the background feasibility calculations. Part B relates development of a cartridge suitable for military
use. Part C shows how a complete system suitable for civilian use was developed.
Laser Hardware, Fred Moreno,
ECL 189
1972.
Physical Description:
Total 56 pages: 32 pages text, 24 pages exhibits
Scope and Contents note
Fred Moreno, mechanical engineer in Sylvania's Electronic Systems group is assigned to work with the Electro-Optics Organization
on devices for satellite laser communication. Work on temperature control and on mirror alignment for the breadboard demonstration
model are described in Part A. Part B discusses thermal contact resistance and choice of materials for space vacuum. Part
C relates work on the later functional test model, where weight, space, and demonstrated reliability become additional constraints.
Part D describes three technical problems: energy for warm-up, vibration resonance, thermal conductance and modulator operating
temperature. Part E shows Fred's solutions of these technical problems.
