Chair’s Letter

 

Last week, we held our annual Student Section Meeting, in which we met with representatives from the local ASME student sections.  The purpose of this meeting is to trade information with the sections, as well as encourage the student sections to network with each other.  It is always interested to see that the various student sections share many of the same concerns, challenges, and opportunities.

 

During the meeting, we brainstormed ideas for future section meetings, resulting in a great listing of potential tours and presentations.  Many of the past section meeting topics are based on pulling ideas from such lists as this one.

 

We feel it is very important to support the student sections, since these students represent not only future ASME membership, but also the future leaders of industry and society.  One way in which the Philadelphia section actively supports the student sections is by providing funding for engineering projects, based on submitted proposals.

 

One general proposal presented at the Student Section Meeting is that the ASME supports the student sections in an autonomous robot competition.  Each student section would construct a robot, based on a listing of design requirements.  The robots would compete against each other in completing specific tasks.  Such a competition would encourage Mechanical Engineers to expand their knowledge in many current fields, including mechatronics and systems engineering.  Stay tuned for more info on this in the future.

 

 

Have a great fall, and hope to see you at the upcoming section meetings!

 

Jim Tully

 

 

 

Internet Access

 

This issue of the newsletter is on the web at www.asme.org/sections/philadelphia/Nov03.htm.

 

Directions for November 17 and December 2 Meeting

 

The meetings will be held at Villanova University. Take the Blue Route (Interstate 476) and exit at the Villanova exit (Route 30 East). Proceed east on Lancaster Pike and cross Route 320. At the next light, turn right into the main Villanova parking lot. Park anywhere in the lot. Note: A SEPTA lot is on the right and is not available for this event. Cross Lancaster Pike at the light and continue up the steps toward the Villanova Chapel. Turn left at the chapel and continue for about 500 yards to the CEER Building (the new modern building on the left). The meeting is on the lower level of the building in Room 1.

 

 

 

Philadelphia Section Officers 2003/04

 

Answer to September’s Puzzler

 

An 1807 Philadelphia advertised the sale of “coal”. September’s puzzler asked what the “coal” actually was?

 

Material advertised as coal in 1807 was actually what today is called charcoal, which is wood that has been burned in a controlled oxygen lean environment. Charcoal for its weight has a high heat of combustion of wood and a low ash content. In the early 19^th century it was primarily used in iron production because of its carbon content.

 

What we call coal, was called “stone coal” in 1807. At the time, stone coal was available as anthracite coal from upstate Pennsylvania but it was more expensive.

 

Do you have a potential puzzler? Send it to the editor to be considered for publication.

 

September 23 Section Meeting (by William Coleman)

 

On Tuesday, September 23,  Caren Anders, Director of PECO Energy Transmission Systems Operations, gave a talk at the regular monthly meeting of the Philadelphia Section of ASME, held at Villanova University CEER auditorium.  She spoke on the detailed functioning of the United States and Canadian electrical transmission grid. Ms Anders also presented moment by moment details of how the system failed during the massive recent blackout of the northeast, midwest, and parts of Canada.  Also, she explained how the PJM interchange, as it is presently constituted, was able to protect most of Pennsylvania from participating in the blackout.  The regular and frequent transfer of power between the various PJM members and outside electricity generators was explained. 

 

She showed where the very high and high voltage AC lines are located that are used to transfer power over great distances  and how high voltage is transformed to lower values for distribution to users.  She indicated where and how and at what time each of the contributing events were that caused the breakdown of the various grid lines that developed overload on the remaining lines and resulted in additional shutdowns as load at each level exceeded the system supply capability.  The irony was that the generating capacity was intact but the grid sensing overload shut the generators down, except for certain local "islands" where breakers acted to protect local generation and distribution systems.  Just as the PJM interchange was able to sense the impending problem and separate Pennsylvania from the rest of the system in time to protect this local grid system and its generators. 

 

    So just as President Carter assembled the Kemeny commission to investigate the Three Mile Island accident and recommend system improvements, it is likely that after the immediate fact finding is completed there will probably be some similar commission  convened to address weaknesses and flaws in the infrastructure.  There still remains to be resolved that if infrastructure must be added, modified or in other ways changed, who will pay for construction and how will they in turn be repaid by the customer base.  Politics and combined PUC involvement is certainly in the offing.  One of the obvious weaknesses that Caren pointed out was the need for better communication for all parties involved in the grid and its operations.  She said that she and her people at PECO were reduced to getting their information as the problem was developing from CNN.  There is a great need for better information for the personnel actually involved in operating the system as well as others in the system that we look to for guidance. 

 

    Following a spirited Q & A period there was a presentation by the Region III ASME Vice President, Professor Ken Kroos to Caren as one of our newest ASME Fellows.  She was given her certificate and pin and this after nomination by her peers and confirmation by the committee of past presidents and board of directors.  The grade of Fellow is our ultimate recognition for mechanical engineers who have performed significantly distinguished career achievements placing them in the top 2% of our membership.  Caren is also a past chairman of the Philadelphia Section and Chair of the National Nominating Committee.  

 

Speaker for November 17 Meeting

 

Frank Hermance is Chief Executive Officer of Ametek Incorporated, based in Paoli, Pennsylvania. Mr. Hermance graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 1971 and began his career with the Taylor Instrument Company where he rose to become senior vice president of all U.S. operations.  In 1984 he joined the Tektronix Corporation where he was general manager of four different electromechanical instrument divisions.  His tenure at AMETEK began in 1990 as the president of the Precision Instruments Group of seven operating divisions.  Mr. Hermance was named Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AMETEK in January 2001.  Mr. Hermance is also a member of ASME and the ASME Philadelphia section.

 

Speaker for December 2 Meeting

 

Ernest James provides business development and operational management consulting services to the technical and small business community.  Mr. James began his career in 1973 as a Controls Engineer with Catalytic, Inc. of Philadelphia before beginning a ten-year stint selling controls systems for Foxboro and Fisher Controls.  In 1985 he founded Sharp Design, Inc., a multidiscipline engineering firm that he grew to 100 employees before selling it to Jacobs Engineering of Pasadena, CA in 2001.  In 1992 Mr. James founded Sharp Technical Services, Inc., a temporary technical service firm that grew to a peak employment of 450.  The firm was sold to Miller-Remick in 2002.  In 1995 he founded Sight Models, Inc., a provider of “AS IS” 3D CAD models via close range photogrammetry.  The firm grew to 15 employees and was included in the sale to Jacobs.

 

He holds a BS in Aeronautical Engineering from Notre Dame and is a resident of Haddonfield, NJ. Mr. James has served on various civic and community boards and currently serves on the Board of the South Jersey Section of the Instrument Society of America.

 

Position Open

 

A medical device company in West Chester, Pennsylvania is looking for product development engineers with 3 - 7 years of

experience in the design and development of mechanical products.  Industry experience Iin automotive, aerospace and medical device all considered. Experience with CAD software (Pro-E, Medusa, AutoCad, Ideas, Etc.), a BS in Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent) is required.

 

The company, formed in 1974, has grown from a small distributor to the leading orthopedic trauma company in the United States and Canada.  They are looking for creative engineers who can add significant value to our development teams.  They offer a competitive salary, bonus plan, complete relocation package and tuition reimbursement. 

 

For more details, please contact Tracy Wolfe, 512 327-7275

 

Franklin Institute Web Site

 

The Franklin Institute’s web site (www.fi.edu) contains some very interesting information on the Institute’s Wright Brothers’ collection. The site also has a section which contains movie clips of the Wright Brothers’ demonstration flights in Paris in 1911.

 

Many of the images are of the objects which section members saw and were able to actually hold during our visit to the Institute in December 2001. Visit the site and see what the Institute is doing with the collection

Temple University’s Paper Hang Glider

 

Yes, that’s correct, a full size paper hang glider. The Temple paper hang glider team competed and finished third in the 2003 Energy Challenge: Paper Hang Glider Competition at Nags Head, North Carolina on April 5, 2003.  Temple’s paper hang glider flew a total of 465 feet in three successful flights.  Three ME seniors: Han-Young Kang (team captain), Kim-Wah Kwok, and Min-Kyu Huh designed and built a paper hang glider as part of their senior design project  with the support of freshman Job Godino (pilot), another senior Yan Kim, and two juniors Mollie Llewellyn and Megan Yarnall.  The Temple team was advised by Drs. Chen and Basu and sponsored by several organizations and companies. The project was sponsored by government and industry with grants totaled over $7,000. The Temple paper hang glider team won a third place trophy and a $5,000 cash award.

 

The hang gliders are built with a modified Rogallo wing design. The material used for the wing must contain at least 80% natural wood cellulose fiber that is evenly distributed throughout the surface. The wing surface can be sealed to preserve the material from effects of weather. The contest is based strictly on distance flown during three flights and not on altitude. But better soaring performance provides more distance during flight. Congratulations to the Temple team.

(Thanks to Jim Chen, Temple University, for the above information and photograhphs.)

 

The 3^rd place team from left to right, ME seniors Kim-Wah Kwok, Min-Kyu Huh, and

Han-Young Kang (team captain), freshman pilot Job Godino, and advisor Dr. Jim Chen.

 

         

Third Place – Temple University’s hang glider soared over 160 ft during one flight in the competition.

 

Fairmount Waterworks Interpretive Center

 

The Fairmount Waterworks Interpretive Center was scheduled to open on September 20. The Center is located in the restored Fairmount Waterworks along the Schuylkill River which was the second installation to supply water to the city of Philadelphia.

 

Unfortunately, due to Hurricane Isabel, the opening was postponed untill mid to late October - after the hurricane season. Because of the hurricane, exhibits were moved to higher ground and flood contingencies were activated. As of the date of publication of this newsletter, no rescheduled opening date has been announced. Watch the Water Works web site (www.fairmountwaterworks.org) for current information.

ASHRAE Meeting

 

The Philadelphia section of ASHRAE is holding a dinner meeting on November 19 at Colleen’s Restaurant at 22^nd and the Parkway in Philadelphia. The pre dinner presentation covers new environmentally safe refrigerants. There will also be a dinner presentation on new HVAC developments.

Contact Hope at 610 971 2169 (hope@multiservicemgmt.com) for more information.

 

ASME Philadelphia Section Meetings

Expectations in the Corporate World

Frank Hermance, CEO, Ametek Corporation

6 pm, Monday November  17, 2003

Center for Engineering Education and Research, Room 1

Villanova University, Villanova, PA

 

Frank Hermance is an engineer in our very Section who has excelled in business leadership and management and risen to the top of the executive ladder.  Mr. Hermance will present a unique perspective of the corporate world to our membership at the November program meeting.  Student members will be fascinated to hear his views on what it takes to succeed within the corporate structure.  Senior members will be equally fascinated to hear a perception of the engineering workforce and the individual engineer from an executive leader.  Mr. Hermance’s talk will focus on the expectations and interactions of segments within the corporate world. 

 

Mr. Hermance will address the following questions during his talk. What are the important evaluators for entry-level engineering performance? What qualities and strengths allow senior engineers to increase their perceived value? What primary aspects of management do the executive levels scrutinize? What are the metrics and intangibles that executives must present favorably to the board? What is being done to uphold business ethics at all levels in a competitive environment? 

 

Contact Lana Vernati at the Villanova ME Offices to place your reservation by November 13 at: 610-519-4980

Cost: $15 members and quests, no charge for students.

Location: Villanova University, CEER Room 1 – See page 1 for directions.

Time: 6:00 PM Reception and diner, 6:45 PM Presentation

 

How to Start an Engineering Consulting Practice

Ernie James – Consultant

6:00 PM Tuesday December 2, 2003

Center for Engineering Education and Research, Room 1

Villanova University, Villanova, PA

 

Mr. James will present the various aspects of starting and growing a successful engineering consulting practice.  He will discuss the current state of the consulting profession, why clients make use of consultants, identifying a position in the market, pricing  services, marketing and selling consulting services, and where to find clients.  The discussion will include how to write a business plan, maintaining banking relationships, and collecting money.

 

Contact Lana Vernati at the Villanova ME Offices to place your reservation by November 25 at: 610-519-4980

Cost: members and guests, $15 for students,

Location: Villanova University, CEER Room 1 – See page 1 for directions.

Time: 6:00 PM Reception and Diner, 6:45 PM Dinner