Enclosure for a motor (7) - Crossword Clue
Answer: HOUSING
Understanding Motor Housing: The Essential Protective Enclosure
- When you encounter the crossword clue "Enclosure for a motor (7)," the answer you're looking for is HOUSING.
- A motor housing serves as the protective outer shell that encases and safeguards the internal components of an electric motor, engine, or mechanical device from environmental damage, physical impact, and operational hazards.
Why Motor Housing Matters in Engineering
- The housing design significantly impacts motor performance, longevity, and safety.
- Proper enclosure selection protects against corrosion in marine environments, prevents contamination in food processing facilities, and ensures worker safety around moving parts.
- Housing also determines the motor's IP (Ingress Protection) rating, which specifies resistance to solid particles and liquids—critical information for selecting equipment for specific operational conditions.
- Engineers must balance protection requirements with cooling needs, as enclosed motors generate significant heat.
- Inadequate housing ventilation causes overheating and premature failure, while excessive openings compromise environmental protection.
Common Crossword Variations and Related Clues
- Crossword enthusiasts frequently encounter motor-related clues with similar answers.
- "Protective cover" might also yield HOUSING, while "motor casing" or "engine enclosure" point to the same solution.
- The seven-letter constraint makes HOUSING the perfect fit for this mechanical terminology puzzle.
- Related crossword answers include CASING (6 letters), SHELL (5 letters), or COWLING (7 letters) for aircraft engine covers.
- Understanding these mechanical terms expands your crossword-solving vocabulary across automotive, industrial, and engineering-themed puzzles.
Enclosure for a motor (7) - 7 Little Words - FAQs
Q: Why is the answer specifically 7 letters?
A: Crossword clues include numbers in parentheses indicating the answer length. "Enclosure for a motor (7)" tells solvers the answer contains exactly seven letters, making HOUSING the perfect match.
Q: Are there other valid answers for motor enclosures?
A: While CASING, SHELL, and COVER are synonyms, HOUSING is the standard engineering term and matches the 7-letter requirement most crossword puzzles specify for this clue.
Q: What's the difference between housing and casing?
A: In technical usage, housing typically refers to the complete structural enclosure including mounting features, while casing often describes just the outer protective shell. For crossword purposes, HOUSING is the more comprehensive answer.
Q: Do all motors have housing?
A: Yes, virtually all motors include some form of housing for protection and mounting, though the design complexity varies from simple plastic covers on small motors to sophisticated multi-part enclosures on industrial equipment.
