PETROL-ELECTRIC PLOUGHING SEtS.
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A Résumé of Recently Published Patents:
The most interesting invention this week is that of H. Cooper and J. Fowler arA Co. (Leads), Ltd., -which is described in specification No. 145,131. Unfortunately' the omission on the part of the Patent Office to provide the drawings which should have aocompanied the specification precludes our illustrating this or dealing with it so fully as we should like. It is a new cable-operated ploughing set, embodying the petrol-electric system for the generation and provision of the necessary power.
There are three different arrangements of the mechanism described' in the specification. In general, however, they may be said to consist of an internalcombustion engine driving a dynamo which supplies current, to an electric motor. Engine, dynamo and motor are all mounted on the same chassis, and the motor may transmit power 13ither to the horizontal winding drum, about which is coiled the usual steel wire hauling cable, or alternatively„ through a train of gears to the rear wheels of the chassis so that this power may be utilized either for hauling implements in the field or for the propulsion of the Machine itself as a road tractor.
A special feature of Ilthe invention is the arrangement of the wiring of' the two engines which are used in conjunction with a complete set of tackle. Wherever maximum power' is required the two engines and generators are kept continuously operating. The are coupled by an electric cable so that the whole of the power developed by the two can be utilized by either motor. This, of course, mast be of enormous advantage in reducing the weights of the individual machines; which may each be much lighter and smaller than would otherwise be necessary.
In the' course of the specification, at.
tention is drawn to the fact that it is generally advantageous to have a supply of electric current about the farm. It is suggested, for example, that one development would be the provision of a ;suitable living van, carried an the rear of the vehicle, the convenience of which van would be considerably enhanced by the availability of electric ourrent for ccoking, heating, lighting, etc. Also, in view of the fact that it has been seriously suggested that under suitable conditiana ploughing and other tillage operathins might well be performed during the night, electric current developed by these power units would be available for lighting the fields during operations. Again the utilization of electric current for the purpose of stimulating the fertility and increasing the yield of crops is also passible, thus offering further scope for the use of this type of power plaid.
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Detail Improvements.
That fertile inventor, Mr. F. L. Sapson, having apparently done his utmost to advance the comfort of the , user of the touring car, has now turned his attention to the commercial vehicle. In apecification No. 145,154 he describes the application of his anti-friction screw gear to a tip wagon. The wagon body is supported on small guide aollersawhich run upon 'mails so formedthat,' as the rollers traverse them they Perform the function of tipping the lorry 'body. Attached to the chassis is a bearing for a, screwed spindle, and fastened below the body of the vehicle is a. special nut containing the anti-friction balls in an endless groove or channel, which is a feature of Mr. Rapson's screw gearing. The screwed spindle, which is revolved in ',the ordinary way by means of a
handle, causes the nut, and, of course, with it the body of the vehicle, to move either sideways or endways, according to the disposition of the gear, when the supporting rollers, riding up or down the rails, as the case may be, "tip the wagon.
The portable vulcanizer which is described in No. 145,155 by W. Frost and Harvey Frost and Co., Ltd., is specially
adaptable for use with solid rubber tyres. The patent 'has particular reference to' the formation of the heating chamber and the moulding plate so that the former can be brought closer to the tyre than has hitherto been convenient.' The moulding plate is circular in form, and is secured to the heating ;chamber by clamps and detachable bolts which fit in slots in the plate and flange of the chamher instead of in holes. The chamber itself is ribbed so as to be able to withstand considerable pressure, and is
clamped to the tyre by means of a couple of crossbars and four bolas A feature of the latter is the extent and facility of their adjustment so that the apparatus can be rapidly fitted to tyres of different dimensions. It should he noted,. of course, that although the moulding plates are circular as regards their ex .ternal shape, the form differs according. to the size and contour of the tyre, and a variety of moulding plates can be supplied with the apparatus. There is another specification this week dealing with the improvement of starting gear for automobile engines, the object in this case being to eliminate-the risk of unintentional engagement of the starting gear when the..enginels actually revolving. The switch which completes the electric circuit, and thus starts the motor, is operated by a push rod acting through a toggle joint. In the ordinary way the levers forming this toggle are in line one with another, and are so held by means of a spring catch. Whoa however, the sliding pinion engages with the engine gear for starting, it diaturbs a trip lever in such a manner trait, when the,' engine commences to. revolve under its own co-rkwerand automatically yushes the starting_ pinion out of gear, the trip lever aforesaid operates a switch, and completes another electric circuit, this operates a solenoid which disturbs the alignment of the toggle levers, and,. be sides breaking the normal circuit of the 'starting motor, makes it impossible' for that circuit to be made in the orcliawy way by pushing down the plunger until the driver of the ear has first pulled it right out and straightened the toggle again. The iruanlaer of this interesting specification is 145,143, the patentee being F. Ja Gill.
No. 155,201 Tafers to "Improvements in Or relating to gaseproducer 'plants for vehicles, locomotives, aircraft or the like." • It is a self-contained apparatus embodying water tank, ecrabbers, fuel bunkers, and conveyers. The specification is No. 145,201, and the patentee F. J. Wiltshire. .
W. F. Cottrell describes' in No. 145,096 a screw jack which is intended to be permanently attached to the chassis frame. There are two screws with a common hand wheel and a common base.
The. former permits of the two screws being operated in unison, the latter ensures stability.
The feature or thecarburetter described by F. W. Austin in No. 145,216
is the design of the throttle barrel, which is in halves, one half sliding past qie other. The two, halves are so shaped
internally that, with the fully-oleo-4A
position of the throttle, there is a wavelike passage between them. In the other extreme position the humps of one half of the sliding barrel come in contact with those of the other to close the
throttle. The jet is situated near a hump of the stationary part of the throttle, and the contour of the latter is such that there is never complete closure near the let.
No. 145,227 by J. It. A. Young refers to an internal-combustion engine turbine
embodying mixing chambers for the fuel and. air, explosion chambers, and fixed and revolving vanes. There does not appear to be any means of cosnpreseing the combustible reixture.