A Polygonal Engine
Page 74
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THERE are many advantages in a I polygonal layout of cylinders of which the Napier " Deltic " engine is an example, but such engines usually have a crankshaft at each corner of the polygon. A scheme._ in which a single central crankshaft can be employed in such a layout is shown in patent No. 805,996. (A. Roth, 58 Kaupenstrasse, Essen, Germany.)
The drawing illustrates the basic geometry of the proposed engine. The engine in this ease is hexagonal in outline and has six cylinders, each of which contains a double-headed piston (1). The combustion spaces are located at the corners of the polygon, and the injectors (2) are therefore placed at these points. The engine operates on a two-stroke cycle and its exhaust ports (3) and inlets (4) are sited at the " bottom ". of the stroke.
Each piston connects with the central crankshaft via a short link (5), a bellcrank (6) and a connecting rod (7). The bell-cranks work through slots in the cylinder wall, but these are so arranged as to be closed by the pistons at all times.
A feature of the patent is the possibility of varying the valve timing by mounting the bell-crank pivots (8) eccentrically so that their position can be altered by an external control.
The patent covers also the use of poppet valves instead of cylinder-wall ports for the exhaust system.
IMPROVED RUBBER BUSH
PATENT No. 805,539 shows a resilient bearing that can be used for numerous purposes, in particular for pivotal joints of motor vehicles, (Howard ClaytonWright, Ltd., Wellesbourne, Warwickshire.)
The drawing shows the type of joint that could be used in a spring shackle, It comprises an outer member into which fits a thin metal housing (1). This conIains a rubber sleeve (2) whieh, for heavy loads, may be given a degree of precompression on to an inner sleeve (3).
Between the inner sleeve and the central bolt is a thin sleeve (4) preferably made of nylon. This is split to allow for expansion of the nylon through heat or water absorption. The nylon is preferably lubricated, although it will not fail if run dry. Axial thrusts are taken by end flanges formed by turning over the ends of the metal sleeves.
LARGE TUBELESS TYRES ARGE wheel rims, as used on commercial vehicles, usually have a detachable side-wall which is removed when a tyre has to be changed. As it is practically impossible to seal such rims against air leaks, they cannot be used with tubeless tyres.
Patent No. 805.552 shows a large tyre having no bead wires; this means that it can be sprung over a one-piece rim. The : tyre is so constructed that the pressure of inflation sets up a force that presses it firmly into position on the rim, (Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd.. 1 Albany Street, London, N.W.1.) The tyre comprises a body of natural rubber containing at least one double layer of cords (1), the cords crossing over
to form a latticed pattern. The action of this construction is such that inflation places the cords in considerable tension and so causes the bead portion to contract. This is said to create an airtight seal on the flat base (2) of the rim.
PLASTICS TRAILER BODIES
PATENT No. 805,024 comes from Fruehauf Trailer Company, 10940 Harper Avenue. Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A., and gives details of plastics bodies for trailers. They are intended mainly for refrigerated vehicles to combat the corrosive action of the refrigerant. Glassfibre-reinforced polyester resin is the material used and the patent gives examples of construction.
SPRUNG TURNTABLES
PAA SPRUNG fifth-wheel coupling for trailers and semi-trailers is shown in Patent No. 805.402. The aim of the design is to keep the trailer level even when being cornered sharply. (R. Banger, Villa " Aadal," Hojby, Fyn, Denmark.) The drawing shows an end-on view of the front of the turntable, Instead of a king-pin it has a ball-joint (I) which permits it to rock in any direction, The ball-joint is mounted on a leaf-spring (2) clamped to the trailer frame. The ends of the leaf-spring bear on blocks (3)
which can•move circumferentially around the turntable (4). These blocks may also act as buffers to impose a limit on spring deflection.
When the drawbar member (5) corners, the leaf-spring remains at right angles to the trailer frame and so tends to maintain:the trailer on an even keel. Instead of a single half-elliptic spring, two quarter-ellipties may be used.
A CONSPICUOUS STOP-LIGHT
THE multiplicity of vehicle. lights makes it difficult to differentiate the brake stop-light from the others, and patent No. 805.868 shows a design for such a light that is intended to give a very distinctive signal. (A. van °Osten, 76 Oude Delft, Delft, Holland.)
The main feature of this light is that it appears to revolve and is therefore unlikely to be mistaken for any other. The drawing shows how this apparent rotation is produced by revolving the reflector. The latter is mounted on ball bearings (I) and is driven by a gear (2) engaging with a pinion on an electric motor (3). The motor is controlled by the light switch so that both function together. The angular facets (4) of the reflector ensure that the light is spread through a wide angle.
ELECTROLYTIC DEPOSITION OF LUBRICANT
A SCHEME for electroplating valve L-1 rockers with chromium or other hardwearing metals is disclosed in patent No. 805,839. The novel point is that a lubricant is deposited simultaneously with the chromium, a suitable lubricant being zinc sulphide. This material is suspended in the plating bath to which considerable agitation is imparted. The patent comes from Daimler-Benz A.G., StuttgartUntertlirkheim, Germany.
PISTON-RING PRODUCTION
PATENT No. 806,882 discloses a machine for the rapid production of piston rings. They are finished to a noncircular outline hut When assembled in the cylinder attain perfect circularity. The patentee is Goetzwerke, Friedrich Goetz A.G., Burscheid, Köln, Germany.