A NOVEL RECORDING SPEEDOMETER.
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OuR illustration shows ,a novel ,form • of recording speedometer invented by J. A. Phibbs, of Cherry Lane Garage, Cherry Lane, Lyme', , Cheshire., Air. Phibbs has had a long experience with commercial vehicles and is the Proprietor of a fleet a motor coaches. He is, thesefore, in a poition to realize what type of instrument is most suitable for running requirements.
In the Phibbs device the usual type of 'speedometer mechanism is enclosed in a case and mounted as 'shown in the illustration. The pointer is extended beyond the pivot, and to it is attacked a recording pen' which makes contact with a chart, carried by two brass drums, one of which
is driven by clockwork. The chart is calibrated horizontally in miles per hour, and vertically for time, the hours being eulidivided into quarters. The whole of the recorder is enclosed in a metal case which can be locked, the upper portion of the cover being glazed to make the speedometer dial visible. Taking a particular instance, the clock can be wound up and the chart set at, say, 6 p.m., alter which the case would be locked. While the vehicle is not in 'motion the recording pen would males a straight line along the paper, but homediately the vehicle moved itsopeed and the time during which it is' in motion would both be shown. The instrument would also show the number and duration cif the stoppages, and, in fact, give a complete aid permanent record of the operations.
The clock mechanism -will run for 'several days, and thus a vehicle may be away from its depot on an extended .
1334 j'ourney and yet bring back with it a complete summary of the times during which it was running. • The inventor wishes to dispose of the patent rights of this instrument, and will be glad to hear from those interested. The use of recording instruments of this and other types is 'gradually spreading, but not so rapidly as we consider should be the case. Running recorders, as recently pointed out by ug" in an edi tonal on the subject and referred to at some length in our page of " Opinions from Others " in our issue of February 20th, are of considerable value, as, by their use, it is possible accurately to determine the time during which a vehicle has been running, the duration of any stops, and the times at which these occurred, so that time losses can be investigated with a view to promoting greateç efficiency, and routes which, through traffic congestion, are proved to be unsatisfactory can be changed.