Increasing Axle Load Within the Law
Page 62
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A Risme' of Recently Published Patent Specifications That Are Obtainable From the Patent Office, Price is. Each
UNDER present regulations, the load on a single axle is limited to a certain maximum; this May be exceeded, however, if use he made of pairs of wheels, spaced at least 18 ins. apart. To take advantage Of this factor, at the• same time retaining the simplicity of a single live axle", -is the purpose of the design shown in patent No. 465,493 by H. Spurrier, Junr., and Leyland Motors,.-Ltd., Ham. Works, Kingstonon:Thames.
Each axle casing carries a cylindrical mounting . (2) .upon which is placed a 'two-piece race carrier (5), keyed so that -it inn roek without moving endways.. The race carrier is fitted with tapered roller bearings, upon which the twin-wheel and brake-drum assembly revolves in the conventional manner, with the additional rocking movement provided by mounting 2. A rubber buffer (1) forms an abutment at the limit of oscillation.
The driving arrangements comprise a forked end (3) to the live axle, engaging with the arms of a short shaft (4), The outer end of this shaft engages with slotted limbs attached to the wheel assembly, the whole forming a universal joint sufficient to provide for maximum deflection, a matter of eight degrees each side of the vertical.
Oil-engine Refinements from Switzerland.
°THE name of Adolphe Saurer S.A., Arbon, Switzerland, appears in patent No. 465,561, describing a method of preventing overheating of the tip of the injector, a frequent trouble that often leads to obstruction by carbon and fuel dribble. In this case the cooling agent is the incoming air charge, WikiCil is . deflected in a definite direction so as to sWeep the nozzle tip. The deflector consists of a partial skirt (1) on the stem side of the Inlet valve, so that the air has a free passage on only one side of the head. If found necessary, this action can be encouraged by the addition of a small A36 flat plate (2) attached to the other side of the valve.
The specification describes this method as applied to the well-known Saucer four-valve engine.
New Use for Hydraulic Couplings.
THE efficiency of inficiern hydratilie
• cbuplings is forcibly illustrated by a scheme shown in patent No. 465,205, by J. Ayres and Bryce, Ltd., Kelvin Works, Hackbridge, Surrey. This patent shows a starter motor and -pinion, with an hydraulic coupling incorporated in the connecting shaft. A slight frictibnal coupling is included, to spin the pinion for engagement purposes, but this is pressed out of action when the load rises, and the hydraulic
coupling transmits the full toi-que. The coupling is proof against damage by backfires, and should considerably, lengthen the useful life of that heavily stressed component—the starter pinion..
American Cylinder Heads of Copper.
ACCORDING to Federal-Mogul Cor poration, Detroit, Michigan, the use of copper. for cylinder. heads will permit the use of a higher compression ratio without. detonation, .; probably on account of its high co: efficient of conductivity. Thia metal', does not, however, easily lend itself' 10-. the making of complicated' cored castings, and the above concern describes, in patent No. 465,569 a method of : building up the head in two pieces. •
In the accompanying drawing, the lower 'portion (1) is a simple copper' casting, and it is clamped down by a complete set of studs (2 and 1), the usual combustion-proof gasket being interposed. The topmost portion (8) is merely a lid to the water spaces, and is provided with a number of wells for the passage Of the studs (4) and the sparking plugs. This portion is fixed to the lower part by its own separate studs, and is in no way stressed by the explosions ; it is this feature which forms the basis of the patent.
Preventing Starter Damage in Oil-engined Vehicles.
WITH the heavy starter motors now in use on oil-engined vehicles it is possible to cause considerable stresses by inadvertently closing the starter circuit while the engine is running. A scheme to prevent this is shown in patent No. 465,660 by J. M. Muir and C.A.V.-Bosch, Ltd., Warple Way, London, W.2. The scheme comprises a small attachment to the, control. rod (1) of the injection pump, which acts as an interrupter switch to the relay circuit of the starter motor. Only in the position of rest are the contacts closed, so that the starter control circuit cannot be completed when the engine is running.