The Supply Department.
Page 17
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Selected Information which is likely to be of Interest to Makers, Owners, and their Buyers.
A Simple Gradiometer.
We are enabled to illustrate on this page, by the reproduction of a sectional drawing, the internal mechanism of a new gradient indicator which is of interesting construction. In our issue of the 28th April last, we published an abridgment of the patent relating to this acees.sory on the "Patents Completed " page. We have now been furnished with a more-detailed description of this instrument by the inventor, Mr. Arthur Twidle, Junr., of %Heigh, Sidcup. In conjunction with a reliable and easily-read form of speedometer, a gradient indicator
or clinometer, such as that which we are now considering, may be nsed tO enable a driver to obtain, on the road, a rough estimate of the power which he is getting out of his engine.
As may he seen, by reference to the illustration, this instrument has a cylindrical body. which is provided with a window in its periphery, through which the gradients on the moving dial may easily be read. The gradiometer is supported on trunnions in a bracket, which may be attached to any convenient part of a motor vehicle, such as the dashboard. the footboard, or the canopy. Any position, in fact, is suitable, so long as the axis of the cylinder remains at right angles to the direction of the motion of the vehicle. The cylindrical case of the instrument is in two portions: one carries the window and fixed pointer: the other closes the end of the cylinder. To this latter portion, a central spindle, carrying the moving dial and the internal mechanism, is rigidly fixed by means of a dog and mit. Pivoted on this spindle is a weighted sector, in whose upper portion a large and small pinion are mounted. The smaller pinion gears with a larger pinion which is rigidly fixed to the central spindle, whilst the larger one gears with a small pinion which is loosely mounted on the central spindle, and to which the moving cylindrical dial is attached.
It will be seen that, when the vehicle to which the instillment is attached is inclined to the horizontal, the sector is maintained in a vertical position by gravity, and, consequently, its relative movement to the spindle on which it is mounted is transmitted to the moving dial by means of the gearing. In special circumstances, when the action of the moving dial is required to be exceptionally " (lead beat," thick oil may be placed in the dial cylinder; the friction of the oil on both the moving cylinder and the sector will then effeetually damp their relative motion. For all ordinary road work, however, the inertia of the dial cylinder is sufficient to render its action practically " dead beat."
The casing of the instrument rotates on its supporting trunnions. in order that the wimlow may be brought into the most-suitable pesitiun for the observation of the dial by the driver or other observer. The tightening of one thumb-nut holds this portion of the casing rigidly in position. By rotating the outer casing, the adjustment of the instrument to zero is effected, and this adjustment is locked by the tightening of the other thumb-nut.
A Simms Distributor.
We reproduce on this page several photographs of a 'lee List ributor which has recently been produced by the Simms Magneto Co., Ltd.. of Welbeek Works, Kilburn. N.W. This new component has been designed with a special view to its use with either supplementary-battery or dualcombined ignition. The whole distributor is fixed to the engine by means of a suitable bracket, and the casing is mounted round the distributor shaft on small ball bearings. The main body of the distributor itself consists of a substantial vublinite cover, in which a contact ring and the neves sary distributor segments are compactly mounted. This distributor disc is retained in position on the casing by means of spring clips. The contact breaker, which is of the standard magneto type, is carried on the main shatt in the usual way. Also fixed to this shaft is the distributor arm. which is of vulcanite, and which, of course, rotates with the shaft and the eontatt breaker. This distributor
arm carries a carbon brush, which makes the necessary contacts in turn between the ring and the segments fixed in the distributor plate. The rupture of the platinum points of the contact breaker is effected by the travel of the fibre heel of the bellcrank lever over the irregular face of an internal cam ring. The usual connections to accumulators, plugs and coil are arranged in accessible positions. and the general finish and appearance of this substantial accessory are evident from the photographs From which our illustrations are profrom which our illustrations have been prepared.