Small Agrimotors in Paris.
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An Interesting Collection is Shown at the Agricultural Exhibition.
By Our Special Correspondent.
The Esplanade des Invalides, a huge open space in the centre of Paris, is again the scene of the instrument and machinery section of the annual French Agricultural Exhibition. The live stock is housed in a portion of the Grand Palais. This exhibition has attracted 601 exhibitors, the combined stands occupying an area of 400,000 sq. ft. Although the motor section is very well filled, there. are very few engines or machines that have not previously been shown to the public.
A New Renault Engine
Renault, who has not previously produced stationary motors, makes his debut in this section with a single-cylinder vertical motor of 80 mm. by 130 mm. bore and stroke respectively, designed for driving various machinery by means of belts, or for driving a dynamo for electric lighting installations, The engine has very much in common with the well-known twin-cylinder taxicab type, the two valves being placed side-by-side and in front of the motor, and the waterproof Bosch magneto being set across the front. It is fitted with a governor operating on the throttle. The most distinctive feature however, is the way in which Renault has employed thermo-syphon water-circulation with a flywheel fan. Ae on all the cars, there are vanes on the flywheel, which has a casing built around it. Above this casing, and consequently above the wheel,, is a high, oval-section tank with a series of circular-section tubes passing right through it. These are open at the top and bottom and the current of air generated by the fan is driven through them, thus cooling the water within the tank. There is a projecting filler on the rear a few inches below the top, so that water can be poured into the tank without entering the air tubes. The tank is sufficiently high to give a good head of water to the engine. This little newer plant is supplied complete with a big petrol tank and has a new type of automatic carburetter of Renault design. A light delivery van of 12 h.p.. fitted with twin tires at the rear, is also shown on the Renault stand.
The Panhard and De Dion Exhibits.
The Panhard and Levassor exhibit is confined almost exclusively to single and twin-cylinder stationary motors driving dynamos and water
pumps. Be Dion Bouton has also speciali7ed in single and twin-cylinder stationary and portable power plants having pulleys for driving various machinery by belt connection. A small country fire-engine is also shown on this maker's stand. It is rather noticeable that French manufacturers show a decided preference for the vertical car-type of stationary motor. Agrimotors.
Nearly all the motor ploughs having taken part in the public competitions during the year are represented in the exhibition, several of the machines having been brought direct, from the fields and left in their rough workaday *arb. Among these are the Bajac, built in collaboration with the De Dion Booton Co. ; the Lefebvre caterpillar type ; the Filtz ; the neat singlecylinder Gilbert; the De Mesmay single-cylinder, and the Champenoise motor plough. The Motoeultore Franeaise shows a new model of agricultural machine designed
fmworking in vineyards. It is evident that this exhibit has seen active service, and according to the stand attendant it had conic direct from an important vineyard in the South of France. A larger type of machine on this principle took part in the Bourges competition last autumn and did very satisfactory work. The principle employed is that of revolving picks mounted on a transverse shaft ; to prevent breakage when coming in contact with rocky ground, the picks are of a rather flexible-nature, forming a set ies of hooks. This new machine has a Peugeot twin-cylinder Vmotor as used on the Peugeot light cars. It is carried under a bonnet on a very low frame, and immediately to the rear of it is a. large metal box carrying the gears. The drive is taken by the propeller shaft and the gears to either one or both of the road wheels, and thence by an extension of the shaft and bevel-gearing to the cross-shaft carrying the picks. A guard is carried around the revolving shaft, and there is a cnstor wheel at the extreme rear. One man is required to operate the machine, his position being between a. pair of shafts on which the control levers are mounted. The plough will take a width of 35 in.
One New Machine.
The only new motor plough at
the exhibition is the Doizy. This is a tractor with a 'X) h.p. Abeille motor in front, a platform at the rear, drive to the rear wheels by side chains, and final drive to the winding drum by a single chain. Instead of the cable being wound up directly on the drum, it is passed round a pulley on the anchoring frame immediately under the machine.; thus, as the tension on the cable increases, the picks on the anchoring frame are forced further into the ground. The pulley is loose on its shaft, thus giving a lateral displacement which allows . of a correct winding of the cable.
A belt pulley is mounted on one end of the countershaft, and by means of a system of dog-clutches this shaft can be driven independently of the pinions connected by chain to the rear wheels, Stationary Engines and English Makers.
.The Dubois and Rousseau valveless motor is shown as a singlecylinder type for stationary work. This engine, which was on view for the first time a year ago, has a reciprocating roller in the head of the cylinder, and it has already been described in THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR. It is stated that this engine is now being manufactured by the I.T.A.L.A. Co. Numbers of English manufacturers show their wares on the stands of various French agents, Aveling and Porter, Ltd., has a very big display, one of the most important units being . a steam tractor to be supplied to a French firm of millers. One Foden is on view, and numerous gas engines and agricultural machines complete the British exhibits. The attendances have been good.