Answers to Queries.
Page 18
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Inspection and Trial.
[4072] (Butchers).—Our two inspecting engineers who were formerly resident in. Birmingham are now on active service, and therefore, are not available for the work mentioned. We could, however, detach one of our London engineering istaff to do the inapection for you, providing you give us reasonable notice.
Claiming 3d. a Gallon Rebate on His Petrol.
[4073] (Baker).—The rebate forms have been sent by our business department. You may cectitinly claim for the petrol which you have used during the last three months, provided you can produce proof to show the quantity, and that it was duty paid as you obtained it—as all petrol which you buy at a garage must be.
Arterial Roads for Greater London.
[4074] (Home Counities).—We had noticed the reply of the Right Hon. Walter H. Long, M.P., President of the Local Government Board, to the representationsof the public and professional bedies who presented to him the report of the London Conference on new arterial roads. Whilst Mr. Long expressed the view that there should be a prior call upon Government funds for the. provision of housing for the people in the country, and for sanitation and water supply, be was dealing with a,scheme for new roads—not a scheme for the strengthening and improving of existing trunk roads about the country. You will recall that Sir George Gibb, who was present with Mr. Long on the occasion named, has been called upon to deal with the scheme for new arterial roads, as put forward from the series of conferences which took place between London borough and neighbouring councils. This scheme for new arterial roads in and around London is of undoubted importance, and not only so from the idealistic point of view. Practical and commercial considerations favour it, and they will no doubt be taken into full account.
We direct attention to part of our first leading article in the present issue, from which you will no doubt derive some comfort. There will undoubtedly be a struggle after the conclusion of hostilities between different Government departments, in respect of available public money. It rests with the motoring organizations to pull together to see that the proceeds of motor taxation, which are not now being applied to road improvement, are once again rendered available for that purpose. We have a great belief in the soundness of the-claims of " The roads for commerce" and "The toads for the . people," as means hereafter of securing the necessary voting strength, both in the country,, and in the House of Commons. Going On with Body-work.
[4075] (Lancs.).—There is nothing in the Order. of the 3rd November which prevents your proceeding with body-work. Whilst people who are building any part of a vehicle fall within the definition portion of the Order (concerning class of factory), the prohibition portion of it—in the absence of a permit—only refers to work concerning the engine and. mechanical portions, and not the body-work.
Disc-type of Universal Joints.
[4076] (South Coast).—We presume from your inquiry that you wish to make these joints yourselves.
In that event, the spiders or the metallic portions of the joints, which are attached to the shaft, will be of forged steel and therefore preferably will have two arms each. A suitable overall diameter of such a joint is 84 ins. The bolts which you will use to attach the rings to the spider will be al in. in diameter ;
they will be of special design as shown in our sketch. Each of the bolts will be a good fit in its respective hole in the arm of the joint. It should be necessary
to force it into place by light tapping with a hammer. The driving discs of metal will need only to be one to each joint; they will be 8,1i ins, diameter outside, and 41 ins, diameter inside. A special class of steel will have to be used for these discs, and we recommend you to get into touch with the following
companies concerning the material :—W. T. Flather, Ltd., Standard Steel Works, Sheffield ; T. Firth and and Sons, Ltd., Norfolk Works, Sheffield; Flockton,
Tompkin and Co., Ltd., Newhall Steel Works, Sheffield.; Stringer and Co., Ltd., Wincobank,
Sheffield ; Kayser,.. Ellison, Ltd., Carlisle Works, Sheffield ; Rotherham Forge and Rolling Mills Co., Ltd., Forge Lane, Rotherham.
The transmission of the drive from the spiders to the discs should be by friction grip, although, of course, the bolts must be a driving fit in the discs ; again we refer you to our sketch. Our best advice to you, however, is not to make these discs of metal ; they are much more difficult to manufacture in metal
if a satisfactory and lasting joint is to result. The design of those universal joints, utilizing metal discs,
which are in use, is the result of long experience; the metal used is in every case a trade secret, and one that will on no account be divulged. Quite apart from these manufacturing costs, however, the point has to be remembered that the special steel you require will probably not be obtainable without a Government permit. How you are fixed for obtain ing such a permit, or course, we are not aware. Where there is not very much movement as between the line taken up by one shaft and that of the other, a leather joint has always been found to be satisfactory, and we strongly recommend its use in this ease.
A point which, to judge by your letter, you have evi
dently overlooked, is that provision must be made for the sliding of the clutch member. In some eases, this is allowed for in the leather joint by flexing the leathers. Where the movement of the clutch member is not great, this is an allowable proceeding, especi ally as its movement is divided between the two joints. When the movement of the clutch member is great, it is then advisable to make one of the spiders for the joint a sliding fit on its shaft. With regard to the last paragraph of your letter, we have not got' any collecting cards in connection
with the Fund. Several of our subscribers, however, similarly placed to yourselves, are ma-king. collections in the works on their own account, and sending them to us from time to time as opportunity occurs. Probably this method will commend itself to you ; as the work involved in the reply to this letter is unusually great, no doubt you will feel inclined to send us a subscription yourself.