GOVERNING THE ENGINE OF THE FORDSON.
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A New Device Designed to Make the Agrimotor Useful for Stationary Work.
THE Fordson tractor is apparently extending its usefulness in many directions, and has surely gone far beyond the original intentions of its designer, who, we are told, had in his mind mainly the provision of an " iron horse " which would satisfy the needs of the farmer. It is now being adapted for many industrial purposes, on the roads, in factories, and also aa a shunting engine on railroads. Many municipal authorities, too, are utilizing it for driving such machines as stone breakers, circular saws, and the like, to excellent died,
As a driving medium, it is already acknowledged that the tractor is all the better if it be fitted with a governor. The machines named, as well as most others for the driving of which the tractor is adapted, are alike in this, that the load is a fluctuating one, rising to a maximum when being fed with stones to break, or timber to saw, respectively. The tractor, naturally, must have its throttle set to cope with the heaviest loads, and if there is no one available to keep a close watch upon it all the time it is working, its engine is liable to suffer damage through racing while the load is light. To keep a man continually occupied at the mere task of twiddling the throttle valve lever is not to be thought of these day's, with labour at e premium, so that., for economical: working, a governor capable of maintaining the speed at a fairly constant figure, notwithstanding these load flue.: tuations, is essential.
Such a governor has just been placed upon the market in this country by Alfred Dugdale, Ltd., of 65, Conduit Street, Regent Street, London. It is called the Strand, and is a most simple -*flair. is mechanically a sound job, and would appear to be most efficient for its purpose. It has the advantage, too, that it can be fitted to the tractor in less than an hour, there being no holes to drill nor need for any alteration to the tractor.
An aluminium casing of neat design is fitted to the front of the engine after removal of the commutator. This casing contains a train of four wheels. One takes the place of the commutator, and is driven by the spindle which formerly drove that part. The second is an idler, and the third has a projecting spindle, upon which the commutator is again fitted. This, as it happens, brings the commutator a little higher up, and renders it much more accessible than it is in its usual position on the tractor before the governor is fitted. The fourth wheel is half the size of the others, and drives the governor, which is of the familiar flyball type.. It is interesting to note that, owing to the reduction in the size of the final driving wheel, the governor is driven at crankshaft speed, instead of at camshaft speed, a factor which makes for increased efficiency in the sense that greater power is afforded the governor, with reduced weight of moving parts. The governor operates the throttle through a simple system of levers, and is adjustable for range by the manipulation of a wing screw and lock nut, which may, if desired, be sealed to prevent unauthorized interference.
. The equipment is complete in every detail, down to the shortened licks for operating the advance and retard of the commutator in its new, position. A couple of bolts require to be removed, and replaced by two others Of a special type, which are supplied as part of the governor. The commutator, as we have stated, has to be moved, but even this is facilitated by an ingenious provision, whereby a locating pin in the camshaft ensures that it is replaced on its new spindle without any alteration to the timing. The price of this governor is eight pounds.