The Supply Department.
Page 21
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Selected Information which is likely to be of Interest to Makers, Owners, and their Buyers.
Useful to Fire Chiefs.
Mather and Platt, Ltd., of Salford, forwards its latest pamphlet dealing with turbine pumps, etc. This little booklet is well illustrated with half-tone and line drawings. A section of the pamphlet is devoted to showing the various applications to which the pumps can be put.
A Successful Carburetter.
Motor Equipments, Ltd., informs us that the Scott-Robinson patent automatic carburetter is at present in great demand, and that the flexibility and economy, together with the automatic action and single-lever control, make it a favourite both with the drivers and with the large users of commercial vans. We have mentioned this device from time to time in our columns, and our readers will find a sectional illustration of the device given in our issue for the 11th April last, No. 370, which clearly shows the working of the carburetter.
A Composite Wagon Tire.
Our attention has recently been drawn to a new steel and wood tire which is certainly worthy of investigation. This can be fitted, without excessive difficulty, to almost any standard steam wagon wheel. It consists of alternate wood and iron blocks, the wood being
approximately twice the width of the iron, and greenheart and oak being used, also alternately. The irons serve to retain the wood in position, and in order to effect this they are inserted through the felloe and bolted on the underside, as will be seen from the photograph which we are enabled to reproduce. In practice, we are informed, the wheel has been found effective and quiet. with a good gripping effect, and 707 little tendency to skid. A sample wheel has been fitted to a five-ton Foden wagon, and this was run over a distance of something like 400 miles, partly on setts and partly on macadam. The combined net load on the wagon and trailer was eight tons. It was noticed at the end of this test that the wood blocks were little worn but that they had sunk somewhat, due, says the inventor, to compression more than to actual wear. The maker intends to substitute deeper blocks in following models than have been used in this earlier experiment. The sizes would then be 3/ in., as compared with 2/ in. Dovetailed iron blocks, which help to retain the wood in place, will be cast to the rim of the wheel, and removable shoes for the end pieces will be provided. Packing pieces are also inserted between the wooden blocks and the rim, and these can be replaced by other strips in order to counteract the wear. This improved wheel is the invention of Mr. B. Nelson Dadge, of 2, Ambleside Avenue, Toiler Lane, Bradford. The blocks are alternate wood and steel. The Why of Silence.
It must often puzzle the user, whether he be theowner of an industrial vehicle or of a pleasure car, as to how the manufacturer contrives to secure that approach to noiselessness which is such a marked characteristic of the latest models of the day. So pronounced is the tendency towards absolute silence of recent years that the owner is satisfied that exceptional care and accuracy must be necessary in order to, secure such results. From time to time we record some of the special processes which are now commonplaces in the shops, in order to ensure that there shall be nothing left undone to procure accuracy of balance and of finish to within limits, which only a few years ago would have been considered unattainable. The small illustration herewith is an instance' of the care which is taken by one of the large makers to secure perfect balance of an engine component. The object in this instance is to, check the accurate balance of a standard piston, and also to ensure that it is of correct weight and that the head is exactly of the right thickness. The three-point stand (A) has three light rods of a known height, all of which are of exactly equal length. The vernier has its pointer (B) set to the requisite height above the top of the stand : the space between represents the actual thickness allowed for the top of the piston. 'When the piston, therefore, is placed on the three-point support, the pointer of the height gauge should just touch the top of the piston if it be of correct thickness. Gauging all round the diameter in this manner detects the slightest departure from accuracy, if there be any. The Napier method of proving the accurate machining of pistons.
A Strongly-built Shock Absorber.
We have recently had an opportunity of inspecting the " King" shock absorber, which has been designed for use on heavy motor vehicles. The device is made in two sizes. The " CO" model is intended to carry 72 cwt. on back-axles when loaded while the heavier "RU " model will carry up to 86 cwt. By the adoption of a group of spiral springs, which. are so placed over three or four saucer-shaped springplates that when the springs close up under the load' the plates take up the ultimate jar and shock, it is quite an easy matter to keep the spirals, which would otherwise be of excessive length, to a convenient size. The plate-springs are carefully adjusted, and the whole appliance can be set to take any abnormal shock which may occur without any of the springs taking a permanent set. The spiral springs, four in number, are placed round a central bolt which carries a cup-shaped receiver at the bottom, and this bolt is continued beyond the length of the spring for a sufficient distance to take the connections and to be secured by a permanently fixed nut. This absorber is handled by The Progressive Spring Co., of Canonbury, from whom all particulars may be obtained by interested parties.