Components, Engines and Gears.
Page 44
Page 45
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Engines.
Several firms who supply engines to the trade exhibit examples of their productions. Messrs. Aster, Limited, of 4, Princes Street, Hanover Square, London, W., show a large range varying from their 10-12h.p. two-cylinder type suitable for small vans to their 416S class, which develops 8o horse-power. This latter is a new type, and has four cylinders s6omm. by 186mm. and runs at goo revolutions per minute, whilst its weight is about 1,700lb. The usual type employed for bus work is the 46P class, with four cylinders s3omm. by s4omm., running i,000 revolutions per minute and weighing 800lb. On this stand there are also examples of various details, such as magnetos, pumps, carburetters, etc., of which this firm stock a great number. One of the engines is particularly interesting as being the first delivered from the firm's new works at Wembley, Middlesex. A large amount of the company's work is now carried out at these shops, including engines, pumps, magnetos (the only British made ones, we believe), gear, etc.
Messrs. J. Tylor and Sons, Limited, of Belle Isle, York Road, London, N., confine their exhibit to engines, of which they show three complete examples, namely, so, 20, and 4oh.p., the first and last being fitted with four cylinders and the second with two. This latter is in fact a half of the first engine, and is especially suitable for van work, whilst the larger size is extensively used for buses. All engines are fitted with the firm's well-known system of forced lubrication directly on to the journals themselves. Arrangements are made by means of which the bottom portion of the gearcase can be readily and easily detached if this is at any time necessary. All the castings used upon the engines are made upon the company's premises from selected material.
Two engines are exhibited by Messrs. E. H. Benthall and Company, Heybridge Works, Maldon, Essex, of their smaller type, being of 9 and ii horsepower. The crankshafts are a combination of the solid and built-up types and are case-hardened and ground, the bearings being of hard phosphorbronze. The weights of the engines complete are 190 and 2oo lb., respectively.
In addition to several interesting marine engines, Messrs. G. Straus and Company, Limited, of 21I, Upper Thames Street, London, E.C., show a twin and a four-cylinder engine suitable for commercial vehicles. Castings.
As is well known, Willans and Robinson, Ltd., of Rugby, specialises in motor castings, and does a great business, especially for cylinders, in this class of work. The company turns out from 500 to 700 cylinders regularly each week, and on its stand has an extraordinary photograph showing a day's output of Ise, the types varying from the largest to the smallest used in motor work. Besides examples of these castings, it exhibits a large range of aluminium castings for gear-cases, engine bases etc., some being excellent examples Of complicated work. In addition to the above a speciality is made of crankcase castings, either plain or machined. Some interesting specimens of bearings and bushes, cast by the company's " Eatonia " process, are shown, and fractures are on view which show the excellence of the castings.
On its stand in the gallery Ludwig Loewe and Co., Ltd., shows (Stand No. 159) types of the cast-iron cylinder work it has recently introduced into this country. Some examples of small cylinders, on which radiation fins are cast diagonally, are particularly clean and sharp.
John Crowley and Co., Ltd., Meadow Hall Iron Works, Sheffield (Stand No. 187), makes a speciality of malleable iron castings, and the demand for this class of work by the motor trade has so increased lately that it has been compelled largely to extend its foundry. The castings shown are chiefly of small patterns, but the company is particulady well set out to allow of its dealing with large work, such as gear-cases, covers for differentials, etc. Chains.
Three well-known firms exhibit chains for various purposes, and of these Messrs. Brampton Brothers, Limited, of 123, Cannon Street, London, B.C., and the Coventry Chain Company, Limited, Dale Street, Coventry, show examples of various types of block and roller chains, and also of pinions properly designed and constructed to work with these chains. This latter point is one of very considerable importance, and one which perhaps does not always receive the consideration it should. The other firm showing these articles is that of Hans Renold, Limited, Progress Works, Manchester, who, in addition to chains of the above type, show examples of their patent silent chain, with which we dealt at some length in a special article in our last week's issue. These chains are in use for transmitting up to i6oh.p. and in some cases run at a speed of over 1,200 feet per minute, so it will be seen that they will cover all requirements of motor work. On the stand of this firm there is an ingenious arrangement, as is illustrated, in which by means of a disc with small slots in it, running at the same rate as a wheel driven by a " silent chain," the action of the latter can be carefully watched. It can by this means be seen that the teeth are in absolute contact throughout the whole of the teeth engaged. In addition to this, as a chain which has been somewhat stretched, and whose teeth do not therefore bottom those of the wheel, is used, it is seen that this absolute contact is not altered by these conditions.
Axles and Springs.
One of the most interesting of the axles at the show is the Butler axle, as shown by the Kirkstall Forge Co., of near Leeds. The object has been to obtain a satisfactory axle, made out of rolled section, of the stability of which there shall be no question. After considerable experiment this result has been achieved by the axle of the pattern shown in the illustration on this page; it will be seen that between the ends of two, shaped, channel bars, a forged piece is strongly riveted, the forging over-lapping the channel pieces a little on each side where it projects. These projections are caulked down on to the channels, and this relieves the strain from the rivets, and the whole axle, although light, is claimed to be remarkably strong. On the same stand are examples of Butler's patent reciprocatinghub, the object of which is to secure perfect lubrication, whilst the lateral
shocks are reduced to a minimum. The construction of this, with its controlling springs, is shown in the accompanying illustration.
Mr. C. Ifonteyn, of 76, Newman Street, London, W., has taken up the agency of Charles lierrnot, Forge S de Chatenois, and has a stand (No. 176) full of types of axles and springs as supplied by this firm to many of the leading French makers. They include all types, some being of very large size, A number of axles suitable for bus and van work are solid stampings of H section.. There is an ingenious steering gear, on one axle, in which the pivot of the axle itself enters a broad metal disc round which the wheel itself rotates on ball bearings. This is probably too expensive a general arrangement for heavy car use, but is not unlike the steering gear shown on the Hay lorry in November, 19o. Amongst the springs are several of the Renault type for front suspension, in which the forward end is carried by half of a reversed leaf spring.
Amongst the live axles D. Brown and Sons (Hfd), Ltd., of Huddersfield, Shows (Stand No. 2 mg) three of the types manufactured by it, and these are excellent examples of one of
the classes of work in which they specialise. This company's extensive trade with motor manufacturers is the best guarantee of its materials and workmanship.
G. Strauss and Co., Ltd., also shows examples of the " Fafnir " live axle, which it supplies with interchangeable differential wheels suitable for either hilly or flat country.
Frames.
The only stand wholly devoted to frames is that of the well-known firm of Messrs. Ruben', Owen and Corn
pany, of Darlasion, South Staffs, who show two complete frames and a number of parts. The frames consist of one built up of channel bar, with a secondary engine frame beneath for a petrol bus, and a neat pressed steel van frame. In addition, a considerable number of individual members of frames are shown of various section and both channel and pressed. The latter include good examples of the sides of bus frames, which are exceedingly good work. There are also shown various pieces of bent channel bar on which the smiths' work is good.
Speaking generally, the components on view are of a high order, and are excellent both as regards design and finish. Some of the most interesting stands in the exhibition are to be found in the gallery, and these are apt to be overlooked by the careless visitor who roams about with the object of finding some novelty. The stands devoted to chains, and cut gears, should he interesting to all those who take an active part in the advancement of the commercial motor and are well worthy of a special study, which is more easily made when the parts are dissembled than when they occupy their allotted positions on a chassis.