The Ducommun-Muff Petrol Vehicle.
Page 6
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Details of the Differential Gear.
We have just received, direct from the works at 114tilhausen, at the instance of the Motor Car Emporium, Limited, illustrations of the Ducommun-Muff chassis, together with a horizontal longitudinal section, and a vertical cross section, of the interesting enclosed differential and transmission gear. The gearing is made exceptionally strong for the purpose of withstanding the shocks and jolts inseparable from wheels shod with iron tyres, when running over varying conditions of roads. For the prevention of skidding, and to eliminate torsional strains as far as possible, motor vehicles are now invariably fitted with some form of differential gearing. The Ducommun-Muff differential gear is claimed to have advantages over the types at present in use, as being stronger and more compact. The whole gear is encased in an oil-tight box (j) which carries the necessary bearings for the moving parts contained therein. Through the peculiar design of the driving gear, the tendency to spread on the part of the two main bevel wheels U) is practically eliminated. The three planet pinions (1) are situated between two bevel wheels (m) and mesh with them. Both the gears (m) and the pinions (1) are kept in their relative positions by being enclosed in a cage (i). At each end of this cage is a main driving bevel wheel (f), and these are rotated by a common driving shaft (a), by means of two short axles (d) having bevel pinions (e) on their inner ends, whilst their outer extremities carry two inter-meshing gear wheels (c). The longitudinal shaft (a) drives only one of the gears (c) by means of a pinion (b, Fig. 2). The transmission is as follows : The shaft (a) revolves, causing the axles (d) to revolve in opposite directions, whilst the two pinions (e) actuate the main driving bevel wheels (f) with uni-directional effect. The three planet pinions (1) are held within the central portion of the frame (i), which is carried by the wheels (f); consequently when the wheels. (f) revolve, they carry with them the two smaller bevel wheels (m), each of which is affixed to a half of the maim driving axle (g). The two ends of the axle (g) are held.
in alignment by a spigot (u), which can revolve in the bearing bush (p). A removeable top piece (g) admits of the whole of the main portion of the mechanism's being inserted_
into the casing (1) as a whole. It is claimed that the above disposition of the various members constitutes a stronger differential gearing than can be obtained by having only one driving pinion, and the whole arrangement is exceptionally compact. The Ducommun vehicles will be marketed in Great Britain exclusively by the Motor Car Emporium, Ltd., of 1, Addison Road North, London, W., which company is now prepared' to give quotations and all particulars regarding machines constructed on this system. The output for the first two months. is secured for a public passenger service in Edinburgh.