Major Breakthrough
Page 37
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SOMETHING for nothing is a prospect that always appeals— particularly if that something also is a money-saver and offers a valuable contribution towards higher journey. speeds and reduction in driver-fatigue. Just such a prospect is envisaged in the announcement, on page 64 of this issue, of successful experiments by F. Perkins Ltd. with a differential diesel engine.
Briefly, the power system (which is still in the experimental stages) produces more power from a given size of engine and also gives the effect of an automatic transmission for any size of vehicle. Designers in this country and abroad have attempted to do this through the years; but never with the promise of commercial success which the British company appears to have achieved. Tests conducted by the technical editor of The Commercial Motor showed that this revolutionary system raises the performance of an engine so much that it can pull about twice its rated gross weight with no attendant penalties on engine weight or size.
That is the "something ". It is likely to come for " nothing" because those concerned hope to be able to market the complete system at below the cost of an existing 150 b.h.p. diesel—and no manually operated gearbox is needed.
This can justifiably be termed a major technical breakthrough, since all the indications are that the system can eventually be marketed. So Many advantages at no extra cost or weight, and with bonuses in saving the cost and weight of a gearbox, and reducing driving effort, are an exciting prospect for all operators of commercial vehicles