INVENTIONS WHICH DESERVE ENCOURAGEMENT.
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Among Recently Patented Inventions There are Some, Here Referred to, of Which we Ought to Hear More.
T T is the practice of The Com-1inercial Motor week by week to examine the patented inventions and to publish a précis of those specifications which are thought to be deserving of notice. The curious fact in connection with these new ideas is that so little is ever again heard of them. Thousands of. ingenious notions are patented each year, yet few seem to come to fruition. We have therefore decided now and again to revive our memories of the best of the inven
tions and, in the notes which follow, we deal with a few of which the specifications were published in the first six months of the current year and which seem to us to hold out a promise of success. We shall confine our attention, in each of these reviews, to those which, in their adoption, might tend towards an outstanding or useful improvement in the commercial motor vehicle.
Dealing with the chief specifications in their chronological order, the first to be noted is that of Mr. A. C. Wickman (No. 281,354).
This specification points out that there are many places where the use of petrol-driven vehicles is not possible on account of the danger of fire through leakage of petrol and of back-fires in the carburetter. The invention consists of a metal box enclosing the carburetter, so that any petrol that may leak can be stored and raised to the Autovac, whilst any back-fires shall be confined to the metal box.
Considering the number of passengers now being carried by petroldriven vehicles, we suggest that inventions dealing with the prevention of fire should receive special attention.
A Promising Departure in Six-wheelers.
In the same month, patent No. 281,908, by H. Whitby, appeared, describing a six-wheeler of a type in which the rear wheels can be placed farther apart than with the usual type of rigid six-wheeler, thus distributing the load more evenly c34 over the road surface. Another feature of this invention is that it enables a long vehicle to turn out from a kerb without the tail end sweeping over the side walk, the action of diverting the front from a straight line, by means of the steering wheels, automatically causing the central axle to assume the posi tion shown in our sketch. The wheels on the rear axle are caused to move to the opposite side by the action of the pivoted beams. By this means, the grinding of tyres, which, under certain conditions, may take place in all rigid six
wheelers is avoided. The movement of the central axle is automatic, and is not produced by means of any connections between it and the steering mechanism.
Mr. Whitby is a practical engineer and carries on the business of a haulier at Ponders End, Middlesex. In this business he is employing a number of vehicles built on the lines described. We have taken considerable interest in this invention, having made a long road trial in which a vehicle carried nine and a half tons of load on a long journey crossing London, the petrol consumption being slightly better than a gallon per six miles.
The Automatic Adjustment of Taper Roller Bearings.
In the same month, patent No. 279,789, by Herr F. Hollman, of Walser, Germany, was published. It was for the invention of a means whereby taper roller bearings automatically adjust themselves. It was followed by a second patent (No. 283,189) by the same inventor, which shows an alternative method, the same principle being adopted. We only show the earlier patent, however. One of the nuts is formed with a conical face and a washer near the inner member of the bearing has a similarly coned face. Between these faces is introduced a collar which is cut into a number of segments and is surrounded by a ring of coiled spring, which presses the segments inwards. A spring pressure is brought to bear cn the inner member, the strength of which is not sufficient to damage the bearing, but is sufficient to take up any unwanted play. As the inner ring moves forward automatically to adjust the bearing, the segniental ring is forced inwards by. the ring of coiled spring, so preventing any backward movement. The adjustment of such bearings has always been a somewhat difficult matter owing to the weight of the wheels, so a means for automatic adjustment should overcome a difficulty which has always been with those who use this class of bearing.
Conducting Heat from Brake Linings.
In March we reviewed an attempt to increase the radiation of unwanted heat from brake linings, described in patent No. 272,478, by Herr M. Kirchbach, of C,oswig, Germany. The specification pointed out that owing to the low thermal conductivity, of such materials as. asbestos it is difficult to remove the heat generated by friction. The invention consists of the introduction of finely powdered cast-iron into the material while it is being mixed • with its bond.
Damping Torsional Vibrations.
In April, Mr. Harold Sinclair's specification, No. 285,970, dealt with a proposal to adapt the Fottinger hydraulic coupling (the use of which is well known in motor ships), to road vehicles. In this device, two Separate members, one the driver and one the driven, are coupled by means of water, the resistance of which to the disturbance of vanes acts as a clutch which will allow a certain amount of slip if urged suddenly, thus damping out vibrations caused by the explosions of an engine.
• A Sell-adjusting Brake.
In the month of May the specifications disclosed a scheme for producing a self-adjusting brake. We need not go into details of this invention, as we do not approve of any brake the reliability of which depends entirely on a ratchet and pawl which may fail to act at any time. We only record It to show that the subject is attracting the attention of inventors.
A Hydraulic Change " Speed " Mechanism.
In the same month a patent was granted for a change speed (not a change power ratio) gear, which consisted of wasting a portion of the available power by forcing a fluid through a contracted aperture. We are sorry to see that some " inventors" have not yet learnt the difference between (I) wasting power and (2) obtaining a mechaniCal advantage.
A Floating Hinge Brake.
In June, patent specification No. 280,163 by M. A. Babel, of Clichy, France, explained one of the
numerous efforts to obtain a servo action from a brake consisting of two shoes connected together by means of a hinge, which, with a sliding earn, was allowed to float, producing a self-energizing effect in either direction.
A Disconnection Behind the Gearbox.
During the first half of the year there had been nothing of importance patented in connection with free-wheels, what few patents have appeared having been for details only. The idea of forthing a disconnection between the gearbox awl the final drive while changing gears is still considered by some to be a step in the right direction, for in June patent No. 289,494 appeared, which described a dog clutch fitted at the rear of an ordinary gearbox. We can hardly look upon this as a solution of the gear-changing trouble, for, although the dog clutch may enable gears to be changed with ease, there would be all the old trouble of judging speeds before the dogs could be engaged.
Pneumatic Suspension.
Another invention which may be taken as an indication of a desire to reconsider the very promising idea of applying air-cushioning to the suspension of a vehicle, was described in specification No. 280,547. At first sight the invention would appear to be merely a repetition of the Cowey system, which made a stir in 1907, but on closer inspection it will be found to contain many new features. "Rolling," which was one of the disadvantages of the earlier systems, has been guarded against by means of a stabilizer in the form of a shaft and two levers. An overload causes a valve to open, letting in more air from the compresser, whilst too light a load permits an exhaust port to open, so letting out some of the air and reducing the pressure. We are of the opinion that this line of thought, if followed, would lead to a better form of suspension than can ever be expected from steel springs, and we feel sure that such an improvement would be appreciated by those who ride for long distances in motor coaches.