Air Suspension for Heavies
Page 66
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
PATENT No. ,801,751 shows an air suspension system. The design is said to be suitable for heavy vehicles such as trucks, trailers and semi-trailers, particularly those employing tandem axles. (The General Tire and Rubber Company, 1708 Englewood Avenue, Akron, Ohio, U.S.A.)
A tandem axle bogie for a semi-trailer is shown in the drawing, The frame rests upon a plate (1), which abuts upon the air suspension unit (2). This consists of three flat bags made of rubber reinforced with cords. All three are interconnected through small passages.
An under-plate (3) consists of a box which forms an additional air reservoir, being.connected with the bags. " Oneway restricting valves are used in the connections to control the rate of rebound.
The bags are relieved of . all loads other than vertical ones, the axles being fitted with radius rods (4). Excess deflection is prevented by buffered rebound rods ,(5).
PROTECTING VEHICLES FROM WATER
CROSS COUNTRY vehicles which
have to traverse watery ground are prone to water seepage into the gearbox, back axle and other parts. To eliminate this, patent No. 801,802 suggests pressurizing these components with compressed air. This can be obtained from the power braking system, and may be brought into action automatically by a float under the vehicle. (Kleckner Humboldt Deutz A.G., Keln-Deutz, Germany.) PISTON SLAP REDUCTION
ATENT NO. 801,199 shows a piston 1 ring designed primarily to reduce piston slap, though it may also function as an oil retainer. (Cross Manufacturing Co. (1938), Ltd., 33 Midford Road, Combe Down, Bath.)
The piston is provided with all the usual compression and oil-retaining rings, the new ring, located near the bottom of the skirt, being added. The drawing is a section through the piston at this point, in which 1 is the skirt and 2 a normal piston ring. The latter fits in a groove which is turned slightly eccentric, thus leaving a small space in which a short spring strip (3) can be housed. This forms a cushion to absorb the slap and n32 must, of course, be fixed in a certain position. This is ensured by the provision of small locating pins (4).
HYDRAULIC-CUM-EPICYCLIC TRANSMISSION
DATENT No. 796,948 shows an epi
cyclic transmission system in which the events are controlled hydraulically. The chief point is the way in which unwanted fluctuations in the pressure of the control fluid are reduced. Another feature is that operation of the brakes automatically places the transmission in neutral. (General Motors Corp., Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.) ENGINE STARTING AID
EASIER cold starting is the object of LA patent No. 803,776. Though illustrated as applied to a compressionignition engine, it is said to be equally suitable for spark-ignited engines employing petrol injection. (Daimler-Benz A.G., Stuttgart-Uriterturkheim, Germany.)
The starter switch " (1) is the main control for the system. When this is pressed, it not only closes the starter motor circuit but also energizes a solenoid (2) which sets the injection pump into the excess-fuel condition.
When the starter switch is released, it energizes a solenoid which holds open an air valve (3); this is kept open electrically while the engine is running, against the force of a spring.
When the engine is hot, the system works differently. A thermostatia switch (4) diverts the current from the excess-fuel solenoid to the air-valve coil, so that no extra fuel is injected and the air valve is held open automatically.
The engine is stopped in a rather unusual manner by switching off the air-valve current; this causes combustion to cease owing to overrichness.
ANTI-FREEZE INHIBITOR
ANTI-FREEZE solutions, even when mixed with some corrosion inhibitors, nevertheless often do corrode,
according to patent No. 803,832. It describes an additive said to be corn pletely effective; this is hydrazine hydrate, which is claimed to remove all free oxygen in the water. If the water is hard, hexametaphasphate should also be added. The patent emanates from Farbenfabriken Bayer A.G., LeverkusenBayerwerke, Germany.
A UNIVERSAL SWEEPING MACHINE
1DATENT No. 798,845 describes a 1 sweeping machine for roads, factory floors and like surfaces. The chief feature of the design" is the way in which all refine lying in the path of the machine is collected, even when it is lying close to a kerb or wall. (John Allen and Sons (Oxford), Ltd., Cowley, Oxford.)
BETTER LEAF SPRINGS
A TECHNICAL point is raised in
patent No. 791,131 which claims that in a laminated spring, the heaviest leaf should have a moment of inertia greater than that of all the other leaves put together. (S. Mohl; Frydenlundvej 7, SkOdsborg, Denmark.) LIMITING OIL FLOW, IN' OVERHEAD VALVES
WELL lubricated I overhead .valves VV are inclined to suck oil (town the inlet valve stems when the guides are worn and patent No. 802,980 shows a scheme by which this can be prevented. (General Motors Corp., Detroit. Michigan, U.S.A.)
The drawing shows a section of a valve according to the invention. The main innovation is a .turned groove (1) in the stem of the valve. This communicates with a port (2) open to the atmosphere so that suction leakage around the stem draws in air instead of oil from the upper chamber (3). Lubrication of the stem is not impaired because a fine mist of oil is always present in the groove resulting from seepage.
GAS TURBINE CONTROL
PATENT No. 800.394 deals with the control of gas turbines mounted in road vehicles. The driver, by careless manipulation of the fuel feed, could create excessive turbine speeds, and the patent shows a device for preventing this. (Manning Maxwell and Moore Inc., Stratford, Conn., U.S.A.)
HUMIDIFIER FOR AIR INTAKE
ADEVICE for adding water vapour to the intake of a carburetter is shown in patent No. 800,508. The chief feature of the scheme is that the ratio of water to petrol is claimed to be constant over the whole load range. (Socidte Hydrotechnique. 5 Quai de Grenelle. Paris.)