Rubber for Universal Joints
Page 56
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A Resume' of Recently Published Patent Specifications D UBBER is being used in engineering IN-for an ever•growing number of purposes, and patent No. 401,647 describes a universal joint in which the drive and the deflection are both transmitted through a sleeve of this substance. The patentee is the Budd Wheel Co., Philadelphia, U.S.A., but the patent itself is void.
Referring to the illustration, 6 is the driving shaft, which has an outer casing (5) attached. In this casing is a sleeve (2), with a spherical end (4), internally splined to receive the driven shaft (1).
Driving connection is obtained through a rubber bushing (3), shown in black, which is assembled in a condition of distortion. It is claimed that the" friction so produced is sufficient to transmit the drive, in addition to permitting angular displacement and absorbing vibration.
An Improved Method of Brake Adjustment.
TAKING up the clearance between 1 brake shoes and drums may often mean a serious loss of pedal movement, especially if the ratio be considerably geared down, and many inventions are directed towards a solution of this problem. Bronislaw Velilchko, 38, rue des Perchamps, Paris, describes a device of this type in patent No. 402,034, which bar. however, been declared void.
On the pedal is a cam track, (3), which may, in its simplest form, be a straight line. The brake rod (1) has a roller (2) mounted on one end, the other being connected to an arm on the cross-shaft.
When the pedal is depressed, the roller will gradually descend towards the axis of the pedal, thus giving a greater purchase as the brakes are applied. The basic principle is that the brake rod (1) will always take up a e46 position perpendicular to the straight line joining the centre of the roller to the pedal axis.
Lubricating Leaf Springs.
THE lubrication of leaf-springs forms the subject of patent No. 402,579, by Jonas Woodhead and Sons, Ltd., of Leeds. It is proposed to form the end
of each spring leaf into an eye, the purpose of which is to act as an oil container, the ends, of cmirse, being suitably plugged. Holes arc drilled into these eyes, communicating with nil.. ways cut in the leaves of the spring: these oilways are arranged so that all the containers are interconnected.
The illustration shows four leaves of a spring arranged in accordance with the invention. The dotted lines refer to an alternative scheme of inter-connection, in which a flexible pipe serves to enable each reservoir to be fed from a larger container on the first springleaf.
Stable Suspension.
ACURIOUS form of vehicle suspensionion is described in patent No. 402,798, by G. Kfinig and II. Schulz, both of Berlin. In this inven, tion the springs must be mounted on or above the centre of gravity (1) of the loaded vehicle ; this necessitates rigid compression bars (2) which pivot about the axle centres. Radius rods (3) are provided, fixed at such an angle that their longitudinal axes intersect at the centre of gravity.
The inventors claim that a vehicle made on these lines will remain level when on a hill, and if the system be applied also in a trausverse direction, cornering will not tilt the vehicle, thus affording the passengers more comfort.
A Worm, Nut and Sector Steering Gear.
QTEERING-GEAR improvements are b•-,shown by Burman and Sons, Ltd., and T. H. Briggs, of Birmingham, in
patent No. 401,442. This specification describes a gear in which the worm, instead of engaging direct with the wormwheel sector, is completely enveloped by a nut. This nut has attached to each of its edges a rack, which meshes with a gearwheel sector. This sector is attached to the arm which operates the steering gear. It appears that this method of construction should give increased durability, owing to the large area in contact with the worm.