ANOTHER NEW BOILER.
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A Résuméof Recently Published Patents.
THE LOCOMOTIVE-TYPE boiler which is described in specification No. 197,407 by P. W. Robson is of in:erest as showing hole modern welding methods are, by their adoption, revolutionizing boiler construction, especially in. the direction of it simplification, as well as making those boilers more accessible for cleaning and for other purposes.
This particular invention is, in the main, concerned with the construction of the firebox, although there are other minor, .details of the complete invention which have reference in the specifica
tion. The inventor refers to previous constructions of welded fireboxes, which, he says, have tha objection that they require the 'formation of ajoint iii the crown of the fireboxor the use of rivets in places where they are subjected
to heat. In his construction he claims to have eliminated these objections.
He makes the sides and seamless crown of the firebox of three separate pieces of metal, of which the crown is one, and welds these three pieces,together. The plates are planed at their edges when flat. In the design of firebox illustrated in the specification the crown is corrugated, and it • is stated that the corrugations are so made that there is no interference, in the process of pressing, with the planed edges of the plate.
The design of the foundation ring for this firebox is another important feature. It is a plain angle, to which the bottom edge of the firebox is welded. Its horizontal flange projects inside the box so that it forms a support for' the fire-bars, thus simpifying the firebox corners and, doing away with the usual separate attachments for the fire-bars. 3.Eurther use is made of welding for the attachment of stiffening plates to the back and front of the boiler. Two plates are first of all welded together to form a T-shaped support, and they are then welded to the boiler plate.
B44 An important advantage which is claimed for this invention is that, by riveting the firebox as a whole in place, it can be removed when necessary for renewal without breaking any welded joints.
Other Patents of Interest.
Specification No. 196,796, by F. J. Lawrence, describes a combined sprall and scotch which automatically falls into position ready for immediate action whenever the vehicle inclines a certain amount . from the horizontal or level position in ascending an up-grade. The first portion of the invention is concerned with the combined operation of the sprag and scotch. The formeris telescopic, the connection between its two component parts embodying a quick
thread screw so that, so soon as the sprag hits the ground and commences to telescope, the lower portion is compelled to make a quarter-turn. This portion carries a projecting spindle, on which is mounted the scotch, and the diniensions are such that, as it makes this quarterturn, it brings the scotch down to the ground, laying it under the tyre of the wheel.
The second portion of the invention describes the method of ensuring that the sprag is automatically prepared for action so soon as the vehicle commertoes to climb a hill. The mechanism employed comprises a gravity device, such as for instance a quantity of mercury in a tube, so arranged that, while the vehicle is horizontal, or substantially so, the sprag will remain in the off position, clear of the ground and all normal obstructions. When, however, the vehicle begins to ascend the hill, the mercury, or ether weight, flows to one end of the tube and weighs the sprag down so that it_is almost in contact with the ground and will actually come into contact so soon as the vehicle tends to reverse.
Automatic locking gear renders the gravity device 'inoperative when the reverse gear is engaged.
G. Carwardine states, in specification. No. 197,174, that the correct functioning of the springs of a motor vehicle, particularly with regard to its operation at slow speeds and when subduing the shocks brought about by smaller. undula.Mons of the road surface, involves such freedom of the •suspension syetein as is found to be objectionable in connection with higher speeds and greater undulations of the road Surface. In his invention he provides in an ingenious manner for this freedom of motion of the springs to a limited extent. .
Lancia and Co. refer, in specification No. 190,456, to some of the features of that ingenious chassis whieh was shown at the last Olympia Exhibition. This particular patent covers the arrangement of the engine gearbox and forward universal joint of the propeller shaft, which are all so arranged in the space covered by the bannet that by lifting the latter all the principal parts are readily accessible.
A design of piston to eliminate knock, particularly applicable to those' of aluminium alloy, is described in specifica
tion No. 191,706, by G. Voisin. The piston is fitted with a pair of curved shoes of cast-iron, located at those sides of the piston subject to wear. They are thin enough to be elastic; the width of • each is about half the diameter of the piston, and they extend the full length of the skirt, from immediately beneath the lowest piston ring. Several modifi-, cations are described in the specification,including some in which the natural elasticity' of the material of which the shoes are made is not entirely relied upon.
J. Stewart describes, in specification No. 197,091, a method of adjnsting brake shoes of the internal-expanding type for wear. Right and left-hand screws, having small bevel crown wheels at their outer ends, are screwed into the pivot ends of the shoes; a central spindle,
accessible from outside the drum, • ended, and supported in the cuppe interior of the crown bevels. carries a pinion at-its inner end which.' engages with those bevels. The method of operation will, we think, be understoed.
C. Cock has invented mechanism for ensuring that the clutch of a motor vehicle is disengaged before a change of gear may be attempted. His invention, which he describes in specification No. 197,216, is particularly applicable to electrically controlled gears.
Specification No. 195,421, by 11. Perguson,describes a method of affflachingimplements to tractor's so that the implement may be kept at a proper ' working depth.
The operating gear for front-wheel brakes, which is described in specification No. 195,567. by J. Cella, consists almost entirely of cables.