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An Assisted Steering Gear

1st April 1955, Page 84
1st April 1955
Page 84
Page 84, 1st April 1955 — An Assisted Steering Gear
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A POWER-ASSISTED steering r %system, when subjected to sideways impacts arising from rough ground, will constantly try to correct the deflection by applying force in the opposite direction. On a long run this may impose a constant drain on the power supply and patent No. 722.385 deals with a

remedy for this state of affairs. The patent comes from Clayton Dewandre Co., Ltd., Titanic Works, Lincoln.

The drawing shows the scheme in its essentials. The double-acting servomotor cylinder (1) is operated by air and controlled by a valve (2) worked by the steering wheel. The servo cylinder transmits its power hydraulically, its piston rod forming a pair of hydraulic pistons (3). From here, pipework leads to the slave cylinder (4), which actually moves the steering rodwork (5).

The ability to resist road shocks is imparted by placing restricting orifices at the points of entry (6) to the slave cylinder. The restrictions are arranged to permit easy entry of the fluid, but to impede its exit. Normal steering movement is not affected, but a sudden thrust would be resisted by the partly trapped liquid.

THE GEOMETRY OF TRAILER STEERING

ANimproved trailer steering system is covered by patent No. 723,978 (T. Georgi and J. Schmitz, 5 Hansellerstrasse, AltenbergeeWestfalen, Germany). By the use of the scheme, all the axles of a tractor-trailer outfit can be made to point to a common turning centre.

The drawing shows the basic movement which can be expanded to cover any number of axles. All the schemes shown employ a single, central-backbone chassis.

Referring to the drawing, which shows a four-wheeled bogie in both the straight-ahead and cornering conditions, the chassis (I) is centrally pivoted to the bogie frame (2). Slightly behind the pivot is -a second one (3) which, when the chassis corners, turns the rear axle (4) at an angle, as shown in the lower view.

A34 The rear axle must, of course, slide under the bogie when cornering occurs, and this is permitted by the special type of spring fixing. Stops (5) are fitted to limit the sideways movement of the axle.

A NON-SQUEAKING SPRING ANimproved assembly of spring leaves is covered in patent No.

722,510 (J. Brockhouse and Co., Ltd. Victoria Works, Hill Top, West Bromwich). The aim is to eliminate squeak, particularly the " twitter " caused by a large number of minute oscillations.

Except for the top one, each blade is provided with a hole for the reception of a flanged insert (1), one of which is provided at each end. The insert is made of polythene and is provided with grooves on its upper surface to form a reservoir for lubricant. Whether lubricated or not, the inherent waxy nature of polythene would probably do much to eliminate squeak.

A GUDGEON-PIN REMOVING

TOOL WHEN a gudgeon-pin has to be VV inserted or removed from a lightalloy piston it is usual to apply some moderate heat, at the same time applying the force required to move the pin. A tool for facilitating this operation is shown in patent No. 722,532 (W. Jerram, '153 Booth Road, London, N.W.9.).

The drawing shows a side elevation of the proposed tool. At one end is a pair of swivelling upright members (1), concave on the right-hand face to receive tbe piston, which is placed against them and held by a small pushclamp (2). The height of the piston can be adjusted by a large-headed screw (3) so as to bring the gudgeon pin in line with the jack-screw (4).

A feature of the scheme is that the uprights are electrically heated as indicated by the wiring (5). This enables the bore in the piston to be slightly expanded before the pin is moved. A thermostat is incorporated to prevent overheating and a pilot light (6) indicates the operative state.

A SPEED-INDICATING REAR

LAMP

SOME interesting • views on the dangers of night driving in America are given in patent No. 723,820, by Rear Guard Associates, Inc., Santa Monica, California, U.S.A. According to this patent, many accidents occur due to the slow speed of large vehicles when hill climbing.

Although a vehicle may be adequately rear-lighted, overtaking drivers may not realise its slow speed until too late. To avoid this possibility it is proposed to fit a speed-indicating rear light and this forms the spbject of the patent.

The drawing shows the light as seen by an overtaking driver. An upper panel contains the word " slow " in amber. light, and a middle panel shows in red light the word "stop." At the bottom is a curved translucent panel (1) in which appears a red light (2). This light is mounted on a pendulum which can be oscillated in the manner of a windscreen wiper.

At the normal speed of the vehicle, only the red light is operative, and it remains stationary to form a normal rear light. If the vehicle speed falls. however, a governor mechanism starts the pendulum action and illuminates either the " slow " or " stoP " panel according to the speed.

The oscillating light is said to be extremely effective from a long distance informing an overtaking driver that the vehicle is below speed.

Another feature of the scheme is that the whole unit is detachable and is fitted with a self-winding extension cable, so that in the event of total stoppage it can be removed to some point distant from the vehicle.

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Organisations: Normal
Locations: Santa Monica, Lincoln, London

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