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SHEFFIELD-SIMPLEX IMPROVEMENTS.

21st March 1922, Page 34
21st March 1922
Page 34
Page 34, 21st March 1922 — SHEFFIELD-SIMPLEX IMPROVEMENTS.
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A Resume of Recently Published Patents.

There are four interesting specifications this week, which are registered uuder the name of W. Shackleton and Sheffield-Simplex, Ltd. Two of them— Nos. 174,750 and 174,751—describe improvements in connection with the springing of motorcars, one, No. 174,762, describes an arrangement of fuel tank which embodies a provision for a reserve of fuel, while the fourth has reference to a device which is incorporated in the construction of the engine andis designed to facilitate valve and ignition Nos. 174,750 and 174,751 tare so closely related one to another that, they may be considered as one. They }embody between them a complete and thorough grease and weatherproof covering for all the four springs, so thorough that it extends not merely over the springs themselves but over the shackles, spring seats, dumb-irons and other essential connections and accessories. Having made that statement we have practically afforded all the information that is necessary, if it be read in conjunction with the excellent drawings which are reproduced herewith from the specifications. In every case, it will be noted, the shackles themselves are made, to all intents and purposes, in one with the covers for the spring ends. Boxes cover the spring centres, and bed directly on to the spring seats, while the dumb. irons are also enlarged and extended to servo a.s covers. All these metallic containers are provided with beaded edges to the openings for the entry of the spriegs, and the connections between them are of some flexible material such as dermatine.

The fuel 'tank which is described in No. 174,752 has two delivery pipes, one of which, serving as the main supply conduit, opens at such a distance from the bottom of the tank that when the petrol falls below the level of its opening, and, consequently, ceases to flow, there is still a considerable quantity of fuel—about twogallons—left. The auxiliary supply, pipe 'extends right to the bottom of the tank, and so long as the main pipe is in operation, is closed by a valve operated by a float. A manually operated valve at the top of the tank may be set so that either pipe is in communication with the carburetter, but not both at one time. In operation, the driver continues to run with the main supply pipe in use until the fuel level becomes too low. He must then get down and turn the valve on the tank BO that the auxiliary pipe is connected up. He knows then that he has but two gallons of fuel left, and will be able to judge as to his chances of getting home without taking in fresh supplies. The float and the valve which it, controls prevent him from using the reserve pipe until the fuel falls below the level of the opening into the main pipe.

The fourth and laat of this series of specifications, No. 174,753, has for its object the provision of means whereby, particularly in a multi-cylinder engine, the position and nature of the stroke of each piston at any moment can be ascertained. For example, a cylindrical drum may be arranged so that it is driven by the engine at a speed either equal to that A34

of the accompanying drawings. The drum is shown mounted at the end of the camshaft, in such a position that its rim surface approaches closely to the inside of .the wall of thecrankcase. A window is disposed in that wall, through which the markings on the drum may be seen, and a suitable datum line is marked on the window. It is pointed out that the camshaft is most convenient for the purpose, as one complete revolution of the drum is then equivalent to one complete cycle of a four-stroke engine.

Other Patents of Interest.

A band brake which is designed to operate effectively with the vehicle either in forward or reverse motion is described in specification No. 174,673. The inventor anchors the band at a point which is not midway between its two extremities, the longer portion serves as the braking surface for forward

motion, the shorter for reverse. The patentee is E. F. Kelly.

An interesting change-speed gear, which is a combination of the epicyclic gear and the ordinary gearbox is patented in specification No. 174,680, by F. H. Royce. A two-speed epicyclic gear is mounted in the flywheel, and supplemented by an ordinary two-speed box, which is located in the customary position in the chassis. For top speed the usual cone clutch, pedal-controlled, operates to lock the epicyclic gear and render it inoperative. The lower epicyclic gear is made effective by withdrawal of the cone clutch and braking of the sun wheel of the gear, the latter being effected by oil pressure. An ingenious arrangement of floating links and liners makes it still possible to disconnect engine and gear by pressure on the clutch pedal.

. A differential gear, which is mounted externally to the solid, load-carrying dead axle of a car, is described by R. S. Wood, in specification No. 174,682. No. 174,755 describes ways of applying supplementary springing to the steering axles of motor vehicles. The patentee is S. Hall.

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Locations: W. Shackleton, Sheffield

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