Adjustable Power Steering
Page 63
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11ASE]) on the design of the Leduc ) aircraft control unit, a vehicle power
ering has been introduced by • TairICT Manufacturing Co., Ltd., illiers Street, Wolverhampton. It will be .hibited for the first time at the Coin" ercial Motor Show. • It can he adjusted to vary, what is lied the " artificial feel" to. suit any rticular road camber. Main components imprise a hydraulic pump, operating ck, reservoir tank and accumulator, the
• curritilittor being an optional extra. The power jack has two ball-type lector valves operated by movement of e selector rod with a reaction pressure
about oz. Pre-loading is externally ovided by the artificial " feel " unit, and ..erring is directly controlled under lightad conditions without assistance from
e jack. • The unit is mounted between the pivot 'hits Of the jack and incorporates a e-loaded coil spring which is cornessed when the jack moves the steering in in either direction.
An external means for varying the feetive length Of the unit between ntreS.---anci, therefore, the tension of tilt ring—is a special characteristic of the unit.: This enables the spring to be adjusted to accornmodate average roadcamber' conditions or the .Partieti/a.:1:• requirements-of the operator.. In a fortrial case it Would be.adjusted to give a"bias. corresponding tothe pull ro the.Ieft for to the right in Continental countries)
resulting from road camber.• .
Another interesting operational feathre • of the system is that a condition of. hydraulic equilibrium is.provided.when heavy:steering force is Sustained without variation:: When the, vehicle is travelling. at Speed on a corner, for 'example, the jack is hydraulically locked, pending further movement of the steering wheel.
In the case of heavy vehicles a simple lever system is employed to give mechanical advantages and thus enable a relatively • small hydraulic jack to be employed.
. The system has been 'applied to a number of well-known commercial vehicles and to a leading high-performance car.
A Turner vane pump is employed and is equipped with flow-control and pressure-relief valves. If necessary, it May be driven by the concern's C.13 single-acting reciprocating compressor-
another recent introduction' fo the Turner range that .M available for automotive, industrial andy refrigeration applications. This compressor has a capacity of 11.6 c.f.m. at 1,500 r.p.m. and is designed. for continuous operation at speeds up to 4,000 r.p.m. The unit is compact and; is -of lightweight construction; its dry weight being only 124. lb, • , Die-cast aluminium cylinders and cylinder heads are finned to give adequate. cooling under adverse conditions. Drive may be direct from the engine or by belt' from the crankshaft or other convenient power source. Lubricant thay be supplied by the engine or, the unit can be provided with a self-lubricating sYstein. This comprises a reservoir in the crankcase and a gear-type pump. .
Another new Turner product is a rotary sliding-vane exhauster, the design of which is based on an aircraft unit developed for wing de-icing. According to the makers, its weight is less than half that of most units with a similar output; it will operate successfully at half engine speed and will run up to 3,000 r.p.m.
A special bore shape is employed, and the vanes are interlocked to maintain close contact with the surface at all positions of rotation without the use of cams or springs. A high sealing efficiency is, therefore, obtained.