Fuel-saving Inlet Valves
Page 68
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A Resume of Recently Published Patent Specifications
THAT the suggested design of inlet 1 valve has resulted in an increase in mileage per gallon of 70 per cent, is an amazing claim made by W. A. Wedlake and W. C. Casson, Ashville, Victoria Esplanade, Heysham, Lanes, whose patent is numbered 404,197.
The proposed form of valve is shown in the drawing, in which 1 is the valve head, having a cylindrical boss (2) immediately beneath it. Farther down the stem is a bulbous . portion (3), which may be one of various forms. A further feature is the provision of spiral grooves in the underside of the boss (2).
The inventors state that no claim is made for any of these features alone, the novelty consisting entirely of their combination. No suggestions are made to account for the economy in fuel, other than that of increased turbulence due to greater gas velocity caused by the restricted passage.
Tyres for Colonial Conditions.
DATENT No. 405,609, by the Dunlop 1 Rubber Co., Ltd., and others, of Birmingham, shows a form of tread which, it is claimed, is particularly suitable for use on unmade roads of a muddy or sandy nature, or for snow-covered areas. The form is clearly shown in t h e illustration. The chief feature appears to be the squeezing-out action under load which prevents clogging up.
The Prevention of overcharging.
THE lengthening of the hours of daylight, with a consequent reduction of lamp load, may often result in an overcharged battery, unless some form of compensation be provided. A device of this kind is shown in patent No. 495,709, by George Taylor, 14, Craven Hill Gardens, London, W.2.
This inv.entor proposes to operate a charge-reducing switch by means of a rubber, bag which in inflated by the gases evolved from the accumulator plates. In the drawing, 3 is the rubber bag, having a tube connected to the accumulator cells. The two contacts (2) are normally dosed, but when the cells are gassing freely. the pressure forces the contacts apart, thus bringing in a resistance (1), presmnably in the generator field circuit.
The specification mentions a small leak hole (4) in the filler plugs that is designed to permit the escape of the trapped gases when the charging ceases. This appears to us to be a point where trouble might occur; a minute piece of dirt lodging in this vent would cause the charging rate to remain at its low value.
B50 Roller-bearing Improvements.
FROM Index-Werke, Hahn and Kolb, Esslingen am Neckar, Germany, comes patent No. 404,602 (which has become void), disclosing improvements in the design of roller bearings. The specification states that owing to the larger space required by roller bearings in comparison with journal bearings, the tendency is to make the outer race rather thin. This leads to difficulties in connection with distortion; even the .final grinding operation does not always produce a true circle.
The remedy suggested is to provide a split outer race (3) with a dovetail slot (1), containing a wedge-shaped screwhead. The object of these is to spread the race into intimate contact with the bearing casing (2); this performs a dual purpose, preventing the race from loosening, and imparting .true circularity derived from the bore of the housing.
A Ringless Piston.
A PISTON of . novel construction, I-1 which may be used without rings, is referred to in patent No. 40.5,703, by James Campbell, 64, Royal Terrace, Darwen. The patent is not based on the absence of rings, other novel features predominating.
The drawing shows the inner pair of members, the complete piston being an assembly. The gudgeon-pin is held in the inner portion, as shown, and the whole is bolted up to the piston head, contact being made, only at that point; the sides being left clear. The piston itself is a plain cylindrical sleeve, closed, of course, at the top.
The advantage claimed is that the symmetrical form of the sleeve, avoids all distortion due to expansion, thus allowing a closer fit with the bore.
A Tool for Maintenance Engineers.
GAUGING appliances for testing the alignment of connecting rods are described by W. I. Forward, " Mytholrn," Belvoir . Drive, Aylestoue, Leicester, in patent No. 405,408. There are two tools mentioned, one of which we illustrate. This consists of a bar (to be inserted in the big-end) having an adjustable extension to carry a finger, or a clock-type indicator, with which to compare the readings obtained on one side with those on the other. The bar that is used for the big-end has an adjustment to accommodate various sizes of bore.
The other tool described is a special surface plate • havirig a raised ridge along each side. Bars are placed in both ends of the rod, and should touch at four points when laid on the surface plate.