From Drivers and Mechanics.
Page 19
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The Rattling of Window Frames.
C.B." (1Iornsey Rise) writes :—" A very ;:ornmon cause of complaint lodged against the taxi..:ab is that of the rattling window nuisance. I send you particulars of a handy appliance, which has been tatted on 500 taxicabs, that stops this trouble very effectively. A small bent spring is fitted on the outride edge of the window-frame by means of two or three small screws. A better job is made if the stock ti the spring is let flush into the wood, and the bend cf the spring allowed to stand out about 3-16 in. The steel should not be so strong as to tear the paint and recess into which the frame slides. It. will be seen that this device is effective in the prevention of rattling whether the window is up halfway or wholly down, as the spring, of course, moves along with the frame. The best position for the fitment is about D. in. below the top of the frame, and the spring should be made of in. by 1-10 in. spring-steel, hardened and tempered, of course."
Delivering Three Tons of Vitriol.
The sender of the following communication has been awarded the 103, prize this week.
[lob] " H. S. (CastIeford) writes :—" I describe, for the benefit of the readers of your D. and M.' pages, the way in which I delivered a somewhat unusual steam-wagon load. This particular wagon is fitted with a tank having a capacity of three tons, and the load is generally vitriol. The other week I was sent to a new delivery place, and found when I arrived that the tank in which they required the vitriol storing was considerably higher than the level of the tank of my wagon. We had, in consequence, to empty the tank with buckets, which was expensive, dangerous, and took quite a long time. I suggested that a white-metal injector, similar to those used by chemical manufacturers, should be fitted to the high
tank, and a flange arranged so that I could quickly couple up the steam-pipe from the boiler of my wagon. You will see by the sketch [We have had this redrawn—ED.] the general arrangement of the ap
pliance. The steam-pipe is in., the suction-pipe
in., and the delivery-pipe i in. in dam. When the appliance Is fitted up and made air-tight, I can start delivering the vitriol with a steam-pressure of anything between 60 lb. and 120 lb. per sq. in., and can deliver the full three tons in about 45 minutes."
[1030] (Dorchester) writes :—" The tractor
I drive is fitted with big-ends of the marine type, and unless these are very carefully let together when they are worn, they are rather apt to heat or to develop a knock. I experienced quite a lot of trouble at first and found that even when the brasses were fitted to the journal they would, after a day or two's running. b?.d themselves down and again knock. I tried leaving a small gap between the brasses. By this I mean that I took off more brass than was actually required, and locked the nuts and bolts together. The bearing -could then, I argued, be tightened to the extent of the gap between the brasses. As a temporary makeshift this gave satisfaction, but I found there was a tendency for both of the nuts to work loose and allow the brasses to slack off. To obviate this, I filed flats on the bolts the whole length of the threaded part, and fitted D-shaped washers between the two lock-nuts. It is now possible to adjust the big-ends to a nicety with the help of one spanner instead of two as before ; and, further, there is little risk of the nuts working loose on the bolts.
" I used to have to take up the brasses, an an average, once a month, and I can now run them for six months with one adjustment. The idea. is not new but I think that the application of the D-shaped washer to big-end adjustments is rather novel, and although it may not be in accord with the best engineering practice it is certainly something of a timesaver," We described a somewhat similar looking e.ppuance iu our i::ure c.r 11:1) April, "A Lock Nut and a Spring Fitting," letter No. 102k.—ED.L
Faking a Clutch Leather.
110311 "AT!' (Seaham Harbour) writes :—" Some short time back I was almost 20 miles away from home, when the clutch absolutely failed to secure a grip. The van I was driving was a second-hand two-tonner, and the clutch-leather was very much worn. In order to effect a temporary repair I obtained some 2 in. wire nails, and drove them under the clutch-leather about 3 in. apart, around the circumference of the clutch. This little dodge enabled the van to run about. 250 miles in all before a new leather was fitted. This is not a repair to boast about, but its success makes it of interest." Adjusting Marine-pattern Big-ends.