An Epicyclic Gear
Page 60
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combined with
an Hydraulic Clutch
MEM names of Percy Martin and the Daimler Co., Ltd., appear in specification No. 353,108, relating to a change-speed gear of the epicyclic type in which the various speeds are obtained by arresting certain members by means of brakes, coupled with the use of an hydraulic clutch or Fluid Flywheel.
The specification points out that, in the past, when such change-speed devices have been employed, there has generally been some difficulty in starting, and in changing, without a jerk, from one gear to another, and that considerable wear took place in the various brakes owing to the fact that they have to be allowed to slip when changing from one ratio to another.
The feature of the invention would 'appear to be the combination of such a gearbox with a Fluid Flywheel, .so that the drive can be gradually taken up without slipping the brakes on the various gears.
A Clear-view Windscreen.
WE have often wondered why some form of -windscreen, which gives the driver of a vehicle a clear view, without glass intervening between him and the objects he should be able to sec, has not been more generally adopted. For driving at night and in rain or snow there can be no doubt that even an efficiently wiped glass is little more than a compromise, yet for some reason, for which we cannot account, such screens do not appear to have 553,157 made much headway. We notice, however, that patent No. 253,237, by Y. L. J. Pottier, of 2, Square Emile-Zola,' Paris, relates to a windscreen of this kind, which, although mainly intended for use on aircraft and ships, might prove of use on commercial vehicles. The accompanying drawing shows the direction of thb wind currents as they are controlled by the screens. •
The Lubrication of Crankshafts.
AN interesting device for the lubrication of pressure-fed
crankshafts is described in specification No. 853,273, by L. P. Crozet, of Haverstock, Strangford Road, Tankerton, Kent. A pair of gears, one attached to the crankshaft and an idler, forms a geared pump which delivers oil under pressure through the crankshaft. On one side of the pump is a pipe which leads from the engine sump and is equipped with a non-return hall valve. On the other side is the delivery passage leading to the drilled crankshaft, through which it finds its way as indicated by arrows.
A Pre-combustion Chamber.
IN specification No. 853,149 the names of John I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., and V. G. Burford appear, the invention relating to a form of pre-combustion chamber for engines of the compression-ignition type.
In this design the piston is arranged to come as near as
• possible to the top of the cylinder, thus driving' the whole of the compressed air into the compression chamber. The fuel jetis situated at the top of the conical chamber, and the only communication passage from the chamber to the • cylinder, is set at a tangent from the former, so that the charge has imparted to it a whirling motion" as it enters the cylinder. The small view in the accompanying illustrations is a section in the line IV-IV.
Vacuum-controlled Doors.
AN invention which will be of interest to those who arc
connected in any way with small buses and coaches of the type in which the driver also acts as the conductor is described in patent No. 352,490, by the Compagthe des Freins Westinghouse, of 23, Rue D'Athenes, Paris.
Vacuum obtained from the induction pipe is employed to operate brakes and to open and shut a sliding door at the side of the vehicle. A "dc-man's lever " lies horizontally, and so long as it is held down by the driver's foot the brakes remain in the " oft " position, but should he leave his seat the brakes art automatically epplied.