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An Epicyclic-hydraulic Clutch

25th May 1945, Page 36
25th May 1945
Page 36
Page 36, 25th May 1945 — An Epicyclic-hydraulic Clutch
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A Résumé of Patent Specifications That Have Recently Been Published. Copies May be Obtained from the Patent Office, Price 11each

ACLUTCH consisting of three epicyclic elements, one of which can be held or freed, forms the subject of patent No. 568,138, from J. MacKay, " Tesle," Severn Road, Porthcawl, Glansorgan, The control element is operated by hydraulic means, and can be varied between free and locked, or any intermediate pos4ion. The input shaft (1) .drives one bevel wheel of a differential-type epicyclie gear, the other bevel being connected to the output shaft (2) The pinion spider is rotatably mounted and carries an eccentric (3), which reciprocates a piston (4) in a cylinder that can be dosed by a cock (5). The cock communicates with, the general casing, which is oil-filled and lubricates, all the mechanism In operation, if the cock be °Pert, the bevel spider can revolve freely and., no power is, therefore, transmitted. The act of slowly closingthe cock impoSes an hydraulic load which •gradually' builds up the transmitted torqueuntil &locked, full-drive condition is reached. A reverse can be 'obtained by using an idler bevel (6); this can be, engaged by swinging the universally jointed propeller shaft over to meet it.

Although the device is described as a variablesspeed gear, which is of course correct, it does not conform with the implied condition that a torque increase also occurs.

A. MOULDED-IN-ONE SHAFT REARING

THERE are many small shafts on vehicle, such as brake cross-shaft, and accelerator connections, which are likely to be overlooked, when the need for oil arises. For such cases as these

a self.-lubricating one-piece bearing, shown in patent No. 568,201, is suitable; the patentees are Miles Aircraft, Ltd., and A. Monnom, both of The Aerodrome, Reading.

The bearing is of the self-aligning type, and consists of an outer Steel race, a 'part-spherical bush (1) and an inner sleeve (2). The curved bush is moulded in 'phenol-formaldehyde, with which is 'Mixed graphite to impart the sdf-lubri:., eating proPerties. The inner sleeve is senated -externally to assist adhesion, and internally is made a tight fit on the ,shaft with which.it rotates, The patent also covers, and describes, the methods -used in the moulding operation.

DEPOSITING CHROMIUM IN A HARD STATE •

PATENT No. 568,161 deals with the use of chromium as a protection against corrosion, friction and general wear. The patentee, A. Peach, 128, Eaton Crescent, Uplands, Swansea, states that, whilst a soft deposit is fairly tenacious to its base, harder deposits • are inclined to flake away, and the patent is concerned with a means for depositing the metal in a form so hard that it cannot be filed.

Two bath's are used in succession, the first containing chromic acid and sulphuric acid, with the addition of an hydroxide of nickel; iron, or aluminium; this mixture gives a soft but extremely adherent deposit. The second bath contains only chromic and sulphuric acids, and will deposit a hard, smooth layer up to a thickness of .63 in. Thicker layers may be built up from alternate deposits of hard and soft metal.

AIR-FILTER CUM OIL-COOLER ADUAL-PURPOSE unit which not only cleans the intake air but functions as a lubricating-oil cooler, form the subject of patent No. 568,038, from C. Vokes, formerly of 95-105, Lower Richmond , Road, London, S.W.15 This inventor states that overbeating of the oil is much more common than many users realize, and that his device will do much to prevent it.

Referring to the drawing, a starshaped 4fabric (1) filters the air which arrives via the inlet (2) and leaves by a central tube of a shape suitable for fitting to a down-draught carburetter. The oil circuit consists of an inlet-pipe (3) and a thin-walled chamber (4) which is wavy in plan and forms a good radiator, owing to the large surface area -upon which the air-stream can act.

A good feature of the scheme is that the flow 'of air, being proportional to the load on the engine, 'tends towards maintaining the oil at approximately, constant temperature.

PREVENTING: FROZEN CONDENSATE IN AIR-BRAKES

FRO'J. Rodway and the 'Clayton Dewandre Co., Ltd., both of Titanic Works, Lincoln, collies, in patent No 568,082, a scheme for preventing the condensed water in an air-operated braking system from freezing and so januning the mechanism. The system used is to mix alcohol vapour with the

ingoing air, so as to lower the freezing point to a safe value.

The drawing shows the device used to impregnate the air-stream with the vapour of alcohol. Whilst most of the air passes through the main tube (1), a small proportion is diverted through a hole (2) and passes over the alcohol well before returning to the main stream, via a similar port (3).

The feature of the device is that the percentage .of alcohol picked up is not proportional to the air flow; at high speedS inuch less is absorbed than at low speeds. This is in accordance with the requirements, because it has been found that freezing-up is more likely to occur when the working heat of the compressor is low.

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Organisations: Patent Office
Locations: Uplands, Lincoln, Reading, London

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