Pneumo-hydraulic Suspension System
Page 60
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
PATENT No. 769,350 shows a suspension system which uses air for the springing medium, and is controlled in such a manner that the frame is maintained at a constant height irrespective of the loading. (Societe D'Inventions Aeronatitiques et Mecaniques S.I.A.rvi., I route des Alpes. Fribourg, Switzerland.)
The drawing shows the layout on one axle, the other being identically arranged. The main units are a pair of hydraulic dampers (1 and 2). These are interconnected by a pipe 3 which also leads to an air bottle (4) acting as the main spring.
An engine-driven pump (5) provides pressure which can be applied or released by valve 6. This is operated by a lever on a U-shaped stabilizer bar (7). If one wheel moves up and the other down, the stabilizer alone deals with the correction, but if both wheels move in the same direction then the hydraulic pressure is increased or decreased as required to restore normal height.
The dotted lines indicate pipework for the return of leaked fluid back to the storage tank (8). The small bottle (9) is an accumulator for storing a working pressure.
A COMBUSTION-CHAMBER DESIGN
THE combustion characteristics of an oil engine depend largely, on the shape of the combustion chamber, and the latest suggestions in this respect are shown in patent No. 768,992, (Mondial Piston Co„ Corso Bramante, Turin, Italy.)
It is based on the particular outline of the chamber (1), which is formed in the crown of the piston. The chamber_ is of approximate octagonal shape in plan, although the sides of the octagon may, instead of being flat, be slightly concave or convex, An upstanding cone (2) forms the bottom face; this can be a screwed-in insert. The sides of the chamber may be vertical, or have a slight slope opening towards the top. The net effect is said to be better turbulence and flame-propagation.
POWER-ASSISTED STEERING GEAR
pATENT No, 768,264 reveals the design of a power-assisted steering mechanism. The chief feature is that a rubber coupling is incorporated in the steering column; this transmits slight efforts directly, and only brings in the power servo when the resistance to turning is sufficient to twist the rubber. (S.A. Andre Citroen, 117/167 Quai de laver, Paris.)
SELF-ADJUSTING STEERING JOINTS
BALL and socket joints as used in steering systems are usually made to be self-tightening. One method employed being to divide the ball head into two parts and urge the members apart by a spring. This often results in the ball stud being made longer than is desirable, and patent No. 769,158 shows a design in which the spring is contained entirely within the ball. (A. Sell,
Eschborner Landstrasse 55-59, Frankfurt am Main-RhOdelheir), Germany.)
The 'ball is divided about a diameter and is bored to receive the separating spring (1), In order that the top half shall not function merely as a closing cap, it is compelled to revolve with the
lower portion. This is achieved by coupling the two parts in the manner
of a dog-clutch as shown at 2. This ensures that the whole surface of the ball takes its share of the working load.
PREVENTING LINER CORROSION
THE outside surface of wet cylinder liners is subject to corrosion by the cooling water, and is often found to be
• severely pitted in spite of protective deposits such as ,chromium, tin or varnish. A coating claimed to be more successful is described in patent No. 769,254. (Goetzewcrke Friedrich Goetze A.G., Burscheid bein Koln, Germany.)
The drawing shows a liner in position, and illustrates the extent of the coating (1). Natural or synthetic rubber is used, and is applied either by solution, by spray, or by the application of sheets which are subsequently vulcanized. The coating need not be so extensive as that
shown; it may be applied in such a region as 2 only, where the water flow impinges with some force.
WASHING-MACHINE BRUSHES
PATENT No. 769,423 is concerned with the brushes used in bus-washing machines, and shows an improved form that is claimed to follow more closely the cOntours of bodies. (Smith Bros. and Webb, Ltd., 261 Stratford Road, 13] ngham.)
A GUDGEON-PIN BEARING DESIGN
GUDGEON-PIN hearings are very sensitive to a breakdown in lubrication,. and to obviate this they are often made from high-grade and therefore expensive materials. A scheme for enabling the gudgeon pin to be run satisfactorily in the piston alloy, by taking extra precautions over the lubrication, is shown in patent No. 769,352. (Klockner Humboldt Detitz A.G., Abt.TP, Deutz Mulheimer Strasse 149/55, Koln-Deutz, Germany.)
The gudgeon pin is a fixture on the connecting .rod, being held thereto by screws (1), whilst its seating (2) is made from light alloy. This is inserted in the piston and held in position by a spring ring (3). Endwise movement is limited by the skirt. The semi-circular bearing surface shown is extended into a full circle near the ends.