Passing Comments
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I T would appear that the efforts to encourage the re
turn of traffic to the railways is likely to increase the number of level crossings. For example, the Yorkshire Brick and Tile Co., Ltd., which, in view of the new road and rail traffic lpgislation, has deemed it advisable to make arrangements to consign by rail a substantial porticui of its output, has gained the consent of the Northants County Council to the construction of a railway level crossing as part of a scheme for providing railway-siding accommodation at -the Brixworth Brick and Tile Works ; yet the traffic over the crossing would be limited to one train per day each way! This is a case where road safety is being -diminished instead of being improved. THEpower consumed by engine . auxibartes is greater than would be expected at first thought. We recently had an opportunity of examining power curves of a well-known six-cylindered engine, obtained with and without such auxiliaries as dynamo, fan, water pump and fuel pump. At 1,200 r.p.m. the b.h.p. readings were 34 and 35 respectively. At higher speeds the output figures were as follow :— 1,500 r.p.m., 41 and 43; 2,090 r.p.m., 53 and 56; 2,409 r.p.m., 59 and136 ; 2,700 r.p.m., 61 and 7L If 10 h.p. be lost in this way on an engine in perfect condition, the power consumed when bearings are worn, inadequately lubricated, or out of adjustment must be a very appreciable amount.
It if OTOR users in this country have justification for l"envying their colleagues in Germany, where the Government is doing its best to encourage the motor industry. Taxation on all new vehicles has been abolished. Instruction by licensed teachers and the production of a medical certificate are no longer necessary in order to obtain a driver's licence, although a test of driving skill is apparently being retained.
AT the moment the Monte Carlo Rally Agures very much in the eye of the motoring public, and this year it is of more than usual interest to us by reason of the participation of a Citron new-model coach, which is making its debut in the trial, and a Citroen Xegresse track-type car ; the former started from Warsaw, and the latter from Athens. These vehicles cannot expect to win awards in the final eliminating trials, but their performance on the strenuous road section of the Rally will be watched with interest.
THE cost of rectifying a mechanical breakdown often involves a heavy charge for labour and a comparatively small one foi the new component. This is particularly so with inaccessible parts. Spindles of water pumps on buses and lorries are a case in point. Glasgow Corporation experienced trouble in replacing such spindles, the cost of the work being out of all proportion to the value of the parts involved. By the use of monel metal, failures have been overcome, this metal possessing properties making it resistant to the corrosive action of water. FEWpeople know that cylinder walls are, in some cases, being built up by spraying with steel, afterwards being ground smooth to size. The first application of the process was made on a two-stroke cycle aeroplane engine in which the cylinder block was entirely of light metal. It has also been successfully applied to building up worn cast-iron blocks, whilst cracks resulting from frozen water jackets are said to be capable of ready repair in this manner, and there is no danger of warping or the production of internal stresses. Porosity in new cylinders can also be overcome. The steel coating has a Brinell hardness of 305.
ENGLNEERS have evolved countless methods of guarding against nuts working loose. One of the most elaborate is a locknut to hold the first nut, a tapered pin to secure the locknut, and a split pin to prevent that from coming out. In automobile practice one pin is usually regarded as sufficient. Spring washers of many types are popular, and although crude and not infallible, in practice are very.successful. Plain washers with ears to be bent over against a fiat on the nut are a makeshift suitable for certain uses, but not for a nut that has often to be removed. A drawback of the double-nut system is that it requires two spanners. Perhaps one of the most successful devices is the Darderet. An ordinary nut that is tight on the thread never seems to slack back, and this is the Dardelet principle, but incorporated in such a _way that the accompanying disadvantage is eliminated.