A SELF-ENERGIZING BRAKE.
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A Resume of Recently Published Patent Specifications.
IN specification No. 261,439, A. H. G. Girling describes his brake in which the tendency for the shoes to fallow the direction in which the drum is rotating is utilized to assist the rotary movement of the expander cam. In the ordinary construction of such brakes, One of the hinged shoes moves in a direction that produces a self-assisting effect, whilst the other shoe tends to oppose the movement of the expander cam.
In the present invention, it will be seen that the portion of each shoe that carries the brake lining is formed separately from the main body of the shoe, and is slidable on it within certain limits. In the case of that shown on the left it will be seen that a number of rollers is introduced between the two portions of the shoe so that the outer portion can move with a minimum of friction, and it will al.o be seen that its point that bears against the cam is bent downwards, so that when the drum is rotating in the direction of the arrow shown on •the left the outer portion of the shoe will press against the cam in such a manner as to assist it in its turning movement. The outer portion of the shoe shown on the right is arranged so that it will also assist the turning raavement of the cam when the drum is rotating in the direction of the arrow shown on the right. The inner portions of the shoes bear on the earn in the ordinary manner, and stops are arranged to limit the movement of the outer portions when not acting to assist the rotation of the cam.
A Resiliently Mounted Body.
THE British Electrical Federation,
Ltd., in specification No. 257,392, describes a system of mounting bodies on its chassis. The object of the invention is to reduce the transmission of vibration from the chassis to the body.
A rubber block, made in halves, with a recess formed on one half tn receive a bridge piece, is held down to the frame of the chassis by means of a saddle piece and two bolts. Before this is clamped down, however, a bridge piece is inserted between the halves forming the rubber block. This bridge piece is secured to cross-members or any other part that may form a convenient means of attaching the body to
the chassis. The specification claims that besides reducing vibration this ' device reduces wear and tear of the B48 boy, es it forma a t on.plete isolation in all direetioas itaataad of Oa usual rigid connection.
A New Form of Garage.. A NOVEL idea in garage lay-out is described in the specification of R. M. Best, No. 280,722. Garages with a central turntable, and radiating spaces for vehicles have been proposed, but in this case the invention consists of proaiding a central platform, which may or may not be a turntable, a turntableaing surrounding the central platform and an outer ring of spaces for ears, so that a car arriving on the central platform can be driven on to the turntable ring and revolved until the desired space for its reception is reached.
Vivo-Ford inventions.
THE advantages of being able to ad
just the band brakes used in the Ford change-speed gear while running is pointed out in the specification cif E. J. Malone, of the State of New Jersey, U.S.A., No. 247,001. With this object in view he provides a means whereby any of the three bands can be adjusted by the driver while ho is in his seat and actually driving, as a better regula tion of such baud:. can be effected while on the read than when in the workshop. An adjustment made on the bench is not always found to be correct after a road trial ; consequently, in many cases, several adjustments have to be made to ensure proper working. Another paint mentioned is that all adjustments can be made without displacing the cover and with a common screwdriver which every driver has in his kit.
The lower view shows the adjusting screws, the nuts of which have teeth cut on their outer surfaces which engage in small worms, the spindles of which protrude through the cover and are accessible through holes provided for them in the floorboards.
Another Ford invention is that of L. C. Fuller, of Kalamazoo, U.S.A., No. 247,148. This invention consiats of introducing a two-speed gear in the propeller shaft of a Ford, just in front of the bevel pinion in the case of the car, and the worm in the CaS.0 of the truck.
So far there is nothing new in this arrangement, the point claimed as a novelty apparently lying in the fact that one cannot get into neutral between the two gears. The inventor points to the danger of getting into neutral because of the leas of brake control.
The fork that slides the Pinion from engagement with the layshaft gear and causes the dogs to engage and make the halves of the shaft drive as one, lies parallel with the propeller shaft; a earn is attached to it, the contour of which rises to a steep angle in the centre. Pressing against this cam is the V-shaped end of a spring plunger, which recedes when the apex of the cam passes it, making it almost impossible for the striker to dwell in the neutral position, as the spring plunger is sure to force it to one extremity or the other.
A Synthetic Fuel.
M HIRSH, of Chicago, in specifi cation No, 258,913, describes his invention in the following claim: " A. process of producing a motor fuel from a petroleum or like hydrocarbon, hydrogen and carbon-monoxide, characterized in that a mixture of hydrogen and carbon-monoxide is produced by passing air and steam through coal or other fuel in an incandescent state, Said mix
ture and unclecomposed steam is then Passel to a separate zone wherein nascent hydrogen is generated an subsequently the petroleum or like hydrocarbon is saturated with the resulting mixture of gases."