AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

Revival of an Old Gear-change System

30th March 1951, Page 52
30th March 1951
Page 52
Page 52, 30th March 1951 — Revival of an Old Gear-change System
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Oof the earliest principles in the NE ‘--Idesign of gear-changing devices is the " disappearing feather," that is, a sliding key that can be moved along a shaft to select one of a number of freely journalled gears. The same principle reappears in a gearbox covered in patent No. 650,577, by L. Schmid, Gmiind, Carinthia. kustria.

Referring to the drawing, I is the input shaft and 2 the output member, in this case the bevel pinion of presumably the back axle. Each of the gears on the input shaft is mounted on ballbearings. The shaft itself is splined to receive a sliding sleeve (3), provided with an external splined collar (4) which, when slid into one of the gears, makes a driving connection, each gear being provided with a narrow belt of internal splines.

The shaded parts on each side of collar 4 are frictional spring-rings which act as speed synchronizers before engagement actually occurs. Due to the fact that the inertia masses on the driving shaft are small and act on a short radius of gyration, the claim for a quick and easy gear-change should be substantiated.

FORK TRUCK WITH WEIGHT INDICATOR I T is important for safety reasons that the driver of a fork truck should be aware of the weight being raised, and an instrument for doing this is shown in patent No. 650,375, by A. Barnes, White Lodge, Hall Green Lane, Hutton, Essex. The device can also be used for a weighing machine, quite apart from the safety aspect.

The drawing shows the outline of a truck working on standard lines. From

the sliding carriage (I) cables or chains extend upwards over pulleys (2) tia be anchored on a stationary block (3). The weighing device is placed on the block, and is fitted with a dial (4) facing f.e driver.

The dial records the tension in the lifting cables, which is a function of the load. The preferred type of indicator is of the Bourdon tube type which records the hydraulic pressure developed, although the spring-balance type of mechanism may be used. The scale is marked not only with weight units, but also with inches, showing the maximum safe load at various positions along the forks.

AN EIGHT-CYLINDERED " ENGINE

AN engine with its cylinders arranged in units of four in a cross-shaped group is shown in patent No. 650,195, by I Jameson, West Street Works, Ewell, Surrey. The engine illustrated has two such groups, making eight cylinders in all, but the patent covers all multiples of four cylinders.

The drawing shows, in diagrammatic form, the layout of such an engine. The four pistons of the front unit are all connected with a common crankpin (1) whilst the rear set is worked by a second crankpin (2) spaced at 180 degrees. The basis of the patent is the arrangement of the induction pipes; two separate pipes are used, each with its own carburetter. One pipe (3) feeds all the cylinders lying in the plane AB, whilst the other one (4) supplies the cylinders in the plane CD. This layout enables the pipes to be all of the same length, and of the same shape, a point of importance in a multi-cylindered engine.

BETTER STEERING WITH INDEPENDENT SUSPENSION

IT has been found that with some independent suspension schemes the steering is adversely affected when the system is displaced, due to the fact that the rodwork connection moves from its true position. To avoid this is the aim of a scheme disclosed in patent No. 650,206, by the Rover Co., Ltd., Meteor Works, Solihull, Warwicks.

The drawing shows an independent suspension layout in which the wheel unit can rise and fall subject to the constraint of links (1 and 2). These

are of different lengths so that the 'wheel assembly as a whole will rock through a slight angle when the links are deflected. This motion will occur about a centre or neutral point, and the essence of the patent is that the steering connection (3) shalt be located in or near the horizontal plane embracing this point, so that no change can occur in the steering position. The resilient member of the system is a large helical spring shown at 4.

AN ANTI-THEFT WARNING DEVICE

THE increasing value of vehicle toads. is an added incentive to theft, and to counter this is the purpose of a device dealt with in patent No. 650,565, by H. Reeves, 161, Maida Vale, London. W.9. It consists of a pair of reeds fitted with contact points normally open, in circuit with a warning device such as a hooter. Referring to the drawing, the reeds (1 and 2) are tuned to a vibration frequency approximating to that of the springs of the vehicle. Should anyone try to climb on the vehicle, or tamper with the load, the reeds would set into vibration and so close the contacts (3). Two reeds are used so that parking the vehicle on a camber would affect them equally in a gravitational sense and preserve the distance between the points. A secret switch (4) is used to set the device at the ready when the vehicle is left unattended.

In a device of this type it would seem desirable that when the points had once made contact, the horn should give a continuous note until switched off.

Tags

Locations: Surrey, London

comments powered by Disqus