PATENTS SUMMARIZED.
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A Comprehensive Agrimotor Patent. .
This patent, No. 113,196., by M. E. House, has been communicated by a member of the Army Service Corps who is on active service. The specification refers to a machine which may be either steam-driven or internal-combustionengiined. It covers in some detail or other almost every component of the tractor chassis, commencing with the front steering wheels, of which there is a pair, set close together, the axle being mounted on a central pivot which supports the chassis through the medium of a coil spring. Immediately behind the front axle the engine is mounted transversely, and two radiators are provided, one at each end of the engine. The drive from the engine to gearbox and from gearbox to rear axle is by roller (+ail/ in each case. The principal features of novelty are contained in the back axle.
Several constructions are mentioned in the specification, and the principle ap
pears to be that the axle itself is direct driven, and upon it may be mounted any number of road wheels, which may independently be engaged with the axle by means of dog or, friction clutches, and which may alternatively be allowed to run free upon the axle. Further, the patentee cover's in his claims the fitting of solid rubber tyres to each and all of these wheels, the tyres being mounted on steel bands which, it is suggested, shatilci be either made in two parts or be split so that they can readily be removed. from the wheel rims or replaced, according to whether this tractor is coiiired to work in the fields or on the roads.
In the drawings three wheels are shown mounted upon this rear axle, and the centre one is permanently attached to the said axle. The construction is simple, and may be gathered by reference to the drawing. Quite narrow rubber tyres are shown, and it is preferable, according to the patentee, that the bands be provided with lugs at the side, at intervals, so that the tyres may be positively secured in place on the rims by mean of bolts or screws. As drawn, it will be noticed
that a portion only of the stre tT, the weight of the tractor and the pull of the towing chain will be borne by the rear axle. The outside wheels are carried in bearings bolted direct to the frame, and they will thus relieve the axle shaft of some of these bending stresses. It is suggested by the patentee that when hauling in the fields, or in circumstances when there is a call for the full power of the engine, all the wheels can be coupled to the driving axle, but when turning or when on light draft, either or any of the clutched wheels may be released.
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Detail .Improvements.
G. F. Cooke, in No. 113,441, describes a combined interrupter and distributor. for battery ignition systems. W. A. Meadows, in No. 113,290 describes an electric heater for a carburetter float-chamber. A metal container of suitable shape, packed with lime, clay, felspar and asbestos, in which are bedded coils of wire which is intended to be connected in circuit with a source of current, is designed to encircle the float chamber, so that the fuel may be heated as a preparation for starting.
J. Mills and M. J. Mills, in No. 113,364, describe a ball-bearing axle suitable for the wheels of lorries and trailers.
In No. 113,561, the Nilson tractor is described; the main feature of which is the arrangement of the towing chains, which are hitched to a yoke above the rear axle.
W. L. Gile, in No. 108,683, refers to a three-wheel tractor similar in design to the Whiting-4.0, and the claim of the patentee is or such a tractor embodying a differential gear on the rear axle and a front steering wheel designed to run in the furraw, so that the tractor becomes self-starting. No. 104,337, by A, Morr'n,_colicerns a design of valve gear for overhead valves. In order to eliminate side thrust upon the valve stem the cam acts upon a large hollow pliinger, which serves to transmit the cam motion to the valve stem. Besides eliminating side thrust, it is claimed that this arrangement does not increase the height of the engine, nor does it necessitate any additional healing.s, tappets, levers, etc.
No. 17,953, of 1915, by H. H. .Ricardo, has reference to a construction of piston, in which the duties of bearing the load and retaining the pressure in the cylinder above the piston are separated and performed by different components. Alternative designs are illustrated by the drawings, which accompany the specification.
A Ricardo Engine Patent.
Th No. 2588, of 1915, only just published, H. R. Ricardo describes an arrangement of trunk piston internal-combustion engine. The air compressed by . the lower -portion of the piston is used on one stroke to scavenge the working cylinder, and on another to supplement the already indrawn explosive charge, thus, as it were, super-charging that cylinder.