RELATING TO AXLES OF SIX-WHEELERS.
Page 64
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
A Résumé of Recently Published Patent Specifications.
THE Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft, of Stuttgart, in specification No. 255,421, describes an axle arrangement for that type of six-wheeler in which the central and rear axles are both driven. The axle described is of the beveldrive type and is intended to provide A means wherehy the differential of the central axle can be assembled as a separate unit and placed into the supporting or dead axle. The shaft sirown on the left is that which is described as the ' transmission shaft, although no universal joint is shown. The shaft on the right is that which transmits power to the rearmost axle.
In the one case, the pinion drives the crownwheel, whilst, in the other case, the crownvvheel has to drive the pinion. This feature does not appeal to us, as a large gear driving one that is smaller is an arrangement which is usually avoided wherever possible by designers.
A Fuel that Prevents Knocking.
THE company known as Arbeninclustrie Aktiengesellschaft, formerly known as Badisehe Anilin and Soda Fabrik, of Frankfort-on-Main, in specification No. 251,969, says
It is well known that-petroleum distillates or the products of cracking processes which are marketed as gasoline and the like are very liable to give rise to ' knocking' when used in internal-combustion engines as motor fuels.
"We have now found that this objection can be diminished or even completely removed by an addition of methyl alcohol to gasoline in comparatively small quantities. The calorific power of the fuel is not thereby diminished to any substantial degree." Their main claims read as follow :— " (1) The manufacture and production of motor fuel consisting of gasoline and methyl alcohol added thereto in comparatively small quantities, and with or without higher alcohols or ketones acting as blending agents.
" (2) The manufacture and production of motor fuel consisting of gasoline and crude synthetic methyl alcohol added thereto in comparatively small quantities."
Silencing Without .Baffle Plates.
FROM Germany comes a new silencer in which there are
no baffle plates or obstructions against which the gas can impinge at right angles. The specification is No. 266,629, by F. A. Boysen, of Leipzig. From the drawings it will be seen that a large cylindrical chamber is mounted directly on the engine, and the gas is introduced at a tangent to the chamber as shown in the lower view, where the smaller pipe represents the inlet for gas. The chamber gradually tapers down to the diameter of the pipe through which the exhaust is allowed to escape to the atmosphere ; no baffles or diaphragms being used. The introduction of the gas at a tangent to a cylindrical chamber is by no means new, nor is the provision of a large chamber in direct communication with the outlets from the cylinders, but the general arrangement is good.
An Improvement in Petrol and Oil Pipe Connections.
WE are glad to see that efforts are being made to improve,t4te.metbeds of connecting to their unions pipes such as those used for petrol and oil. We have on many occasions called attention to the want of something better
than the brazed or soldered connection,
whine, in. the case of the former, so often results in the pipe breaking where it has been brazed and, in the latter case, in the soldered joint giving way through vibration. Samuel Smith, of Birmingham, in specification No. 266,49, describes a method of enlarging the pipe and inserting a liner which gradually diminishes so that the effect of vibration is not confined to one spot. The figure on the right is for a union where a flat washer is employed, whilst that on the left is for a conical fitting. Something of this kind was fitted to all Commer Cars many years ago, but in that case the reinforcement was outside the pipe instead of inside. Several other schemes are shown, and tools for upsetting the pipe are described in the specification.
A Non-rolling Spring.
A SUPPLEMENTARY spring al:deb, whilst it adds to the resiliency of the main springs, will not permit of rolling action, is shown in specification No. 255,729, J. H. O'Neill. Ordinary leaf springs are employed to act as main springs, and to form the usual connection of an axle to its chassis. In these springs the normal amount of rolling motion is possible. Under ordinary conditions, when supplementary springs are added to such springs to increase their resiliency, they also increase the possibilities of rolling motion. The object of the present invention is to provide supplementary springs which will increase resiliency, but will not, so far as they are concerned, increase the liability to roll.
Both views show the ordinary leaf springs, and in the upper one it will be seen that the shackles are of such a kind that they will permit of movement between one end of the main spring and the frame.
An air cylinder is provided with a lever and connecting rod and a support from the frame so that the end of the main spring is entirely controlled by the compressed air in the cylinder. Rolling due to the additional resiliency of these springs is prevented by the levers, to which the air cylinders are attached, being both securely keyed to a stout cross-shaft (A), as shown in both views.
A New Brake Adjustment.
THE Bendix Brake Co., of U.S.A., in specification No. 266,609. shows an ingenious adjustment for brakes. The shaft which carries the expander cam has teeth fornied on its end which passes through the operating lever. A bolt with a thread cut at both ends has a rack formed along part of its middle. This bolt is insetted in the hole shown, and the lever is then mounted on its shaft, and by slackening one nut and tightening the other the relative positions of the lever with the expander cam can be adjusted. A slot is provided so that the tightening of the bolt will clamp the lever tightly to the shaft. We have seen a somewhat similar arrangement, only that a thread was -cut on the bolt and the shaft had a worm wheel formed on it.