PATENTS SUMMARIZED.
Page 22
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An Electrically-controlled Change-speed Gear.
Those who anticipate a period during which the control of the motor vehicle will be effected by the •manipulation of a series of buttons or switches may consider ta that the change-speed. gear described by E. Fehr, in specification No. 114,995, indicates one direction
wh'eli may be suitably taken by designers who are wishful of approaching that ideal. All the operations of changing gear which can be performed on a three-speed-and-reverse gearbox, normal in type except as regards its control, are carried out, according to this patent, by the pressing of one or other of a series of eight buttons. The medium utilized is, as might be expected, electricity, and current is obtained from the usual car lighting and starting equipment. Boththe main and• layshafts of the gearbox are hollow, and in them slide plungers which are reduced in diameter in parts. The necessary gears for any drive are engaged by means of expanding clutches, which are operated by the plungers within the shafts. Both plungers are coupled to a cross-head which ' bears, as a nut, upon a screwed spindle. The last-named has keyed upon it a sprocket wheel which is coupled by a roller chain to another keyed upon a shaft running alongside the gearbox. On •
the other end of the shaft is a bevel wheel, and this is geared to another, which is coupled to a worm wheel. The worm wheel is driven by one or other of a pair of friction -wheels, which are brought into contact with the surface of the flywheel.
The friction wheels are-each carried at the extremity of the cone of an electro magnet. Upon one of the control buttons being pressed, an electro magnet is energized, and presents its friction wheelto the surface of the engine flywheel, with the desired effect at engaging the gear required.
Detail Improvements.
H. A. Greaves and another describe, in No. 114,983, an apparatus for producing more gas.• Another gearrbox construction is that of A. T. Collier (No. 114,865), who is responsible for yet mie more attempt to evolve an epicyclie multi-speed box.
The engine starter on which No 114,866, by E. Dobson' claims to improve, is our old friend Gunspra,y under a new guise. The principal alteration is the fitting of a pressure supply to the air jet.
An H.T. distributor, in--which the conta6ts are brought very close together, but do not actually touch, is improved upon rn No.. 114,990, the inventor, W.F. Ireland, providing means for extremely fine adjustment of the gaps.
No. 114943, by P. S. Swan, deals with the problem ef automatic plough lifting. A jib attaahed to the rear end of the -tractor lifts the implement bodily. The novelty consists in the arrangement for adjusting the height of the front end of the plough.
Another Ford conversion set, this lithe for ioad carrying, is the subject of No. 114,999. The inventor, J. Shaw, uses a perch bar similar to that made familiar on the old MimesDaintier, forfor carrying, the existing Ford axle and coupling up the new and heavier one.
H. V. 3. Jouffret, in No. 112,922, proposes to construct autothob+le engine cylinders of steel tubes, which are screwed into the water jackets, which may then be of aluminium or other light metal. He explains . that the novelty of his invention lies in the fact that the cooling water is in direct contact with the exterior of the steel cylinder.