A New Radiator Centre.
Page 11
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Of Vie troubles to which commercial motors have been subject in the course of their arduous work overseas, none has been more prominent than that in connection with radiators. Most of these, as is well known, occurred in connection with those of the honeyoomb and boxed-in type of cooler, common on some American chassis which were imported during the early stages of the war. The vertical tubular type, however, is not without its failings, as we are well aware. It is not so subject to damage from the effects of vibration as the other and older type • it is, however, naturally liable te:.) damage by impact owing to its exposed position at the front of the chassis. Another source of damage is frost, and of trouble from this source there has been more than enough.
We have had brought before our notice an invention, the object of which is to improve the construction of this type of radiator, with the idea of rendering it much easier and cheaper to build and repair, besides contributing in no small measure to its efficiency. The patentee, for the device is provisionally protected, is Mechanist Sergeant-Major W. F. S. Harding, M.T., A.S.C. He has already carried out a number of experiments with the device, and has proved so far to his own satisfaction that it, is good We. understand. also that unofficially he has been highly commended by the authorities.
The novelty of this device consists of the utilization in the vertical tube type of radiator, of helical coil tubes instead of the plain or straight ones ; moreover, the tube is secured in the tube plates, both top and bottom, by means of the ordinary type of union nipple. The advantages are manifest to anyone who has had experience in connection with the repair of a radiator of this form. Any of the front tubes which may be damaged as the result of accident can be removed and replaced in a, few minutes, and if renewals are net at the moment available, it is an easy matter to close up the enof that portion of the union left i the tube ate by 1 be means of a rubber r or fibre washer held in place by the union nut. If any of the inner tubes are damaged as a result of frost., they are accessible merely by removing two or three of the tubes in front of them, and they can then he renewed or the holes stopped in the same manner. The removal and replacement of the front row of tubes is simple and can be accomplished rapidly. These are the advantages of this type of radiator in connection with the effecting of repairs. At the same time it must. be realized that
a tube of the form shown presents much more cooling surface to the air. In consequence, the number of tubes may be considerably reduced, the expense of fitting likewise decreased, and since the size of the top and bottom headers and the width of the side -plates depend upon the numbersof tubes these. can be reduced accordingly, and a saving effected in the overall weight of the radiator and the water carried. As a, result of the cooling of the tubes in the manner 'shown, they are considerably less likely to suffer from the effects of vibration, a slight shock is, not likely to cause a breakage, as the tubes will give, and any deleterious effects of vibration of the chassis will be lessened because of the springiness of this form of construction.