Power Operation for Normal Gearbox
Page 64
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PATENT No. 655,531, comes from J. Wells, "Mount Pleasant," Welfo2ion-Avon. Warwickshire, and shows a hydraulically operated mechanism which can be used to replace the top cover of a standard gearbox and so convert it to power operation.
The drawing shows a plan view of the unit mounted in pine on the gearbox. A pair of hydraulic cylinders .(1 and 2) is used, eacn containing a doubleacting .piston. Each piston works orit. of the gear selection forks, so that one
controls first speed and reverse, the other second and top; this assumes a three-speed box is used.. In the case of four or more speeds, an extra hydraulic cylindei would be introduced.
A• third cylinder (not shown) is connected to a. rocking lever -(3) which, when moved through an angle of 90 degrees, pulls whichever piston has been used back into the neutral position by means of cam-faces and balls (4) engaging partly in slots 5, and partly in Vnotches in the pistons.
This neutralizing device is worked every time the clutch-pedal is used, the connection being made by hydraulic means.
IMPROVING FRAME RIGIDITY
THE longer a vehicle, the stronger must be the frame per unit of length if undo.: distortion is to be avoided. A layout which enables a long vehicle to be built on a short frame, forms the subject of patent No. 655,480, from Porsche Konstruktionen G.mb.H., Salzburg-Morzg, Austria.
In this scheme, which uses swinging links as part of the independent suspension system, the links are made to add to the iengiti of the frame, which can, in consequence, be shorter. The frame is fitted with central brackets (1) which anchor a pair of torsion-bars (2). The outer ends of the bars are attached to the swinging arms (3) each of which carries a wheel.
The curved form of the arms is favourable for providing a good lock on the steerable pair of wheels. To support the body over the rear axle, the frame is provided with a V-shaped projection (4).
A FRENCH SERVO-STEERING SYSTEM A POWER-ASS1STED steering systera PA' for heavy vehicles, forms the subject of patent No. 655,556. The patentees are M. Onde and J. Guerin, both of Paris. • The motive power is compressed air.
Referring to the drawing, the drop-arm (1) of a conventional steering box terminates in a .ball7end. (2) which is held between a pair of stiff springs. Assuming no servo action, the springs are strong enough to transmit manual force to the
• steering rod (3). .
In operation, however, the initial movement of the ball against one or other of the springs rocks 'a lever (4) which open one of the. air-valves (5). Air is thus admitted to one side of a stationary cylinder (6), the piston of which gives a powerful follow-up thrust to the original manual effort.
The Patent also covers the use of electric contacts instead of an air-valve, with electrical or mechanical amplification.
NEW CARBURETTER DEVICE
UNCONVENTIONAL suggestions on carburetter design are put forward in patent No. 655,925 by A. Mazurkiewicz, Carnis-Eskan Camp, Helensburgh, Dumbartonshire.
The drawing shows a conventional carburetter with the addition of the patented device. This consists of a disc (I) located in the air intake and perforated with holes of a certain size. The actual size of hole is important, and is arrived at by he following formula:— " Total volume of one cylinder (swept plus unswept) divided by the product of cylinder radius arid stroke. One hole is provided for each pair of cylinders, so that a six-eylindered engine would need three rholes, The scheme appears to be empirical; the principle is not explained.
A NEW ADDITIVE
PATENT No, 656,253 (Anslamol, Ltd., Imperial House, Kingsway, London, W.C.I) gives details of a new additive for mixing with engine lubricating •oil. Several substances are mentioned, all in the same chemical class, a preferred one being alpha-pinene. The addition of this substance is claimed to reduce oxidation.
IMPROVED METHOD OF GEAR SHAVING
IN " shaving "—the modern method of Ifinishing gear 'wheels to a high degree of accuracy—a gear-like cutter is revolved in mesh with the work-gear and is. at the same time fed slowly across the axis of the work. An improvement in this system forms the subject of patdrit No. 655,672 (National Broach and Machine, Co., Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.).
The improvement consists of a different direction of feed motion; this Is in line with neither the cutter nor the gear axis. Referring to the diagram, I is the gear being worked (shown at start and finish of cut) and 2 the helically gashed gear-like cutter, inclined at an angle. of 15 degrees to the work axis.
Line 3 shows the direction of feed, which can be at any angle between 5 degrees and .65 degrees, measuring from the cutter axis. Advantages claimed are one-pass cutting and increased cutter life caused by even load distribution over the cutting edges. The patent shows also various forms of cutter teeth.