Bali-bearing Steering Box
Page 92
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In.A STEERING box employing a ballbearing thread is shown in patent No. 875,506. The basis of the patent is the way in which the slotted arm around the nut is almost completely relieved of bending stresses. (Zahnradfabrik A.G., Friedrichshafen on the Bodensee, Germany.)
In the drawing, 1 is the worm on the column spindle, surrounded by a recirculatory string of balls in the nut. The nut has a conical portion (2) which closely fits a groove (3) in the arm (4) of the steering shaft (5).
CONTROLLING AIR SPRINGS A CCORDING to patent No. 875,512, 'the frequency of an air spring should be of the order of 70 cycles per minute or less in order to obtain smooth riding. This is usually ensured by incorporating a surge tank in the air system. But the surge tank also prevents a rapid build-up of pressure if the wheel strikes an obstruction and a means of correcting
this forms the subject of the patent. (Guy Motors, Ltd., Fallings Park. Wolverhampton.) The drawing shows ,a section of the improved spring. It is of the rollingdiaphragm type and acts between a pillar (1) and a frame member (2) and is shown in its mean position.
An upper conduit (3) leads to the surge tank. To the base of the unit is attached `a, rubber moulding (4). This performs a dual function; it obstructs the surge-tank pipe as it rises and acts also as a bump stop in case of excessive deflection. Being made of a soft material, it can do no harm if it be broken up inside the unit.
LEVELLING VALVE FOR AIR SPRINGS THE levelling valve of a pneumatic sus pension system should preferably not respond to transient changes in level and patent No. 875,692 discloses a device by which this is achieved. (Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd., I Albany Street, London, N.W.1.) The drawing shows the delay mechanB58 The nut member is additionally provided with an extended nose (6). This is a sliding fit in a slot cut in the cover-plate and forms a valuable outboard support in addition to preventing the nut turning.
The use of a slotted arm in place of a fork eliminates the tendency for the prongs of the latter to be forced apart when loaded.
ism employed, which is simply an hydraulic dash-pot. A sliding cylinder (I) works the air. valves .(not shown) when moved to one side or the other.
The movement is originated by the angular deflection of a spindle (2); this is worked by a sensing rod attached to an unsprung part of the vehicle. If the spindle turns, its forks (3) move the sliding cylinder .via a spring (4).
Before the cylinder can move, it must displace 'oil fromone end to the other via a restricted passage, not shown. It is this action that creates the• delay before the air-springs are made to alter.
TRANSMISSIONS
THREE patents come from Automotive Products Co., Ltd., and H. Reid, Tachbrook Road, Leamington Spa. They are numbered 878,364, 878,365 and 878,366 and deal with various aspects of an automatic variable transmission employing epicyclic gearing and hydraulic couplings.
COMPOSITE CASTINGS
PATENT No. 875.494 discusses the difficulties encountered when producing complex castings, such as cylinder heads, and proceeds to describe a simpler method of doing so. The aim is to eliminate the uncertainties of core location and removal, thus enabling thinner sections and smoother gas passages to be used. (Ford Motor Co., Ltd., 88 Regent Street, London, W.1.)
The drawing shows a cylinder head made by the process. The chief novelty is that it is in two parts, divided along the line 1 and is held together by an epoxy resin. Bolts may be used also. The upper and lower pieces a separately cast, using steel moulds havii upstanding bosses which form the con The use of sand or wax cores may St be necessary in undivided sections as, f example, the gas passage (2), but the can be adequately supported from t steel plate and are little trouble to remo afterwards.
The use of metal moulds ensures high degree of accuracy. The mating st faces of the joint line can be left in t as-cast condition.
A CROSS-COUNTRY VEHICLE AVEHICLE for traversing rot ground is shown diagrammatically patent No. 875,691. It has exceptiona versatile mobility, being able to surmot humps, ditches and, if necessary, di] over a fence-like obstruction. (E. Me Hochstrasse 129, Schaffhausen, Switz land.) The drawing shows the wheel arratt ment in the act of conforming to depression. A middle axle (1) is fi to the frame, all the others being pivots mounted. Arms (2) swing about mid-axle and each other axle can pi locally on the end (3) of one of the ár:
The raising and lowering of the ai is controlled and powered hydraulica so that the driver can adjust the wh outline to suit the particular obsta All the wheels are driven, eit mechanically or hydraulically.
Many variations on the theme described in the patent.