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Motoring News And Views
Continued from Page Eight
USED CARS
FOR SALE
HILLMAN MINX SALOON
MORRIS EIGHT
TOURER
STUDEBAKER CHAMPION
VAUXHALL "14"
SUNBEAM TALBOT
(EVERY CAR GUARANTEED
FOR THREE MONTHS.
ECONOMICAL
KEPAIRS
by
Popularity Of The British Car
The popularity of British motorcars in Switzer- land-which this year has been importing more cars from the United Kingdom than from any other country-is the subject of an interesting report by the London "Daily Mall's" motoring correspondent, W. A. McKenzie.
McKenzie,
who writes fram "If you can supply the goods Berne, says that the reputation of before others beat you to it we British motorcars has been great-can take ten times the cara you ly enhanced by "six thousand un. have been sending us and make wlting ambassadors for British this e-untry permanently a prae- trade British duy makers tenlly one hundred per cent, Bri- who this month are touring thetish car market."
and Alpine
roads
Switzerland.
of
McKenzie, That messagɔ, says endorsed by the big distributors The Swing 7:vel theke J. Waesy of Berne, A. Blane
Free and Emil temerity of British tourists ar- of Genev riving here in the most worn entZurich, who cover the whole eu cars over to face the hazards aftry briween them.
Tant there this mountain kingdom-cars of prewar vintage."
But the tile okl British ears, qualified automobile engineers, says McKenzie, are giving ite down trouble, King Driving | Alpine passes into every nunk and Iessons given by experiencederaung of Switzer and with
DRIVING
SCHOOL:
instructors al moderate Fees,
MAINLAND
MOTORS
THE USED CAR PEOPLE 3A. Tak Shlug Str.. Kowloon.
U
next
favílity unknown to the owners of fg chefr.m other serritories.
And becaus of this demon- stration which has been going or all summer Swiss dealers ar being inandated with orders In
cars which British cars
are sold before they leave Britain, while white
r
{år in other gym seas markets are
tanding in the
importers should
THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 1947.
7 Poga 9.
THE "V" V. THE
THE STRAIGHT
Not Necessary To Commit Engineering Murder To
Save Wheelbase
Bore Diameter And The Span
The majority of motorists, at some time or other, have listened to or participated in discussions on the possibility of using gas turbines for the propulsion of cars. It is six years since the Whittle-B.T.H. turbine-jet unit was first flown in a Gloster aircraft and since then technical development has been extraordinarily rapid, The amazing achievements of our world re- overshadowing all cord-breaking aircraft,
carlier performances and definitely marking a new era in aircraft propulsion, naturally turn one's thoughts again and again to the consi- deration of gas turbines for road vehicles.
be so keen to see Britain take the In a general comparison with a conventional pis-
market here," McKenzie
writea,
is due to the simple fact that British cars are better «nited than ny others to the Swiss ronds and Swie, ecomany.
Car Thief
Methods
In Holland they have gone into
the question of car thefts very show-rooke nwait.
ing customers," says McKenzie.
alenete naked leading Swiss Importers for their apiszon
| Bilst m tur trade prospects in
their country. They repued:
i
THE TRIUMPH
SALOON
FAR EAST MOTORS;[|]
26. Nathan Road,
Kowloon.
Tel. Nos. 56849
57250
MOTOR CAR
COMPREHENSIVE and THIRD PARTY
INSURANCE
BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE
Agents
London & Lancashire Insurance Co. Ltd.
Royal Exchange Assurance
Guardian Assurance Co. Ltd.
Representation in Principal
China
Ports
ensures continuity of insurance including
Tacilities for the Insurance of Leave Cars.
A
thoroughly. and point out seven ways in which you can suffer ating
ton engine the turbine has many characteris- tic advantages. Power is produced continu- ously by purely rotary motion under sub- instead of inter- stantially constant pressure mittently by reciprocation under fluctuating pressure. As there are no peak pressures, no reversals of stress and no vibration, light weight can be achieved in the structure, the running components and the mountings. Air- craft turbine jet units are about one-third the weight of equivalent piston engines but the consumption is greater.
むなさる
turbine exhaust
נתור
21
high
of
before entering ing or stunt vehicles of boats run-stroke diesel engine. This system
achieve a relatively the combustion chamber. 1 of ning on closed courses they could, can adequate size and emelent design no doubt, be successfully utilized.overal themat efficiency and Duus
favourably low rute such an addition may well reduce In 1944 I expressed my conviction give a
better consumption; even the rate of fuel consumption by over the radio that an existing fuel
It might be 43 per cent.
Rolls-Royce or de Haviland jet than a diesel unit. unit installed Torque
suitable more suitable for a large, long- vehicle, Tho Another important feature chassis would quickly annex the distance haulage
lesel engine in this system is wile militates ngainst simplicity world record for speed on land.
To think in terms of a direct highly supercharged and all power is the output worque characteristic of the unit,
The torque curve of scale reduction of an existing air. from the engine shaft la utilized craft turbine quite misleading, to drive the supercharging blow- piston engine rises nu average rapidly at crankshaft speed is in. first because the operating con.er. Exhaust gas from the engine creared to about half the design.ditions on the road are quite dif. cylindern drives a turbine which el maximum, peaks at approxi.ferent from those nt. high velocity is the sole source of useful power mately three-quarter r.p.m. and in the stratosphere, and secondly output.
At first sight this appears to be fall again to the half. speed level because there is a practient init
car.
Ja
igine unly about one.third is trans. consumed in a reciprocating en. formed into mechanical energy at the shaft and two-thirds is lost by way of the exhaust pipe, the cooling system, radiation and fric-
tion.
By utilizing the shaft pow. to drive a supercharger the be effective pressure can
'ntan
40 amount
of hent
mergy is released through the en.
gine exhaust that even when con- verted by the turbine to mechani
al power it represents a higher proportion of the total potential nergy than could be obtained from the engine shaft.
Prophecy Unwise
examination it will be a maximum rpm. In a simple to dimensional reduction. A one. a somewhat roundabout methmit turbine Jet unit such effort is ab. third scale model of a 80 hp. pls.hut on stacled in driving the compressor ton englue would not be a 20 h.p. found to be quite logical. Or the that the useful output torque com.engine, any more than a one-tenth potential heat energy of the fuel mences only at about one quarter scale model of a sixty-seater hur Flx.scater passenger speed and then climbs to a maxi.would be a mum at full speed. At half speed! the torque is only about one-third Installation Problems
When all relevant considera of that at full speed. For this rea
Inte account. Ison a simple gas turbina must at tans are Anken
present be regarded as technical particularly with regard to hent for road exchangers, turbine "compound. ty impracticable vehicle. On the other hand, by Ing" systems, tanlinge and redusraised and more fuel ens de burn-
totion
extremely gearing employing two turbines, one
t. Such drive the compressor and one to doubtful if a turbine power unit furnish useful power, the draw. would have any advantage in the back referred to may be circum- matters of space occupied or over vented. A single coinpressur sup, {oll weight. The cust woul" plies the alr for the turbines necessarily be higher, and woul which
use to juxury run on stparale shaft. crtainly limit its The compressor turbine is the vehicles. Even the development naffected by variation of land improved alloys to permit higher
In short, the engine serves as dynamic, high.compression com- Operating independently of the operating temperatures and .com.
the power
thermal efficien-bustion system producing tax for compressor.
turbineequent higher The elimination of recarnent vehicle. Here we find that car. can develop its normal high tor.cles, so important in aircraft units, the turbine. Some of the most of little value to the famous manufacturers in the parts permis much higher pressing the air absorbs from tweque at low speed, which, at full would he
to three-quarters of the charge, may be almost twice that automobile plant owing to practi-world are already corâmitted to the rabber.barott's hands. not operating speeds to be employed. thirds
nt maximum speed. This is a most cal dimensional limitations. It is the development of compounded counting the time he leaves the This implies a unit of extremely turbine's developed power.
this description uitable characteristic for a road not feasible to introduce mini power plants of small
dimensions which
On account of the high operat-
anils produced by Par but pinches the petrol.
for long-range, medium-speed conveniently installed ang speed a high ratio reduction vehir'e and materially cases the ture power Reading from aft to fore, wel be
problem of change speed gearhut. Iaboratory methods for everyday medium-altitude aircraft and also chassis and enclosed bygearing is required. Aircraft tur. have:--1, Theft of spare wheel: the
Two alternative arrangements road use,
for marine propulsion. Trouble might be experienced 2. rifting of luggage boot: 3., the diameter of only 5 to 6 inches, Dines run at from 10,000 to 15,000
diminutive unit to may be proposed. Using a con-
ou the rond by the entry of dust breakage of windows; 4, entry by and although it would run very v.p.m.
60 h.p. for CHES
mon combustion system the tur aunshine roof: 3, doors forced; 6, fast the peripheral speed of the develop about
well rotate at 40,000 to bines are operated in tandem with and grit through the air scoops.
It is rather unwise to venture Tampering with Engine; and as compressor and turbine would be might
r.p.m.
Both power and the exhaust from the compressor Relatively enormous Bilers would exhibit 7, removing the entire higher than that of the larger 50,000
the nozzle be required for all the air pass. Inte prophecy regarding technicat Vehicle by itching a crane under nireraft types of 3,000 thrust h.p. ecnomy are related high speed turbine delivered to
The ing through a turbine it and matters, Ustinlly progress is not the front bumbers and towing it Only a simple lubrication system and the need for change of gear ring of the power turbine.
in an irre. having a very low rate of con. ratio to meet the continually vary. other scheme provides a senarate would doubtless impair the intake achieved in a smoothly continuous
and require fre- gradual process but ing road conditions is greater combustion system for each tur. characteristles
chain of quiescent sumption is required, as there are по sliding metal.tometal sur than with the slow.running piston bine. This is probably the more guent attention. Here again the gular
engine. Lucer.
Here is a real problem.
attractive as the turbines can be mailness of the unit is a handl. active periods. In the case of the an advance The unit is internally self. Although compressor and tur.remotely sited and consequently cap. The slightest erosion of tiny combustion turbine
compressor
turbine blade: in one aspect--for example, in
fuel technology cooled by the air flow, so water bine may be on a common shaft more conveniently mounted on a
roiler basis. However, such instala.would profoundly affect the care. Imetallurgy. Jackets, eirculating pump, radiator running in two ball or
and meticulously production methods-may have a deemed fully designed can hardly be and theringslat are not required. I bouring and there are no mainions
produerd profiles, and efficiency profound leavening effect on the Conversely, no extensive warm.rubbing surfaces demanding fine conorically practienble.
whole complex of problems. It ing-up perlod is required before clearances, metleulous care is re Similar projects, it is reported, would deteriorate rapidly, Pro.
were investigated by the Germans vided this danger can be eliminat-hay transform as possible type operation on full load. Aircraft qufied in production. For instance units have an automatically con- the blades of the aircraft turbine during the war in their search for ed it would seem reasonable to into a practical proposition, a too- turbine prit to be costly design Into an economical trolled routine by which a cold are held to limits of 0.001in for compact, high-powered, propul. expect the
one or a relatively inefleient :ion unit for heavy armoured more reliable than the piston ca. engine is positively started and dimensions and shape of section
ebletes. They were variously In.gine. The absence of valve gear. power unit into the most efficient ready to deliver full power three and while it is possible to reduce
'ended for outpuls of 800 to 1,200 Ignition system and couting sys and thus change the main trend
removes 1 number orj of development. A car engine which uses 30 minutes after actuation of a push.the size of the binde it is not
practical to reduce proportionate .p. and quite beyond any normalttm
potential sources of trouble
For the present 1 am at opinion to 40 per cenļ. Jess petrol was
ommercia: installation.. The turbine is less critlent re.ly the limit of permissible varit
Interesting speculations can be that lower-powered turbines will road tested in the United States garding fuel and can operate on tion. Similarly, the weight an
It will thus be appreciated that the other day.
turbine made on power unlis for this class first be used in light aircraft and he problem of the gas diesel oil. moment of each blade is of ex petrol, kerosene or
for rond vehicles is not ensy to of vehicle. For example, a tur. for high-speed marine craft, Later A meeting of the Society of Kerosene is the usual fuel em. treme importance and these fac
Simplicity means low bine driving an electric generator these units inay be adapted for Automotive Engineers at French-ployed as it has the highest calori- tors cannot be so closely held in resolve. fick (Indian) sow the defe voluc
and propulsive efficien- could be installed ns a unit under heavy military vehicles and even. Her gallon; calurile small sizes. From the productiorhermul monstration,
conclits and lorries. value instead of knock rating is viewpoint, accuracy within inectes, whilst a more practical ar-the floor and supply current to tually in special designs for large Mr. Charles Kettering, who the criterion. Fire risk and also limits is easier to attain as dimen angement of the plant involves a remotely located, chassis-muunt. passenger has just retired as vice-proni- loss by evaporation are reduce1.siona pre increased and much yhat are probably prohibitive ed driving motor or to separate Only win this has been achieved dent of General Motors, said No enrburettor is reqquired bumore difficult or oven impossible siderations of space, weight, traction motors at the wheels. A can we seriously expect ruiniature
Juxury coach on these lines would units for private cats. that the engine marked a new
complication and cost.
However, I will be happy to be It is fruitless to consider the be an attractive proposition. The era in the economical Line of
iniple jet propulsion turbine unit power plant-turbine und genera. proved ton cautious. I hope that fuel.
for ordinary automobile use. The tor-could be rrudhly detuchable improvement in technique will up. ot, high-velocity jet would b for pertodle overhaul on the bench ret present views. Power produe. fangerous and, therefore, not per. and the vehicle kupt in service tion by continuous rotary motion missible on the roads. The shriek by the substitution of a replaces logical and desirable. The tur. bine-propelled car of a higher set up by air travelling at colas. ment unit,
Another possibility is to com-power to weight ratio should be a kat speed might be unbearable.
a two. I wonderful vehicle to drive. For special racing,' record-break-pound the
HOWDY.
Thr
in.
last-named methods, videntally, is what the police do to parking offenders in some Parts of the United States; one moment your car is there, and the nest, there it is, gone.
And you have to bail it out.
New Car Engine
Test curs in Detroit have
mllca averaged 261á
to the gallon at 40 miles an hour, eom- pared with 18% miles to the gallon averaged by standard engines.
So-caled "power cartridges," filled with comparatively slow? burning powder, can be made to jack up a car by simply pull- ing a trigger, said the chair- man of the explosives division of LC... Ltd., Dr. McDavid, at an F.B.I. conference in Glas.
gow.
1947 PONTIAC.
Your choice of a
six or an
STREAMLINER 4-DOOR SEDAN
Sole Agents:-.
eight.
TRIANGLE TRADING COMPANY,
·001, İtolland House,"
FED., INC., U.S.A.
Telophone: 25481 ·
button.
Gas turbines have revolutionized the pro- pulsion of aircraft. They would appear to offer attractive possibilities for cars. A simple turbine jet, however, has unsuitable technical characteristics. Cost and complication render a more elaborate turbine installation unecono- mic at the present stage of progress. A possible development is a turbo-electric power unit for luxury coaches. In the view of the author, there is no immediate future prospect of miniature units for private cars.
only
Disadvantages
tu
The
flow
a continuously operating,, to achieve us size is reduced. This untimed fuel injection pump. The spells expense in production ori fuel is atomized and burned con-loss of efficiency. tinuously, as in a blowlamp, and Similarly, certain components while consequently a means of ignition are very highly stressed is gecessary only for initial start-subjected continuous high ing. If desired, air can be tapped temperature. Special alloys have of the compressor to warm the been developed to withstand these interior of the body or de-mist conditions but they are expensive the windscreen.
to produce and fabricate. high velocity of, the gas makes it imperative for the sur This picture of possiblitics is free finish if the airfoil section ultractive enough, but, as might blades to be superlative. It mus be expected, there are certain as be expected that a small turbine pects of the turbine which con-unit will be relatively costly; it stitute disadvantages. Operating would be simpler and cheaper to most efflelently at very high for produce one of higher output than ward speeds at very high al-is required for a road vehicle. titudes, the combustion turbin is In its simplest firm, comprising an admirable power unit for air compressor, combustion chamber craft. In a relatively slow-moving and turbine, and operating at road vehicle, however, it is not ground level, the unit has a high. se wei! sulted.
er rate of fuel consumption than At aircraft speeds in excess of the piston engine and consequent 300 m.ph. the work of compress. 1y fuel tanks would need to be of Ing air can, to some extent, be larger dimensions to ensure the achieved by ram cffect in a pim- same effective range. On shiun ple divergent duct. If the spotd and locomotive, economy cari be wew high enough, say 1.300
nchleyed by elaborating the eyele m.p.li., the dynamic pressure by the ure of heat exchangers and dentrated at ground level would the duplication or triplication of be about 80 lb per sq. in. This is turbines. Such methods are equivalent to a cumpression radio carcely practical for autome biles of 4 to 1, adequate for the com- by reason of cost, complication, bustion, of the fuel, and there weight and bulk. would be no need for a mechani
Nevertheless, it world RCCAL cal compressor or a turbing to drive it. In fact, for ultra-high- that some compromire would need spoed aireraft, the propulsive to be adopted between the aims thermal duct or "ram Jet" is be. of simplicity and efficiency. It is ing developed for night at 1,500 inevitable that a high quality ro m.ph, and higher, in the strato-duction gear will be required to sphere. For the opposite con- lower the turbine speed to, say, ditions let us take the example 0,000 rpm, at the output shaft, of the combustion turbine locomo Space will almost certainly be tive which I examined in Switzer-found for a heat exchanger by Iand recently, and which is more means of which..ale leaving the closely --- analogous to the road! comprensorin Warmed by the
For Comfort
Style and
Performance
drive a
Or
turbine with
De Soto
HUA NAN MOTORS
CHUNG TIN BLOG. BRD FL. TEL. 28818
and.