Page
AN AUTOGIRO EXPERIMENT
THE SPEED
Landing On 33 Ft.
Platform
That the use of aircraft by the Navy for scouting and advance- guard purposes would be much facilitated if it were possible to take off and land on other than
LIMIT
No Justification. For Imposition
Inevitably the question arises- were not the conclusions to be drawn from the 1833 investigation shirked by the authorities? Fe-
HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 1935.
MOTOR JOTTINGS
TRAFFIC LIGHT
SIGNALS IN
LONDON
Traffic light signals, with a t-
specially constructed vessels in all destrians were shown by it to be tal of twenty-seven faces, have
weather conditions is recognised, and, as is well known, a great deal of experimental work with this end in view has been under- taken.
Considerable Interest, therefore, attaches to a well-authenticated report from Italy that the Bri- tish pilot. Mr. R. A. C. Brie, flying an autogiro of the standard C.30 direct-control type, has succeeded in landing on a platform 33 ft. wide, which had been extemporis- ed over the stern of an ordinary Italian cruiser.
In the first series of trials. which took place recently, the vessel was stationary in harbour, and though the velocity of the wind was only 2 mp.h., the dir- ection was across the ship. The landing WILS therefore made across the harrow platform, and though ropes had been fitted to the undercarriage so that the "speed could be checked by sailors, these were not, in fact, used-a fact which is a tribute to the skill "of the pilot.
"In the second series Mr. Brie took off, and landed with the ship steaming at '12, 18 and 24 knots. about 24 miles off the Italian coast, near La Spezia, with com- plete success, though on every occasion he had to swerve as he rose from the deck to avoid the funnel.
It would therefore seem that by the use of this machine it should be possible to overcome the delay that is caused by aircraft having to alight on the water, while the experiments Indicate a possible means of eliminating the aircraft carrier, a type of vessel to whose weaknesses attention has often been called. Further develop- ments will be watched in the cir- cumstances with interest.
tera {} eze
AT LESOMEMENT TH
the main cause in a very high
of percentage accidents. What efforts have been exerted to make them exercise greater care, either by regulation or by propaganda? Certainly they may be fined for obstructive behaviour. at the pe- destrian crossings, and the Lon- don police are making efforts to encourage them to use the cross- ings to a greater extent. At the moment, however, no instance of a pedestrian being fined for in-
correct
a
behaviour at a crossing has come to our notice, though "drive" against motorists to compel observance of the crossing rules has been in operation for a week or more. Further, the 1933 returns showed no justifica- tion for the imposition, of a speed limit. Yet relevant figures were not hammered home during the discussion of the 30 mp.h. speed Himit clause in Parliament. The debate was based on Buzinises. not on statistics.
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Yet we are to have the 30 m.p.h. limit in built-up areas, and it is to come into force on March 18th. That the limit is nothing but a forlorn hope, introduced almost entirely as "window dressing" is undeniable the statistics for 1933 fatalities are worth anything at all. Let it be remembered that in 6,657 eases where an estimate of speed was given the speed was less than 10 miles an hour in 1,300 and between 10 and 20 miles an hour in a further 2,818 instances
4.118 cases in which not even a 20 m.p.h. limit would have been of use?
I'
However, the decision has been made and all motorists will hope that the limit, distasteful though iis. will be of real value. The Minister of Transport has made
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been erected at four junctions' in High-street, Notting Hill Gate,
London. The faces are intercon- nected, thus ensuring that trame in both directions on the main road will have a practically unin terrupted passage at a speed of 14 m.p.h. once it has entered the An "all red" controlled section.
pertod is provided at the junction of High-street and Pembridge- road for the benefit of pedest- cians, and green arrow Altration signals have been installed at the same junction to facilitate the passage of west moving traffic in a northerly direction. It is stat- ed that since January 1, 1934. 136 traffic light signal installations have been brought into operation In the Landon traffic area, invol- ving the erection of 737 stan- dards. The total number of Installations in the area is now" 374, of which 248 are in the Me- tropolitan boroughs,—
at any rate one satisfactory an- nouncement, namely, that he will not lock with favour on the sche- duling of short stretches of road, not exceeding a mile in length, which may lie between unsche- daled stretches. It is also known that he will not encourage the placing of the limit on the big new arterial roads and by-passes. A great deal must depend on the attitude of local authorities in preparing their area schemes, but the Minister will have the last -word and, however, prone to ex- periments he may be, we do not regard him necessarily as an enemy of motoring.
ACHIEVEMENT
(ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS)
SIR MALCOLM CAMPBELL
used
WAKEFIELD
MOTOR
CASTROL OIL
IN ESTABLISHING THE NEW WORLD'S RECORD ON LAND
CASTROL
* PRICES HAVE BEEN
SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED
LOCALLY ON ACCOUNT OF IMPROVED EXCHANGE.
SEND FOR PRICE LIST AND GREEN BOOKLET.
ROBERTSON, WILSON & CO. LTD. Agents for
Messrs. C. C. WAKEFIELD & CO., LTD.
The All-British Firm of Oil Manufactures,
ENGINE DESIGN
Refinement Versus
Efficiency
A point that often crops up during discussions among motor- ists concerning their cars and the trends of design applying to cars In general, is how a designier en sures that an engine shall possess the characteristics that the manufacturer's sales policy de- mands.
How does a designer, it, may be asked, ensure high efficiency in the case of an engine for a pro- jected sports model? Alternative- ly, what differences are there be- tween the high-efficiency engine and that of a car in which the utmost. refinement in running is to be an outstanding feature?
These are questions of direct in- terest to the car buyer, for unless he knows the replies he may be led into acquiring a car that, ac- cording to his ideals, will be lack ing in some respects and embody merits having no appeal to Him. So the following notes on some of the design and performance dif- ferences between types of cars as diametrically opposed as possible in their characteristics may be of guidance to the prospective pur
chaser.
It may be explained that the following assumes that in quality of material and workmanship, in size, and in certain other matters that, admittedly, are of first-class importance. the two engines art to be precisely alike. In practice there may be differences in such respects, and these will affect the comparative results; nevertheless, the underlying principles of de- sign variations will be the same.
Differing Requirements
Let us assume that designer "A" la set to produce for a high- grade cur an engine of, say, 16 h.p. rating that shall run with the utmost qületade and smoothness and pull steadily and powerfully at low and moderate speeds in order to afford' both super-excel- lence in top-gear running at all speeds on the level and uphill and a high rate of "acceleration. A high maximum speed is not re- quired, but a comfortable "cruis- ing" speed of 55-60 m.p.h.
Designer “B”, is required to provide an engine of the same Tuting for a supersports model, not supercharged, but capable of turning round at high rates of re- volution and with a power curve continuing to rise until the speed reaches 4,000 r.p.m. or more. Acceleration and hill-climbing on- top gear are unimportant, but both should be of a high order, when the lower gears are used.
A maximum speed of .80-88 m.p.h. is required on top gear, 65- 70 mph on third, and 50-55 m.ph. on second, "Quietude and Kmoothness in running are not emphasised, though, unnecessary Roise and obvious roughness". must be avoided.
J
Differences in the following tea- tures, among others, will be found in the two engines when they are built:-Weight of flywheel catu profiles, valve size, valve timing and valve life, compression ratio, Induction manifold design, car- buretter size, ignition timing, and, possibly though not necessarily, position of camshaft, number of valves per cylinder, and cylinder head material
For Speed and Fower
A heavy flywheel is conducive to suniform and low Idling speed and smooth slow-pulling; but these characteristics are not im portant in a sports model, and a light flywheel is preferable in the lalter to secure rapid acceleration from moderate to high engine speeds and high maximum speed; it will assist in the make ing of the lightning" gear chan-- ges beloved of the sports "car" duver, we
To enable the power curve of the sports car engine, to rise to s higher peak at high speeds the fnlet and exhaust gases respec- tively must be allowed the ut most freedom to enter and leave the cylinder: so the valves mu
be as large na possible have high lit
quickly *. This
Ble that does
silent, running 88
the other CAT must be diuer
is no drawb
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A high compression ratio en- ables the power output to be m creased relative to engine size. It is used on the sports car engine on that account,' but not on the "luxury" car engine, because it is prone to cause roughness in run- ning and a tendency for pre- ignition to occur in accelerating from low speeds--assuming an-or- dinary petrol is used in both en- gines.
•
Differences in the induction manifold design will relate to both size and shape. The “refin-
INDISCRETION OF MOTOR - LORRY
POLICE
Unjust Stopping At Crossings.
It is well known that the driver of a motor vehicle approaching a pedestrian, crossing not controll- ed by a police officer or traffic lights should proceed at: such a speed as to be able to pull up in a short distance to allow foot travel- lers, who in such circumstances have the right of way, 10 cross the road. It is right that the police
should make an effort to educate
road users of all kinds in a pro- per use of the crossings, but in- spectors in certain areas are ap- parently exceeding their instruc- tions and inaugurating a most unfortunate campaign; if it has been authorised by senior officers the Home Secretary should make it his business to enquire into the matter forthwith.
What has happened lately has been, constables standing by un- controlled crossings have sudden ed" engine must have the utmostly, "when no pedestrians have
uniformity in mixture distribu- tion at low and moderate speeds but the sports engine demands that its fuel mixture shall reach it as easily as possible; hence the former engine
have a may straight Induction manifold with extended or "buffer" ends, and
branches at right angles leading to each inlet valve port, while the sports engine will have a larger manifold with branches leading out of it by easy curves, for no matter that these may render carburation somewhat unstable at low speeds with full throttle.
Carburation and Valves
High power at high speed ne- cessitates a comparatively large carburetter, or two carburetters, so that at this point, as at the inlet valve ports and in the in- duction system, there may be no "throttling"; never mind that a big carburetter is a drawback from the viewpoint of accelera- tion from low speeds. for the sports car driver does not de. mand that feature, though the owner of the other type will in- sist upon it. For similar reasons the ignition timing will be more "advanced" on the sports engine.
been proposing to make use of the crossing stepped out and held up car drivers, reprimanding them if they have been unable to stop before the wheels of their vehi rles reached the line of studs, and threatening to
prosecute. The Abject of this is presumably to see whether drivers are prepared to give pedestrians the right of way; but the fact that the con- stables have done this when no pedestrians were, there to make use of the crossings invalidates the whole procedure. The latest * provisional regulations say that 2 driver shall approach a crossing at such a speed as to be able, if necessary, to stop before reaching It "unless he can see that there is no foot passenger theron'
Suppose a Car Had Been There!
Clearly, the police must be more sensible. To-day we have passed the stage when a policeman em- erges from the hedge on a main road and says, "You' were driving too fast. Suppose there had been a lorry just in front of you?” There is no answer to this illogic- al question. It is useless to point out-that the 'non-existance of the lorry is precisely what justifies
INDUSTRY
The future course of the com- mercial vehicle industry is large- ly dependent on the effects of tue. Road and Rail Traffic Act of 1933, which are very difficult to fore- cast. The new scales of taxation. which came into force last Jan- uary, fall most heavily on the petrol-driven heavy lorries, and
have resulted in two notable ten- dencies. The heavy vehicles are giving way to the middle weights; and an increasing proportion of new vehilales are being driven on heavy oil. These tendencies are Úkely to become more pronoun- ced as old vehicles are replaced.
and the former will benefit the Bedford, Ford, and Morris Com-/ mercial Companies, who are the chler manufacturers of the ligh- ter vehicles.
In assessing the effect of the Act on the course of production, It must be remembered that pri- vate carriers are not restricted as to the number of vehicles they own, and in other countries when » public haulage is restricted it has been found that firms tend to Increase the number of vehicles. for their employed exclusively own use, with a view to obtain-
ing greater freedom and flexibil-- ity. It is probable, therefore, that the Act will not have a very re- strictive efect on the production of new vehicles, though the fact
that private carriers tend to use
smaller types than the public haulier will also tend to increase the business of those firms MADU- facturing middle-weight vehicles. at the expense of those catering for the largest lorries.—
the actual speed. "The quesiton. now put at the crossings is, how-- ever, precisely similiar to that old
one
of the open road. It is, moreover in direct disregard of · the actual terms of the regula- tions. It should be stopped, at once. We see no objection to the. use of plain-clothes men to catch obstructive, pedestrians or drivers who try to push through rather than to give way, but there must be no summonses on the lines of "What would you have done it pedestrians had been waiting to cross?""
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THORNYCROFT
SIX-CYLINDERED
COACHES & OMNIBUSES
MOTOR VEHICLES
DIESEL OR PETROL
Pioneer Manufacturers of Commercial Motor Vehicles
Full Range of Spares cartled in Hong Kong and Shanghai.
4 or 6 Wheels
4 or 6 Cylinders
30 Cwt. to 10 Ton Loads
20 to 70 Passengers
JOHN I THORNYCROFT & CO., LIMITED,
Pioneer Building, Nathan Road, Kowloon.
THE
56759,
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