1930-07-05 — Page 13

GEAR CHANGING.

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, MOTORING SUPPLEMENT. SATURDAY, JULY 6, 1930.

and same of the modern gearing. constant mesh wheels-that in gear wheels which are always in meah while the uecessary connexion is

Four Speeds Popular. made by other means, such as dog-

MECHANICAL PRO- GRESS.

30-HOUR "AIR SERVICE FOR US.A.

Programme Likely This Summer.

| NEW MOTOR GEARS. ferential and allows a lower and therefore safer centre of gravity for the carriage.

Increased Silence and

Efficiency.

HYPOID DESIGN.

in annual

now

reminds me that their latest 20-25 h.p, model is a vastly improved design to the first edition of this smaller car. To-day the 20-25 h.p. Combination of Two Types:

Rolls-Royce is an ideal car for the Felutches and similur devices.

By reason of the off-centre post- owner-driver. It has Constant or permanent mesh gear)

tion of the pinion, the same size slightly larger engine, which has wheels are almost as old as the

gear and number of teeth of a given it that extra power it need. motor itself. At the present time

hypoid design is 20 to 30 per cent. ed. Though provided with a full- the most general effort which is

larger in diameter than a spiral sized gear box one con, always being made to improve the gear-

bevel pinion, Hence with the start from rest in "third" and got There are definite signs that, box is towards the provision of a The proposed absorption of the and rates will be commensurate

same gear a smaller pinion can-off the mark with a smooth yet. after 30 years or more, a real ad-quiet third speed, with an easy National Air Transport by United with the service rendered the [By H. Thornton Rutter.]

be used and a greater reduction rapid glide, vance is being made in gearing and change between third and top and Aircraft and Transport Corpora- public.

so that the car can be obtained. That, however, reaches 60 m.p.h. in a few seconds, gear changing on motor vehicles. top and third. A British firmtion will result in cutting, dimost

Beginning with the long awaited Many improvements have been is a technical matter, important One changes into top gear as soon Detail improvements have, of engaged in the production of high- a full day from the time of the announcement that the Alleg-made in the design of the motor to the designer and only useful, as the car gets moving. Accelera- course, writes a Times correspón-class small and medium-powered fastest air-rail combination now banies, for several years the car during the past few years, but as far as the public is concerned tion is the factor that appeals to dent, taken place from time to cars adapted this method two or traversing the continent, according bugbear of air transport, would be few of those driving to-day realise Perhaps by adding the ease of every owner-driver, and this time during that period, but the three years ago, and it has now to announcement made recently by regularly flown with daily loads of the advantages gained by the top gear randing, should the quality is high in this new Rolls- principle which was used by Levas-been copied in principle by other Colonel Paul Henderson, of N.A.T., passengers, a new picture of the silent gears now fitted.

automobile engineer take advan-Royce model. Women will like For over 30 years ago is applied to-manufacturers. Constant mash and Frederick B. Rentschler, pre-air transportation industry unfold- day to the great majority of cars helical wheels for third speed en-sident of the United group of aired itself before the Americunt in every type of machine. There-note that, while a true worm gear Įderfully light, and the steering Noise signifles friction and wear tage of this reduction capacity. this car as well as men, as both

It is, however, interesting to clutch and brake pedals are won and commercial vehicles made sure a silent third, and with a transport enterprises.

traveller recently. throughout the world. I believe, fairly close ratio between third]

With the introduction into Con given to back axles of motor efficient, as its operating contact

fore the increased silence now is noiseless, it is relatively in could not be improved. Under the new plans for all air however, that material develop and top changes between these service from coast to coast, and greas of the proposed Watres bill, vehicles has been a successful

I had two narrow escapes in my ment is about to take place, and on speeds ara a fairly wide scale, but innovation Another constructional plan is to route, no thought is to be given to the power to give preference in the antidote to breakdowns of that rear or straight bevel is not so efficiency

greatly facilitated. between intermediate points on the vesting in the Postmaster General

is mostly sliding. Also, a spur run in this car that proved the component. This has added

of the four-wheel must necessarily be slow in the uso internal gears. The gear-competition with surface tramc, allotment of Government air mail further to economy

quiet, but has about 98 per cent. braking system, and they offer- early stages. Many vehicle manu- boxes have been given names such according to the organizers of the contracts to lines which provide maintenance, as well as keeping

efficiency. Its contacts are roll- tually averted an accident in both facturere, both at home and abroad, as "silent third," "twin top," and new combination of air carriers, the greatest convenience to the vehicles longer on the road withing, as against the sliding of the cases. are undertaking research and mak- "alternative top." A further plan,

greatest number, the airline opera-out needing to be overhauled, worm gear. The hypaid is a mix- The shock-resisting springing ing tests with special forms of to make changes easier by getting

tors of the present regime took im-

Recently a new design, styled ture of both. It has about 25 per and the riding qualities of this gearing with the object of provid- the wheels to be meshed more and since the left-hand pedal will mediate stock of the transcon- the hypoid gear, has been adopted cent. of the sliding action of an new Rolls-Royce further add to its ing a gearbox which will call for quickly appoximated in speed, is provide an ordinary clutch action tinental situation.

by motor manufacturers for rear the rolling contacts of the spur The thermostat control and ther- equivalent worm drive, added 'to jsmooth, silent-running comfort. less skill in use, and some with the to use small clutches in the rear- the driver is not called upon to Thirty Hours Coast to Coast.

axle construction. It is used in Itooth. desirable aim of supplying the box. These arrangements un-do anything out of the normal if

One of the first results of their

The result is increased mometer are on the dash board. driver with a gear which is half-doubtedly show progress and are he wishes to pull up the car in conferences was the announce-

efficiency and greater silence in The driver should, therefore, give automatic in action. For a long in the right direction, but, since an emergency,

ment that N.A.T. was willing and

running. time the four-speed gearbox has they are a compromise they can French but may justifiably be men-vice of six hours between Chienge

a glance occasionally to this in- Another invention, which is ready to institute a passenger ser- been advocated in The Times, not be said to solve the problem.

Universal Adeption.

dicator of the temperature of the and its wide adoption has been

tioned in this Number, since it is and New York. With the

Motor manufacturers in. Eng shutters of the radiator accord- cooling water and adjust the front noticeable in England and

The New Gear Lever,

being tried out by three British nounced schedule of the Chicago)

land. America, France, Germany, ingly. This means of always run- the Continent for the past two or A step further is shown in a car manufacturers, is one in San Francisco run of the Boeing

Italy, Sweden, and Czechoslovakinning at the right temperature three years. Its uae has ron-four-speed gearbox employed on a which constant mesh gears are Air Transport, a service of less tinued to increase, and with few make of British car. In place of fused throughout with separate than thirty hours from coast to

have all recently adopted this new makes this car use its petrol to design. Its principles have been the utmost economical advantage. exceptions, at any rate in the case the ordinary speed lever, which of magnetis plate clutches. The coast was thus a project for the

discussed by, engineers for many of British productions, the three-course taken up a certain amount whole can be constructed separate- immediate future could schedules

years, but it has only recently speed box is now confined to the of room, a small dial is fitted only or as a unit with the engine, be co-ordained.

been produced owing to the vast smallest and most inexpensive the top of the steering wheel, in and it runs in a bath of oil, with The wide mountain ranges which,

improvements made in gear-cut- models. Until 18 months ago which a finger and thumb lever a forced system if desired. To divide East from Middle West

ing machines. As previously the American

Motor vehicle accidents in the motor-designer moves, This dial has marked on change from one speed to another and the experience gathered from

mentioned, the use of the hypoid United States last year resulted in scouted the idea of a fourth speed.it the various geur positions, and it is only necessary to move a four years of commercial flight

makes possible lower chassis an economic loss of more than and it is significant that to-day, in the lever can be moved freely small lever on the steering wheel brought about the decision by

designs in rear-driven cars and $850,000,000, according to a country like the United States throughout the range from high to without interrupting the accelera- Colonel Henderson and his associ

{considerably

the simplifies front National Conference on Street and where motoring is merely a means neutral, but clicks in any of the tion, and the clutch, can be dis-ates that night flying was im- the present 40-50 h.p. New Phan-wheel drive. It is the trend Highway Safety. of conveyance, and in no sense aset positions. There is a small pensed with in so far as changing practical under present conditions tom Rolls-Royce, which is famous towards the latter style in some pastime or a form of travel in button on the end of the lever to gear is concerned once the vehicle over that portion of the route. for its silence in running as well of the latest motor productions in which individual enjoyment can be act as a catch for reverse. This is in motion, Quietness, 1 Inasmuch as the Eastern section 33 for its lasting qualities. Europe and America that has led

SEEMS TO BE MORE. derived from the machine itself, ever is called the pre-selection positive mechanical drive, direct of the Boeing route had recently Hypoid is really a "porimanteau" me to refer to this detail in the fourspeed box is being serious lever because by its use the gears and immediate control by the been lighted and schedules outlin-word, coined to abbreviate the motorcar design. ly taken up by motor

manu-are chosen and set in advance. driver with one movement only, a ed in accordance with connexions highly technical term hyperboloid,

There is one gasoline station for facturers,

Nothing happens after a selection voluntary free-wheel position, and at Chicago with night flights from which is applied to the curve of every direction for their vehicles States, according to the National Safety is also being sought in every 72 automobiles in the United has been made until Constant Mesh Wheels,

a pedal, easy breaking of the engine are New York, revision of schedules the teeth cut in the pinion and by automobile engineers. corresponding to the ordinary among the advantages claimed for on both lines was inevitable. The crown wheels of hypoid back-rxle advantage of a gear that allows Altogether there are 320,000 filling The Automobile Chamber of Commerca With the four-speed box there is clutch pedal, is fully depressed this design. the greater reason for the instal-and released.

Watres bill, which proposes to gears. In practice the hypoid the placing of the pinion below stations. Then the ratio lation of a system

Mention must also be made of guarantee a normal amount of re- year is considered to have the the centre of the wheel it drives is which wives which has been chosen comes free wheel devices, although at venue for each mile of operation advantages of both spiral (or that it gives greater floor clear- moro quietness in running and into uae. The flywheel does not present motor-users appear to be over a strategically profitable air. helical) and worm gears from a lance, and is, therefore, of great increased simplicity in manage contain a clutch, but merely con- rather shy of them, as cyclists line connecting important com- power transmitting point of view: use in public service vehicle ment. It is a curious fact that in nects the gearbox with a jointed were when the free wheel was first nunities, provided an incentive to But advantage to the designer is chassis design to produce lower motor engineering progress often shaft. On first, second, third, brought in for bicycles. Here drastic changes in schedules. depends on the revival of an old and reverse the gears are epicyclic gear changing, with)

more than this as the curve of the land safer motor-'buses. a slight iden brought up to date. This can and worked by contracting hands, difference in procedure, is simplifi-Colonel Henderson

Under the plan outlined by teeth, cut in auch gears, allowa

six be seen in a number of parts of while for top there is a cone ed, and noiseless changes from service between New York and much below the centre of the hour the position of the pinion to be the mechanism of the average car clutch. Quietness and simplicity any one forward gear to another Chicago, with stops at Cleveland crown wheel of the rear axle dif- or commercial vehicle of to-day, ure',gained. by this arrangement; can be made by the novice.

on

TRUST A THORNYCROFT, WITH Your Transport

DEAL DIRECT.

THORNYCROFT

SIX-CYLINDERED

COACHES & OMNIBUSES

MOTOR VEHICLES

Pioneer Manufacturers of Commercial Motor Vehicles

4 or 6 Wheels

4 or 6 Cylinders

30 Cwt. to 10 Ton Loads 20 to 70 Passengers

an-

and Toledo was to be established on daily schedules. The Boeing HHHsystem was to have placed into toperation their daily passenger schedule of twenty hours between San Francisco and Chicago via | Cheyenne on May. It is expected. that the announced absorption of the Eastern mail lines will bring about a full revision of the sche dules.

JOHN I. THORNYCROFT & CO., LIMITED

UNION

BUILDING..

.HONGKONG

FIFTH

FLOOR

Write us and our representative will call,

Telephone 24831.

TRUST A THORNYCROFT WIth Your TraNSPORT

Mountains, a Problem. · The problem of flying the Alle ghanies with passengers, has been one of continuous struggle for the last few years. A tabulation of weather reports shows that ten days out of every fourteen the mountains, or parts of them, are hidden from pilots. Blind flying, without sight of the ground, is possible in modern aviation but is considered inadvisable in any but mail or express traffic.

Pilots have been reluctant to carry passengers over the route of the Natonal Air Transport since its inception. But it has been pointed out that the safety of pas- sengers on night flights has been one of the prime considerations which promoted the limitation of the service.

The higher of the Alleghanies is about 3,700 feet above sea level, From Bellefonte to the Ohio line the planes run along the ridges..

The fliers of the East and West coasts have been trained to operate with different techniques, according to a prominent Western operator. The Eastern flier, he said, seldom flies without view of the ground, whereas the Western fier has been taught, by virtue of the high moun tain ranges and upper strata fog. banks, to reach his maximum ulti- tude and fly by instruments and does not land except when informed by radio that sufficient ceiling is | present on the landing field.

Radio Control and Beacons. It is á common daily event during Spring and Fall months for the Eastern fliers to follow landmarks in and out the mountain passes well below the peaks, using roads, rivers and railroads as his guides. With the installation of radio control and directional beacons this practive has become unnecessary, according to the operators of the New York- Chicago, line. High altitude, air line courses, they says, are now practical for passenger service.

By this sort of Flying Colonel Henderson, the United group, and their associates expect to cut 278 miles from the railroad distance between New York and Chicago, They point out that, with the pro posed 140-mile-an-hour cruising range of the airplanes to be instal led, a great saving of time will be effected Colonel Henderson said that the New York-Chicago passenger line would start some time in June or July and that the. fare would be between.$65 and $75. for a one-way passage...

C

.....

COSTLY ACCIDENTS.

SECOND IN RUBBER.

Los Angeles, fast growing in importance na the leading automo- An Improved Car.

tive city in the west, is now ranked notable British user of this gear tion in the United States.

Mention of Rolls-Royce being a second to Akron in rubber produc-.

WINNING

Its 3 Major Challenges Performance

Distinction

AGAIN

With a larger, longer, roomier

car

..with even faster speed with greater power with quicker acceleration"

and Value... in good looks in real values

...in reliability and economy...

The common exclamation of everyone when he has ridden in the New Essex Challenger is: "How did you do it! How do you get this greater power and faster get-away! How do you get this speed?"?

It is a new Essex Challenger from front end to tail light. It is a longer, larger car. The Super-Six motor is made smoother and given a wider performance range. The motor retains every advantage you know in economy and long life. It is so distinctly modern in all things that count that you must want to own it.

The bodies are roomy, Three will not crowd the rear seat. There is room for your hat. You do not have to squeeze into the driver's seat. The clutch and brakes operate at the slightest, foot pressure. Proper balance and mechanism make it easier to steer.

This sweeping challenge is for you to know that the New Essex Chal- lenger is a thoroughbred automobile.

The NEW ESSEX Challenger

"FULL PARTICULARS FROM-

The China Motor Supply Company.

"

28-28A, DES VOUX ROAD, CENTRAL.

Telephone 21558.

BRANCH OFFICE-486, YAT TAK ROAD, CANTON.