CHAPTER XVII. ELECTRIC VEHICLES 201-214

Requirements. Gasoline-electric Trucks. The Current Used. Mechanically-produced Electricity. Current from Batteries. Primary Battery. Secondary or Storage Battery. Reversal of Current. Charging. Time required, and Current. Troubles in Use. Overcharging. The Circuiting. Economy in Use of Current. Series and Parallel. The Connections. The Controller. The General Equipment. Accessories. Seating Arrangement. The Transmission. Brakes.

GLOSSARY 215

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

FIG. PAGE

1. Views of Plain Frame 13 2. Quarter Elliptic 14 2a. Half Elliptic 15 3. Three-quarter Elliptic 15 4. Full Elliptic 16 4a. Cantilever Spring 17 5. Fore and Aft Motion 17 6. Lateral Motion 18 7. Floating Axle 20 8. Semi-floating Axle 20 9. Crossing Depression 22 10. Striking Obstruction 22 11. Solid Tire 24 12. Single Tube 25 13. Double Tube 26 14. Illustrating Tire-removing Tool 27 15. Vulcanizer 29 16. Turning Action on Front Wheel 31 17. Illustrating the Strain on Fabric 33 18. Illustrating the Strain on Fabric 33 19. Effect of Flat Tire 34 20. Steering Wheel 38 21. Steering Gear 39 22. Type of Front Axle 40 23. Contracting Brake 41 24. Expanding Brake 41 25. Contract Mechanism 43 26. Equalizer Bar 44 27. Rear Axle. Service and Emergency Brake 45 28. Equalizing Mechanism 47 29. Resistance in Equalization 47 30. Equalizer and Differential Movements 48 31. Differential in Housing 50 32. Section of Differential 51 33. Side View of Differential Wheel 51 34. Top View of Differential Wheel 52 34a. Differential Gears 53 35. Radius Rods 56 36. Torque Tube 57 37. Chain Drive 58 38. Shaft Drive 60 39. Straight Line Drive 60 40. Cone Clutch 63 41. Multiple Disk Clutch 65 42. Progressive Transmission. Low 70 43. Neutral Position 71 44. Intermediate 72 45. High 73 46. Reverse 75 47. Selective Transmission. Low Gear 77 48. Intermediate 78 49. High 79 50. Reverse 80 51. Progressive Control Mechanism 81 52. Selective Control Mechanism 83 53. 3-Speed 85 54. 3-Speed 85 55. 3-Speed 85 56. 4-Speed 85 57. 4-Speed 85 58. 4-Speed 85 59. 4-Speed 85 60. Control-Lever Bracket 86 61. Planetary Transmission 88 62. Frictional Transmission 89 63. Firing Position 94 64. Return First Cycle 94 65. Drawing in Charge 96 66. Compression 96 67. Automatic Inlet Valve 98 68. Calculating Efficiency 100 69. Two-Cycle Expansion Position 102 70. Exhausting 103 71. Compression 103 72. Crank Shaft 104 72a. Increasing Cooling Area 110 73. Movement of Heated Water 111 74. Cooling System 112 75. Radiator Type 114 76. Side View of Pump 116 77. Section 116 78. Carbureter Float and Needle 123 79. Carbureter Inlet Valve 124 80. Carbureter Discharge Port 125 81. Carbureter Secondary Air Inlet 127 82. Complete Carbureter 128 83. Surface Carbureter 131 84. Series Wiring 137 85. Parallel Wiring 138 86. Multiple Wiring 139 87. Dynamo Connection 142 88. Magneto 142 89. Induction Coil 146 90. High Tension Circuit 147 91. High Tension Connections 149 92. Vibratory Coil 152 93. Contact Maker 154 94. Contact Breaker 155 95. Starting Mechanism 160 96. Muffler 164 97. 3-Point Roller-Bearing 165 98. Wrong Bearing 165 99. Improper Alinement 166 100. Correct Raceways 166 101. Cage for Roller Bearing 167 102. Roller Bearing 168 103. Caution Signs 171 104. Wiring for Lighting Circuit 175 105. Ignition Wiring 177 106. Lubricating System 189

INTRODUCTORY

The building and development of auto vehicles form one of the most remarkable pages in the history of manufactures. The subject nearest the boy is the motorcycle, which is a direct development of the bicycle. From this to the larger power vehicles is but another step, so that in setting forth the structures involved the aim should be to show how one form of device grew out of the preceding one, and how each structure following in the train, became desirable and necessary.

It would be impossible in a limited work of this kind to show the various modifications of all the elements which make up a complete structure.

When these vehicles were first brought out, the mechanism was exceedingly simple, being, in reality, nothing more than the hitching up of some form of motive power with running gears.

But now all that is changed. The old type steering mechanism was imperfect; the attachment of the wheels to the axles had to be modified; the wheels themselves entirely revolutionized; speed changing and reversing especially adapted for quick and positive work; and even the easy starting of the motor had to be provided for.

The entire equipment required a multiplicity of new devices, such as signaling apparatus, lighting systems, safety appliances, means to prevent skidding, wind shields, a reorganization of body and seating arrangement, and a reconstruction of the springs and their attachment to the chassis.

The electrical part has made as rapid strides, and in the development the sparking mechanism has approached perfection, and brought into existence a wonderful variety of systems, so that each cycle of improvements has made them more efficient, but simpler to construct, understand and use.

It is a rare thing to-day to see any of the power machines dragged home by horse power. Not many years ago this was a common sight. The size, shape, and materials used, have been understood by scientific analysis and study, so that breakage, under ordinary uses, is not at all a common thing.

It is the aim of this book to show in as simple a manner as possible how this wonderful transformation has been brought about, and to furnish one or more types of each element, properly constructed and arranged, so that the boy may understand how each part is built, and the particular reasons for the structures.

In no branch of manufactures can be found such a variety of technical designations as have grown out of this industry. By virtue of necessity, many of these names have been coined to suit the conditions. This knowledge is imparted in these pages, which contains a complete glossary of every term used in the art.

THE AUTHOR.

AUTOMOBILES