MULTIPLE CYLINDER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 141, 17 June 1930, Page 16

MULTIPLE CYLINDER.

SIXTEEN HORSE CARS. AMERICAN PROPOSITION. FRONT DRIVE CARS AGAIN. (By E. Y. WATSON.) DETROIT, Mich., May 26. More multiple cylinder automobiles are eoing to be produced this year. The new engine designs are in preparation, and are looked for in the late summer or autumn. Chief among them will be a new 16-cylinder power plant that one maker, outside of Detroit, has in preparation, " ' More front drive cars are also in prospect. One or them will come from one of the largest Detroit makers, who is understood to have enlisted the co-opera-tion-of Harry Miller, Los Angeles racing car designer. Miller pioneered the front drive on the speedways. He is known to control certain patents covering operation of the mechanism. Another front drive will be produced in a Cleveland factory. This organisation, which is among the older makers, is said to have acquired rights on the Bucciali front drive. This is the design of the Bucciali Bros., of Pans. . . . The' Bucciali drive involves individual mounting of the wheele. The wheels are arranged so as to function independently of one another. It is stated that 6uch a car can be driven over a six-inch kerb without shock to the passengers and without tilting the body so as io be noticeable. The wheels, it is stated, hold their rigidity notwithstanding the flexibility. • A demonstration model of it exhibited 'to engineers in January was equipped with an American-built engine. The French car of the corresponding type used a 100 horse-power Mercedes engine to which a supercharger was added. It was said to be capable of high road speeds. Power Increased. Of the multiple cylinder trend, W. R. Strickland, assistant chief engineer of the Cadillac Motor Car Company, talked this week before the Detroit section, Society of Automotive Engineers. Mr. Strickland is considered one of the deans of the engineering profession. Answering the question, "Why 16 cylinders?" he explained that in the fine car field increased 'size and weight required increased power without reverting to engines of larger bore than those now in use. "Cars in this class have increased in weight to over 5000 pounds," Mr. Strickland said. "With custom built bodies and special equipment, 6000 pounds are exceeded. Thus the requirements in power have been correspondingly increased."

A survey of p sibilities brought into consideration rapid acceleration,; high speed, smoother operation, quiet opera-

tion, ease of operation, ease of quick deceleration, character of appearance, finish of appointments, and riding comfort. Nearly all of these factors, according to Mr. Strickland, would .influence engine design, but weight increase and wind resistance overshadowed To comply with the conditions, an additional 40 per cent in power was required without raising, stressing or necessitating introduction of new parts.

In the V-16, overhead valves had been decided on first on account of accessibility, second on* account-of the desirability of placing the manifolding on the outside in two" independent systems, and third because of the development of the automatic hydraulic valve silencer. One of the bugaboos of the multi-cylinder idea, the engineer said,, has been control of the oil. Great progress, however, has been made in the accuracy of piston rings and bores, which have been incorporated in the V-16 construction.

With manifolds and carburettor on the outside next to the hood, it was anticipated that special provision would have to be taken to counteract lower temperature of the'air entering the hood when starting, but the amount and position of the exhaust heat provided not only had compensated for this, but had given an easier starting motor without handicap in developing more power. Having two carburettors now is of no more concern tlian one, because of the degree of perfection attained in this part. With a bank of eight cylinders on each side, symmetrical manifolding was> easily manifolding is practically a dual type, designed for each system. The type of one for the centre four cylinders and. one for the end four. In concluding, Mr. Strickland said a .compression ratio-of 5.5 to 1 had.-proved satisfactory in the V-16, especially for an overhead valve job.