SPEEDS UP TO 300 M.P.H.

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 3 January 1931, Page 12

SPEEDS UP TO 300 M.P.H.

In a small separate building there is the apparatus used for testing tyres at enormous rates of revolutions cor. responding to car. speeds up to 300 m.p.h. An elaborate system of distant controls is provided, so that the operator can stand behind a safety bulkhead, watching the tyres through an observation slot, and having as complete mastery of the trial as though lie were at the machine itself instead of beinf 1121 feet away. The tyres is tested in contact with a drum, as previously described, hut it cannot be run up to speed on the drum becausce this would take so long a period that the cover would probably fail througn heating. Consequently, after the drum has ben revved to the required speed, the tyre is independently speeded up to an identical peripheral speed and is then gently and steadily lowered on to the'drum and loaded for test. The power consumed can also bo'measured.

So complete is the equipment of this test house that almost any desired condition can be provided for the purpose of causing failure in almost every conceivable way. Bv this means tyres may he run without being subject to a large number of variables and the effect of different abuses can be studied.

In addition to research work upon possible improvements, tests are continually in progress whereby a constant check is obtained on the everyday products of the factory. Apart from the staff actually engaged upon this study, quite a large group of people is kept busy upon the job of recording the results and correlating them, so as to he most useful for all concerned. All the tyres which

have been tested arc kept for a specified period, so that the results can be re-examined, or fresh comparative tests undertaken, should any query or new factor arise.