CAR MANUFACTURE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20496, 22 February 1930, Page 12 (Supplement)

CAR MANUFACTURE.

NEW METALS .INTRODUCED;

.USE OF NITRIBED SfEELS

Many pf tho materials .that go, intd-motor-cars.to-day are different from those of even .so shoi;t a time ago as last, year, ' when the 1929. models were introduced.-; With the appearance of 1930 models, there have been still other changes in construction. Marty of the changes are just beginning to bo recognised by the car buyer. An illustration of this is found in brightly plated exterior parts. The motorist's first thought is chromium plating. Ho is right in most instances, but breaks in tho lino here and there find car makers using stainless steel for parts previously treated with chromium. The manufacturer of two popular sixes, for example, is using a hood hinge of stainloss steel in spito of tho fact that ! chromium plating was largely developed by tho corporation of which this company is a unit. In the products of other car manufacturers, stainless steel is being used to an even larger oxtent for exterior parts likely to feel tho effects of weather. Despite the fact that this type of steel is four times as expensive a3 ordinary grades, tho maker of tho one fine car is using it for virtually all bright exterior parts. Others aro considering it for various units. Another member of tho same family that is coming into wider use is rustless iron. Its first application' to a motor-car was in tho form of running board mouldings. Tho first user was the manufacturer of a line of sixes and .eights. Others now aro looking into it. In three of tho largest motor-car laboratories experiments are being conducted with an entirely new typo of steel for use in crankshafts. While details of the now metal are not yet available, it is known that it eliminates tho process of heat treatment. Nitrided Steel Parts.

The recent introduction of a series of new models by tho maker of one of the most expensive cars marked the first use in tho United States of nitrided steel in motor-car fabrication. This metal has been much exploited' in Europe and its progress is being watched with special attention by American engineers and metallurgists. A great deal of casehardened steel, of course, is employed in motor-cars and many feel that something still harder, less corrosive, less easily distorted and capable of withstanding heavier impact is to be desired. It is this fact that has focussed so much attention on nitrided steel, which is claimed to possess theso, desirable virtues. The nitriding process was developed at tho Krupp Works in Germany. It was introduced in America by Adolphe Aubert, a French steel maker, who holds the rights to the process outside of Germany. While it has failed so far to find an application -in .America, outside of the steering gear of tho car previously referred to, it has caught on more strongly in Europe, where it has been longer known. Ono of'.the most expensive European cars uses nitrided steed for cylinder walls, crankshafts, timing gears, camshaft gdars, clutch disc, valve tappets water pump and other engine parts. Still other European cars are using it to a lesser degree. Proponents of .i this new .steel /..foresee its early and general use in America despito some of the present disposition to wait. Cost and possible brittleness. are two of tho considerations in tho minds of American engineers. A', new ingredient.that'has TO" cently 'gone into : the making of, automobiles is asphaltum. A. coating of. this substance is being applied to the inner side of tho steel body panel to remove its tendency to rumble. Several of the more expensive cars are using it. Rubber - having ' displaced metal in bo many parts of tho average , automobile, it is worthy of note that-one instance has recently developed in which metal has displ&ced rubber..'That is in tho clutch. When tho 1929 cars were - introduced, rubber inserts-were to be found in virtually all clutches. Their purpose was .to prevent the matching of engine find drive mechanism vibrations. Recently, after months of experiment, the maker of one of tho most popular sixes decided the same end could 1 better be achieved by using a small coiled spring instead of a rubber insert. Others may follow this examplo soon, according to present indications. A continued discussion with regard to the metals used in car-mcfking is •• that relating to the springs.' Virtually/ all laboratories have considered,-and continue to consider, tho relative superiority of a carbon o alloy steel for spring material. Ihe l nal word on tho subject has not been spoken. Some have chosen a carbon steel, others an alloy. Carbon steels are less expensive but more material is .necessary, which makes them as costly in the final analysis as one'of tho alloys, some declaro.. In such ways as theso aro tho ingredients of automobiles undergoing changes. The trend is one for which most observers can see no end, for,'as ond of tho greatest engineers declares: "Wo aro just beginning to learn how to uso metals. BIGGER BATTERIES REQUIRED.

In tho past nil too many _ light-car owier3 havo found that maintaining the battery in an adequately charged condition has bfcen a source of distinct anxiety even though it has not been called, upon to take care of tho ignition and has had ono of its greatest burdens removed by the owner frequently starting the engine bv hand. It is evident, therefore, _ that with tho further demand which is to Tjo made upon the battery frequent charging from a sourco other than dynamo of° tho car will bo needed. This will bo irritating,-inconvenient and .expensive. Tho remedy lies not with nifikeis of electrical equipment, who are perpetually striving to increase tho efficiency of dynamos and batteries, bub with- tho car makers, who must select equipment with a sufficient margin of supply over demand to keep pace with the owners requirements.