IGNITION SYSTEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20668, 13 September 1930, Page 13 (Supplement)

IGNITION SYSTEMS.

YEARS OF DEVELOPMENT,

It is an interesting fact that coil ignition was used for tho first practical internal-combustion engine, known as tho Lenoir gas engine, introducsd commercially in 1859. The coil up to that poriod was little nioro than au experimental toy. Whilo tho problem of providing a battery was not so serious in tho caso of a stationary engine, such as tho Lenoir, it was different in the caso of the first' automobiles, as thoro was no satisfactory accumulator available, which was why hottube ignition had to be used. As tho cars began to dovelop, attention was onco more given to the problem of electric ignition as a substitute for tubo ignition, which had certain dangers and inconveniences.

Early Trembler Colls.

The portable accumulator became available and so coil ignition began to dovelop. Gonorally, a trembler typo of coil was used und a four or six-cylindor engino had four or six trembler coil units, and as the tremblers required keeping in order it occupied a fair amount of timo, and the coil, moreover, took up considerable space. Tho great trouble, however, was the accumulator. There was no charging dynamo on tho car and charging had to be done at garages and electricity supply stations. As a rule, two spts of accumulators were carried, one as a reserve. Troubles with the accumulators were frequent. As often as not they failed _to hold the charge, hence numerous ignition troubles on the road.

It is small wonder, therefore, that tho advent of the magnoto was much appreciated by the early motorists, and it gradually, but surely, replaced the original coil and accumulator system, and held the field for a considerable number of years.

Ooils again in Use.

Once nioro the position has changed and we have tho coil steadily replacing tho magneto. This has come about as a development of lighting and starting. Evory car has its accumulator automatically charged, and thus the old-time difficulty of a reliable supply of current has disappeared. Tho simplicity of tho coil began to appeal. It was found that a single-coil unit working through a contactbreaker and distributor, as used on tho magneto, was satisfactory for firing any number of cylinders. Efficient as the magneto has proved to be, it is a complex and expensivo unit compared with tho coil, the construction of which is so simple that fhore is nothing to go wrong.

THE NEW REO " FLYING CLOUD."

Many of tho latest developments in motor engineering aro embodied in the latest Reo " Plying Cloud " model 25. A short drivo in a " 25," fitted with a fivepassenger sports sedan body, gave convincing proof of tho general flexibility of the new car, which is fitted with the ingenious Reo silent second transmission. This device enables the veriest - novice to make a quick change from top to second .without double declutching, and although the change may bo made in the orthodox manner by those who prefer to do so, beginners need have no fear of clashing the gears, no matter how' roughly they manipulate lever and clutch. The six-cylinder side valve motor has a cylinder block of chrome nickel, and the seven-bearing crank shaft is fitted with a vibration damper. Tho cooling system is claimed to be so efficient that there is at no time a difference of moro than two degrees in the temperatures of any two cylinders. There is no vacuum tank, a fuel pump being used instead. Tho car is fitted with two-way shock absorbers, and Lockheed four-wheel hydraulic brakes givo a pleasantly smooth yet definito braking action. Tho steering is fingerlight, and for a car with a wheel-base of 124 in., the lock is very good. Tho body also includes many refinements. One-piece dome mudgards sit snugly over the wire wheels, and the springs, mounted in rubber shackles, provido comfortable suspension. The front seat is readily adjustable, whilo the wind-screen, which is in one piece, winds outward, instead of opening upwards as the side windows do. Tho interior appointments aro very fine, and both in appearance and performance, the car is generally pleasing.

MANUFACTURE OF TYRES.

Details of the advances made recently in the manufacture of rubber were recounted by Mr. F. D. Pidgeon, Auckland manager of E. W. Pidgeon and Company, Limited, the New Zealand distributors for the 13. F. Goodrich Rubber Company, on his return from the United States during the week. ■ Mr. Pidgeon said improvements were going on all tho time, one 'of the most recent developments being a very ingenious mixer, which was 12 times as fast as the old method. Another very hoticeablo feature was the number of inspections made during the manufacture of an article. The Goodrich plant in Akron, Ohio, manufactured about 30,000 different articles, but tho principal products were tyres and tubes. The department handling motor tyres worked 24 hours a day, and similar hours wore worked by the hose-making department.