AN INGENIOUS MOTOR.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1122, 25 February 1885, Page 4

AN INGENIOUS MOTOR.

In view of the inauguration of a system of tramways in the city of Melbourne and suburbs, and the great importance of employing silent motive power in buay thoroughfares, considerable importance was attached to a trial of a new motor for tram-cars made on Friday morning at the works of the well-known firm of brass-founders, Messrs John Danks and Co., South Melbourne. A large number of gentlemen, amongst whom were several of the leading merchants and public men of Melbourne, were present, and after witnessing the trial expressed the opinion that the inventors had solved the difficult problem of obtaining a powerful, silent, and thoroughly efficient motive power for drawing tramcars through the crowded streets of a city. The new principle, which has been worked out and applied by Mr Danks and Mr Barnes, the latter gentleman for many years connected with the Victorian Bailway department, is simplicity itself, and the wonder is no one ever thought of it before. It consists of an Otto silent gas engine, of five horse-power, fitted into the fore compartment of a tram-car. On the fly-wheel shaft two friction wheels about 18in in diameter are keyed, and work into two other friction wheels keyed on to a counter shaft which works a pitch chain. The latter passes around a pitch chain disc on one of the axles of the tram-car, so that when the chain revolves it causes the axle to move at the same time. In order to simplify the description it may be stated that the friction gear is exactly the same as that used in winding machinery for mining plants, and that the pitch chain is an exact counterpart of the chain employed in propelling a tricycle. The engine once started need never be stopped for a whole day. All that is required to stop and start the tram-car is to move the two levers attached to the friction wheels. At the trial which took place on Friday the engine was fitted in a tramcar constructed specially for the occasion. The car was large enough to carry thirty passengers, and although in an incomplete state the visitors had an excellent opportunity of judging of the superior method of travelling by means of tramcars compared with an omnibus or cab. The gauge of the rails is the same as that of the Victorian railways, the object of the designers being to run the car as an experiment on the completed portion of the Alpbington line. An application has been made to the Government for permission to make the experiment, and there is no doubt it will be granted. The wheels, of which there are six, are braked on each side. The brake is a powerful one, and is applied by the driver pressing his foot on a plate projecting through the floor of the carriage. In order to obtain a sufficient supply of eas to last for four hours' travelling at a maximum rate of six miles an hour.several wrought iron cylinders are fixed under the seat of the car in such a manner that they cannot be seen. Into these cylinders the gas is forced up to a pressure of 1001 bto the square inch. As a gaa engine will not work unIpss the pressure is brought down to 110 th of an inch water pressure, similar to that of the gas mains, two reducing valves are used to bring the pressure down to the proper degree. When the engine was started on- Friday it worked exceedingly well. The wheels and axles flow round with extraordinary rapidity, The noise of the explosions of gas was very faint as it passed through the two air-chambers. As soon as the car is completed, which will be in the course of another week, it will be removed and tried at the . Alphington line. The experiment will be watched with considerable interest ; for should it prove a success it will effect a complete revolution in the method of propelling tram-cars. The motive power can be supplied at less than half the cost of the cable system. This, together with the fact that the cost of the gas consumed in one hour is estimated to amount to 6d, should command the earnest attention of the Melbourne Tramway Trust and the bodies interested in the construction of tramways in Melbourne and suburbs. — " Melbourne Age."