Chapter 10

The Argyll Voiturette

This car is made by the Hozier Engineering Co., Ltd., Bridgeton, Glasgow. (Shown in figs. 30 and 31.)

The engine is five horse-power. In this car gearing is used in place of chains. Owing to the up-and-down motion of the springs, it is impossible to have the gearing working direct on the axle, as in the motor tricycles or Decauville car. Some substitute for the rigid gear must be provided. On the main axle, which is a live axle, is keyed a bevel wheel; a bevel pinion gears in this. These wheels are in the chamber 9 in figs. 30 and 31. A shaft 8, with universal couplings, connects the change speed gear box with the pinion, thus allowing for the play of the springs. The change gear box is shown in fig. 32.

G is the cone clutch gripping in its seat in the fly-wheel of engine. The spur wheel B is keyed on to the same short shaft as the clutch G. The tailshaft J, which really forms one end of the drivingshaft, has a brake pulley H keyed on to it. The spur wheel C runs loose on the shaft J; the clutch A slides on long keys let into shaft J, and always revolves with it. When A is moved forward, i.e., to the left in the drawing, the teeth of the clutch engage with the teeth of B, and the engine drives the shaft J direct; this is the fast speed. To obtain the second or middle speed A is pushed to the right, engaging with C; the shaft is then driven through the intervention of the wheels K and L, similar to the back gear of a lathe. To obtain the slowest speed the back gearshaft carries a pinion E, which slides on the shaft, and gears with the large spur wheel on A. The gear as shown in the figure is in the lowest gear. The pinion D is for reversing, being operated by another wheel not shown in the drawing; the gear runs in oil. The writer was shown the gear of car that had been in use for some time, and it showed but little signs of wear. This car had lately made the trip from John-o’-Groats to Lands End in bad weather, the gear being compact and occupying but little space. There would be no trouble in carrying duplicate parts when on a long journey. 19 in the figure is the upper part of the water tank. Tubes with radiators on each side of the bonnet provide the cooling surface.