Los Angeles herald., 1906-02-12
NEW AUTO GEAR
IS MOST SIMPLE
TRANSMISSION DEVICE FINDS
FAVOR
Every Effort Being Made to Reduce
lntricateness of Machine Manu-
facture-BeIden Apparatus
May Be Used In Future

Constant striving for simplicity IN
automobile construction in response to
the public demand for less complI-
Gated machine has resulted in the pro-
duction of transmission gear by the
Belden Automobile Transmission com
pany of Pittsburg, which, on account
of the long stride 1t makes toward the
extreme of simplicity, is one of the
features of the Chicago auto show for
those who understand the Importance
of transmission in the automobile The
Belden system uses only two gears, and
they are not even "in mesh" when run
ming at high speed.
1t is said that from 80 to 40 per cent
of the power is lost in transmission
when sliding gears are used, as from
four to eight gears are always in
mesh. The loss when the planetary sys-
tenn is used Is much greater except on
the high speed and the loss in fric-
ton drive transmissions is so great
that they are used only on low power
runaboutS. The claim of the makers
of the Belden gear is that it reduces
the loss to per cent. The device at
tracted unusual attention at the recent
New York auto show
uC lIllPOl lduCS VI ITdnSfIllS-
sion has been recognized by automo-
bile makers since the industry was in
its infancy, and for this reason the
new gear has been greeted as one of
the inventions which will constitute a
big advance in the work of simplifying
the automobile.
The Belden has a positive gear drive
which delivers 80 per cent of the pow
err OF the motor to the rear wheels,
&C. hot ko.a
contact between the two gears which
form the principal part of the transmits
sion. One consists Of a two-pitch gear
and the other two concentric rows of
pins which provide for three forward
speeds and one reverse. The drive is
always direct and positive, and there
is no slippage at the time of explosion.
The Belden gear is noiseleSS and with
out friction, thereby insuring a per-
fectly smooth running car, while the
positive direct drive transmission, light
weight, simplicity Of construction and
operation, efficiency on all speeds and
strength to stand the rough usage of
inexperienced operators, solves one of
the perplexing problems of auto con-
struction.
The device is the product of the eff
forts of E. H. Belden with Julian Ken
nedy, a well-known mechanical en-
gineer. t
At the New York automobile show
1t attracted extraordinary attention,
partly because it was the only exhibit
of the kind in the show and partly be-
cause it relates to feature of auto
construction of vital interest to every
owner and maker. For the same rea-
sons the Belden exhibit in the Coliseum
has drawn a large crowd since ths
opening of the show. Other gears in
use are applications of mechanical
principles we'll established even before
automobile construction began. 1t is
said that enough Of the largest motor
car manufacturers have contracted for
the Belden gear to establish 1t as the
gear of the future and to mark 1t as
the longest step toward the solution of
the transmission problem in automo-
bile history The Pittsburg plant Of
the company is developing with rap
idity proportionate to the eager recep-
ton the product has met in the auto
world.
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