The Washington times., 1914-02-14
NOISE IS BIG ITEM IN
MOTOR CAR BUILDING
Engineers Must Make Cars That
Will Develop Full Horse
power But Maintain Silence.

One of the greatest problems which
aas confronted automobile engineers
,ince the beginning of motor car con-
struction has been the creation of ma
shines which would develop their full
rated horsepower WITHOUT unusual
EOiSeS of operation
When automobiles were first built
practically no attention was given TO
he matter of silence. Motor cars were
not expected to be silent. Nearly every
one remembers the first little rattle
traps that snorted and puffed their way
with more or less uncertainty through
the city streets. The biggest problem IN
those DAYS was to build cars that would
run. No one worried much about the
noise they made.
Then came a time when purchasers
objected to being Jared and jolted ana
Ceafened by the crude pieces Of macLin-
~ we called automobiles. 1t has only
oeen in the last two or three years,
however. that the efforts Of engineers
have really been concentrated on solV-
ing the problem Of silence.
The first move in TINS dlrect!o tD !oh-satlo oaa+a.
perhaps the most natural-was to cover
ID the noisy parts, to muff4e the noises
with iron castings.
Noise of Two Kinds.
Noise in a motor car is to two kinds.
The first and most general kind IS
caused by the improper fitting of parts.
There is free play between moving
parts. Instead of running together
smoothly and silently, they JOLT ana slap sIp
when the motor is in operation. Ihe
noise In itself might not be obJecton-
able. but the thing which causes that
noise. the improper fitting OF the mov-
ing parts, means unusual WeaI-pEeak--
age after any considerable period oL
The second kind of noise is caused by
frictfon Excessive friction also means
unusual wear, and no matter now wen
we may lubricate part, II there Is too
much friction it will soon become loose
and noisy. = l..
stance. Motor car manufacturers were
slow to recognize that the accurate cut
ting of gears and the careful grinding
of the teeth gave a more perfect nj ana
eliminated not only the noise but also
the unusual wear which was the cause
OF noise
Eliminate Wear.
Valve noises and unusual wear can
be eliminated only by using large oval
cams. roller valve Hfters and extra long
valve guides. The best construction
operates the entire valve mechanism in
a constant spray of oil. SO that the
free play Is not only eliminated but
every working part is perfectly luori-
Gated.
Vibration in the motor has also been
a cause Of UNPLEASANT noise and de-
tructive wea. Vibration is caused by
heavy working parts which are not in
perfect balance. With the continued
operation Of q motor this excessive
weight in any of the moving parts be-
comes a hammer which pounds away
constantly at the cylinder walls, at the
crank-Shaft bearings at the connecting
rod bearings. wherever there is an in
accuracy this overweight pounds away
until a breakage is caused or an eX-
spensiVe adjustment is needed. Mere
extra fabrication or muffling cannot
eliminate excessive weight and its res1l-
tant wear in the muffling parts. There
Is only one way to conquer this noise,
and that Is to have all moving parts
perfectly balanced and as light as pos
sible.
Can Apply Test.
The only noise which should be ap-
parent to the driver of a well built mo-
tor Is the rushing of the wind and the
soft purring of the explosions within
the cylinders.
The test of silence is one which any
buyer can apply for himself. A test
can be given which any one can make
and which will enable the purchaser TO
avoid noise and all of its destructive
causes in the car he buys.
Simply take seat in the driving
compartment when the motor is idling.
If there is any sense of vibration when
the hand is placed on the dash, or if
there is any noise beyond the soft pur-
ring from the explosions, that motor is
not well built. Every well built car
should be able to stand this test, Any
car which will not stand II is not a
good car to buy.