Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-05-09
WILL STANDARD|zE
E[ECTR|CALPART
Society of Automobile Engi-
neers Considers Subject at
Detroit Meeting.
NEED OF SIMPLIFYING
PRACTICE is DISCUSSED
Problem Of Limiting Headlight II.
Elimination Is Found to Be
Vexing One.

The Standardization work of the So
ciety of Automobile Engineers was
quite conspicuous as to devices of cleo
trical equipment on gasoline automo-
biles at the meeting of the society in
Detroit last week. A careful study is
being made as to the possibility of sim
plifying practice in this connection.
Some years ago it was suggested
that. as in the case of the magnetic,
the base dimensions, etc. of car cleo
tric-lfghting generators be standard
lied. 1t was found. however, that this
was not feasible, owing to the fact
that there was great variation in the
sizes and methods of attaching the
generators. the state of the art not
having been developed to a point at
which controlling structural elements
can be standardized without interfer-
ing with the progress of design. The
electrical equipment division of the So
ciety is now considering in prelimi-
nary way the desira bility of standard
izing certain mounting features of
gasoline engines and electric motors
used for starting them so far as meth
DDS of attachment are concerned when
hywheel drives are used with inclosed
types of fiywheel.
Owing to the extensive use of the
ground return or single wire system
in gasoline automobile electrical eauip-
ment the adoption of standard draw
ings Of the bulb bases, sockets and
plug ends for this system IL likely, the
same having been approved at the last
standards committee meeting for the
purpose Of submitting the same to the
society for adoption next June. There
have been no plug end standards, and
will not interchange in the same socket
with bulb bases. Standard dimensions
for plug ends which will make them
interchange in both ground return and
have been prepared. The single contact
bulb base has the same dimensions SO
far as possible as tho doubel contact
bulb. The same thing is true in the
case of the plug ends for the two sys-
TENS.
The problem Of limiting headlight il
Elimination to conform to proper regu-
lations in city and country driving is a
vexing one. 1t has been considered re-
peatedly at committee meetings of the
society, which is endeavoring to formu-
late a simple test which can be con-
Quoted upon occasion by laymen in
municipal and state administration. The
society will, of course, not approve
1t is thought that If the general requi-
site conditions Of eliminating glare"
can be defined the method Of ascertain
ing the same by q practical test would
be Of great value to the manufacturers
of the devices and the constabulary
ofIicials. At the present time the ordi-
nances in effect in the various parts of
the country differ greatly, and the en-
forcement of the same depends in large
part upon a personal equation, which
will differ from block to block in
city Among the basic considerations
in the connection are the distance
through which headlights provide il
Elimination on the road. the maximum
height Of the beams from the ground
possibility of changing the amount of
illumination from the seat and of multi
flying an approved set of conditions by
the Installation Of a bulb of higher
candle power. Gas-f1lled bulbs now be-
ing introduced in the market also con-
stitute an element for consideration
in the further development of the pres
ent situation.
Controversy Is Continued.
The controversy had at the last meet
ing Of the society with regard to the
establishment Of speed and mileage
ratings of electric vehicles and, eff
cheney tests of solid tires was contin-
ued at the last standards committee
meeting, but no definite decision as to