Evening star., 1915-04-11

wheels by a heavy roller chain, avoid
ing the employment of shafts and
beveled gears. Owing to the special
design of the driving wheels this chain
is carried at practically the same level
as the motor, almost three feet from
the ground, keeping it free from dirt
and danger of accident. Only the outer
rim of the wheel carrying the tire re-
wolves. This rim consists of a heavy
steel band cut in the form of an in
ternal gear on its inner surface and
formed to take solid rubber tire on
it's outer circumference. 1t revolves
on "a ball-bearing of practically the
same size as the wheel itself.
The driving chain passes over a large
sprocket on a heavy, centrally mount
ed differentiak Liberal sized steel
driving shafts extend from either side
of this to point just below the upper
side of the rim of the driving wheel.
AT this point they are provided with
a simple type of universal joint which
permits of transmitting the power
through wide angle with the mini
mum of loss. The outboard end of
each universal joint is fitted with
pinion meshing with the internal gear
of each driving wheel. This permits
these wheels to be used both for trans
mitting the power and for steering
The axle is a solid steel forging.
Motor Is Set Transversely.
The frame consists of heavy channel
section steel members strongly braced
both tsansversely and longitudinally
and with ample riveted joints al every
point necessary. The motor is carried
transversely above the forward end
of this frame. while the differential
and driving shafts are supported below
it near the rear. At the rear end the
radiator for cooling the motor is hung
instead of at the front, as is the case
with most motor vehicles, thus plac-
ing 1t in an entirely protected position
1t is of the honeycomb type. of ample
size to cool the motor under the Sc
verest service, and it is supplemented
by large fan mounted in housing
just forward of the radiator, which
insures strong draught Of air through
it. The water supply is carried in a
steel tank mounted on the main frame
just above the radiator. while the fuel
supply is kept in large gasoline tank
directly behind the drivers seat and
ample amount of gasoline reaches the
latter regardless of the quantity in the
tank or the grade that the tractor may
be climbing at the time.
With the putting into commission of
the two trucks at No. / company, under
command of Capt Schrom. and No. I.
Capt. Hooper. the department is better
equipped than it has ever been at any
time. Work was started on the truck
for No. l company Thursday morning
and was completed yesterday. The
work of Transforming from horse
drawn to motor-driven is being carried
on at the shops adjoining No. engine
house, on North Carolina avenue south
east. under the supervision of Supt. of
Machinery Thomas NJ. Robinson. The
front drive tractors are now in use on
truck companies Nos. /, 3 and and the
steamer at No engine company. The
other motor-driven apparatus in serv-
ice Of the local fire department consists
of a chemical hose wagon at No. 2
company. gas-electric couple gear-driv-
en- machine at No. IL truck company.
while No. Is engine company has a
motor-driven engine and hose wagon.
Engine company No. "a also is provided
with motor-driven chemical wagon
and motor pumping engine, which pro-