Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-06

crates the Gluten MECHANISM en-
tirely with the accelerator. When
the foot is lifted from the &C
celerator, the clutch is disengaged,
gears can be shifted and the
clutch. is again engaged the mo-
ment the driver presses down on
the accelerator. The left foot
need never move from the floor.
Clutch control operates on the
vacuum principle of pedal manip-
ulation. For nearly three years
engineers have been experiment.
ing with the vacuum principle as
applied to clutch operation, and
the new device is the result.
Clutch control, 1t is stated, can
be installed on any automobile,
truck or bus that is accelerated
with a foot throttle.
Automotive engineers who have
examined the device freely predict
that the clutch-control idea event.
ually will be built into all motor
vehicles the same as the self
starter and four-wheel brakes.
They assert the new product is
fully ss important to the industry
as these.
Waste Power Used.
Waste power from the intake
manifold is utilized to create
vacuum, which is the basic prin-
ciple behind clutch control. The
vacuum is created the moment the
engine reaches idling speed-that
gap between closed throttle posi-
ton and the point where the foot
accelerator starts down-and is
maintained as long as the motor
is turning in that range.
A vacuum cylinder Is connected
by metal tube through a valve
to the intake manifold, and a pis-
ton in the vacuum cylinder Is con-
nected to the clutch pedal by a
cable.
When the vacuum is ION" it
draws the piston and pulls the
clutch pedal down, disengaging the
clutch. When the vacuum is "off"
the piston returns and the clutch
pedal comes up, engaging the
clutch automatically with perfect
timing far more smoothly than
can be accomplished by the most
expert drivers.
The vacuum is turned ION" or
"off" by the valve in the vacuum
line between the vacuum cylinder
and manifold. This valve re-
spends only to the up or down
movement of the accelerator, to
which it Is connected by a short
cable.
Clutch control is expected to
prove particularly popular with
women drivers because it elimi-
mates the fatigue attendant to con-
slant pushing on the clutch pedal.
Likewise, longer clutch life should
result because the clutch is oper-
ated mechanically and smoothly,
thereby eliminating the drivers
tendency to ride" the clutch
pedal. Also, it is pointed out,
clutch control should overcome
the timid drivers inherent fear
of shifting gears in traffic because
the timing is mechanically exact.
Coupled with these features is
the fact that clutch control, which
is protected by basic patents,
should provide all advantages of
free wheeling without necessity
of manual operation of the clutch
pedal or necessity of remembering
to touch certain levers. With
clutch control, the driver merely
lifts his foot from the accelerator
and the vehicle coasts with a min
imum fuel consumption and wear
on parts. Furthermore, clutch
control operates in all speeds, for
ward and reverse.
In Case of a Stall.
Should the motor stall, as
sometimes occurs while free
wheeling, the vacuum ceases to
exist, the clutch is engaged auto
matically and the cars momen-
tum crankS the engine instantly
and quietly without the least move
on the drivers part.
Clutch-control has been made
entirely optional and selective as
safety feature. The motoriSt
can return to conventional drive
merely by moving the hand
throttle to that point where it
starts to push down the foot
Cl1AOOO4E' V4ACII O11dU 10 A1OIlC1 Ot1C
clutch is operated with the left
foot.
Only a few new models have
graced the Summer automotive
field, due to the agreement among
many manufacturers to await the
time of the National Automobile
Shows before any change.
Anticipated Event.
Anticipated event, a change in
the lines of a maker in the low
price field, will come about. it is
thought likely, In the early part
Of October. Rumor has it that it
will not be an eight, but a vastly
improved product otherwise,
carrying longer wheel base.
CHEAPER FREIGHT RATES
HELD GREATLY NEEDED