Evening star., 1953-02-23
Auto Industry Trend
From Standardization
Marks So Models
Continued From Page s-10


to those whose memories are on
the longer side.
Power steering is not new, but
its current popularity on passen-
ger cars is due to the fact its
effect is confined to those driv-
ing situations where power and
control are needed, leaving the
driver free to provide the COM
paratively small effort required
to maintain sense of the feel"
of the road.
Many, recalling especially the
early four-cylinder Dodge, will
find special interest in the use
of 12-volt electrical system for
the 1858 Buick, Chrysler, OldS-
mobile and Cadillac.
In its new form, it will provide
more reliable ignition for high
compression engines, and better
all-round electrical service where
there are so many drains on bat
terry and generator. Some cars
have as many as 80 light bulbs.
TranSmiSSionS.
Typical of Detroit's desire to
meet all requirements is the
thinking of engineers on the sub
ject Of the automatic transmits
sion, which still is in a state of
f1ux. The goal is gearboX that
can be used manually or auto
matically at the drivers discre-
ton.
Thus the average driver can
roll along with very little con-
scious thought about the gears
while the skilled operator can
step into the same car and shift
manually to obtain special ef-
fects.
He will also be able to use the
car more effectively under GER
tain handicaps. Illustrating this
trend is the current hydra
matte option of the 1928 shift
or the 1884.
Thus dual-range automatics
are surprisingly close to the
''idealomatic," wherein there
would be a manual-automatic
system.
The semi-automatic system,
with a torque converter, as used
on the Chrysler-made cars, is
another close approach to the
ideal.
TOrque.
In the field of the straight
torque converter there is a
marked change for the better
due to the use of improved de-
sign. Thus with Bucks Dyna-
flow and Chevrolet's Powerglide
there is quicker getaway.
Buick uses q twin turbine
Dynaflow to boost torque and to
make possible a 200-r.pm. re-
duction in engine speed during
take-of and acceleration.
Chevrolet engineers have
taken a leaf from the practice
many drivers have of starting in
emergency 'loW" and then shift
ing to the "drive" position. This
is now done automatically. The
driver can kick down on the ac-
celerator to reach the "low"
range for passing and hill power.
A ibq5 (Bx
Power Steering.
Going back to power steering
for another peep at Detroit's
You name it" theme we find
that Studebaker for 1853 offers
the first mechanical power steer
ing system, a development Of
the Borg Warner Corp.
In this arrangement we find a
power unit mounted on the
steering gear, a power input
shaft and a. pulley assembly. A
gear train and two multiple
disc clutches within the power
unit provide energy for turns,
power being first delivered to
the steering unit direct from the
engine by means of V-belt
pulley on small auxiliary shaft
which runs parallel to the en-
gine.
The other power steering units
now on American passenger cars
are operated by hydraulic power,
utilizing a motor driven pump
and fluid under pressure. But
there are differences in the way
these systems control the steer
ing gear.
Saginaw power steering, as
found on General Motors cars
Chevrolet now being included
in the list with this feature) in
wolves use of recirculating ball
gear combined with a hydraulic
booster. The power cylinder is
linked to the Pitman or steering
arm through a separate set of
gears, control being obtained by
five coil springs installed in the
steering column.
AAAC OOA4AAAC1 44y NA dS uluC uSGU
on the Chrysler and De Soto cars
Is also hydraulic in action, two
axially opposed power cylinders
operating on the Pitman shaft.
Packard's engineers add fur
ther variety by designing their
hydraulic system so that the
power cylinder housing is at
tached directly to the steering
linkage connecting rod while
the end of the piston is at
tached to the car frame. Nash
and Lincoln also feature power
steering.
Optional Features.
What should capture the
fancy Of the 1853 buyer is that
1t is now possible to select op-
tional features which will give
new characteristics to cars even
If the name-plate Is familiar.
It Is even possible to change
o cars original behavior and
slant 1t toward your own prefer
ences by Skillful choice Of options