266 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[February 1, 1914. 



The Krol Anti-Skid fur 

 Heavy Loads. 



rapidly and without altering the wheels and its merits liavc been 

 officially recognized in various trial competitions. 



Several other mudguards were exhibited, consisting, like that 

 described, of a kind of circular band in rubber or in rubberized 

 fabric, fi.\ed to the wheel in different ways. 

 THE "KROL" -ANTI-SKID. 



The rapid increase of the conveyance of goods by motor trucks 

 has been followed with interest by rubber manufacturers, w'ho 

 have found in this new form of transport important outlets for 

 rubber tires. 



L'p to the present, pneumatic tires do not seem to have been 

 employed for relatively heavy vehicles. They arc used for light 

 carts, while solid tires are 

 reserved for trucks carry- 

 ing heavy loads. Certain 

 so-called "heavy load" 

 trucks are still mounted 

 on wheels with steel tires ; 

 sometimes bearing hollow 

 impressions to prevent 

 skidding. These trucks 

 have been the cause of 

 numerous complaints, as 

 they make a great noise, 

 damaging the roadway and 

 shaking the houses. 



Consequently, the au- 

 thorities of several large 

 cities have issued ordi- 

 nances prohibiting the use 

 of '"heavy load" trucks for 

 the transport of materials 

 or merchandize, unless the 

 wheels are fitted with rubber shock-absorbing tires, or other tires 

 preventing or materially diminishing vibration. 



The question of soliu or of cushion tires, already of con- 

 siderable interest for rubber manufacturers, is likely to be- 

 come more so, for in a short time all heavy-weight vehicles 

 will have to be fitted with rubber tires. 



When these vehicles travel on wet roadways skidding is 

 always to be feared, particularly in starting, turning, or apply- 

 ing brakes; this skidding being dangerous for the drivers, 

 for pedestrians and for other vehicles. 



Inventors have been endeavoring to solve this prnlileiii of 

 anti-skid tires for motor trucks. These "anti-skids' are usually 

 composed of a band of leather" studded with rivets, like those 

 employed for pneumatic tires. These treads are secured directly 

 on the tire, or they are applied to it with fixed or changeable 

 tension. 



Up to the present the various systems introduced, with one 

 or two e.xceptions, have not given very satisfactory results. .At- 

 tention is claimed, however, for the anti-skid system designed 

 by M. Krol, and exhibited at the Salon, under the name of 

 "Krol Protective -Anti-Skid for Heavy Loads, with Resilient and 

 Instantaneous Pneumatic Connections." This very ingenious 

 anti-skid is shown by the above illustration. 



The "Krol" protective anti-skid is composed of a band of 

 chrome leather, with steel rivets and a number of attachments 

 with pneumatic tubes and threaded rods in channels. 



Rods A with their hooks B are fastened to the plates of leather 

 C, passing through holes previously made in the rim F, the 

 two pneumatic tubes D being placed in their respective channels, 

 and the hooks resting on the tubes. A few strokes of the pump 

 in the pneumatic tubes will suffice to instantaneously and uni^; 

 formly produce the anti-skid effect on the tire. The arrangement 

 of the rod-s, and of the threaded tube E allows of an adjust- 

 ment at long intervals, upon the leather stretching. 



The operation of this anti-skid can be easily understood in 



its entirety; the pressure of the air in the pneumatic tubes 

 ensuring the tension of the rods and of the leather on the tire. 

 This air pressure in the tubes is uniform and constant at all 

 points. It therefore follows that the tension of the anti-skid on 

 the tire is likewise uniform and constant in all its parts; 

 not only when at rest but also whatever may be the deforma- 

 ti(ms of the tire when in operation. As may be easily seen 

 from the above description, the anti-skid, while independent of 

 the tire, has a continuous pneumatic connection w'ith it. 



It is needless to here describe the protective anti-skids for 

 pneumatic or solid tires, attached to the rims by hooks or like 

 systems. These are too well known and, besides, are dis- 

 appearing. 



A NEW FRENCH LIFE PKESEEVER. 



-A life preserver which has been invented by Mr. -AUain Redou, 

 employed in the merchant marine service at Havre, is described 

 by Consul John Ball Osborne, stationed at that city, as "possess- 

 ing marked advantages over the type now in use." This life 

 jacket is designed in form and material like an ordinary vest, 

 and a leather belt is attached to insure its remaining in correct 

 position. The vest is provided with inflatable rubber-lined crowns 

 or "water wings," of the' same material as the garment itself, 

 these passing under the arms, sufficiently low not to interfere with 

 the movements of the wearer, and resting on the shoulders. 

 When not in use these win.es are deflated and may be kept in 

 place, close to the vest, by means of clips. To each crown or 

 wing is attached a rubber tube with pneumatic valve, which pro- 

 vides for quick inflation by simply blowing in the tube. The 

 apparatus weighs less than 2 pounds and is said to be capable 

 when inflated of sustaining a weight of about 37 pounds of iron — 

 more than twice the sustaining capacity of the ordinary life pre- 

 server. Demonstrations have been made in the presence of offi- 

 cials of the port of Havre, the demonstrator being able to put on 

 the vest and adjust and inflate the wings in 1 minute and 27 

 seconds. This new life preserver is not yet on the market. 



ITALY STILL BUILDING DIRIGIBLES. 



Notwithstanding the appalling disasters that have overtaken 

 German dirigibles, Italy is reported as still going forw-ard in 

 the construction of these great airships, being convinced from 

 her experiences in the war with Tripoli that they can be made 

 most serviceable in time of need. These new war balloons have 

 some novel features, one of them having a gun platform on the 

 top W'ith a special machine gun for defense against other 

 airships. 



The Italians are at the same time devoting a good deal of 

 attention to the best means of destroying the dirigibles of the 

 enemy. Where an airship is built with many compartments 

 a shell can pass through one compartment without seriously 

 damaging the structure as a whole, but it is reported that the 

 Italians have invented a shell of such a character that when 

 it penetrates a balloon a certain oxygen content is released 

 and the mixture of o.xygen and hydrogen exploded by the 

 heat of a percussion cap that is raised to a high temperature 

 by the hydrogen, the explosion shattering the entire balloon. 



INSCRIPTION SALES. 



With a view to investigating the system of "inscription sales" 

 ( described in the January India Rubber World, page 186) a 

 deputation consisting of brokers, merchants and other represen- 

 tatives of the rubber trade, attended the December inscription 

 sales at -Antwerp. In the opinion of the .Antwerp houses familiar 

 with both markets, this system would not prove effective in 

 London without a close combination of the w'hole of the London 

 interests and the complete stoppage of all private transactions 

 in rubber. It is a part of the -Antwerp system for all rubber 

 to pass through the monthly inscription sales, between which no 

 rubber changes hands. 



