Popular Science Monthly 



855 



I 



A New Airplane Wheel 

 Which Absorbs Shocks 



N all wheeled vehicles it is 

 essential that shocks 

 should be absorbed as far as 

 possible by the tires them- 

 selves. In other words, the 

 brunt of the shock should be 

 absorbed before it is com- 

 municated to the springs 

 and thus to the body of the 

 vehicle itself. For, when the 

 axle and the wheel are set in 

 vibration, the springs, no 

 matter how plastic, will com- 

 municate a part of that 

 vibration, to the body. This 

 is equally as true of airplanes 

 as of automobiles. 



With pneumatic tires the 

 main force of a co'ncussion 

 is immediately absorbed by 

 the resilient rubber. That 

 is one reason why airplane 

 wheels are equipped with 

 pneumatic tires. No wheels 

 are exposed to such severe 

 shocks as airplane wheels. 

 Indeed, even the ball bearings 

 in such wheels have been broken 

 in making landings, so great is the force 

 of the impact. The blow given to an air- 

 plane wheel when landing is severe, and 

 the ground over which it travels before 

 it comes to a rest is rough. Thus a wheel to 

 bear up under such abuse must not only be 

 able to withstand a crushing force but it 

 must absorb sidewise blows as well. The 

 ver^^ best and most up-to-date automobile 

 spring device is of little permanent value, 

 therefore, to the airplane. 



The new airplane wheel illustrated is said 

 to meet all these 

 requirements. It 

 absorbs shocks be- 

 fore they reach the 

 axle and reduces 

 bouncing to a mini- 

 mum. Even over 

 uneven surfaces it 

 .'.tTords easy riding 

 for the aviator. 

 Thus it is possible 

 for the airplane 

 to start and land on rough ground. Further- 

 more, with all violent shocks absorbed by 

 the wheel before they are communicated to 

 the body, the lifeof the airplane is noticeably 

 lengthened and its usefulness enhanced. 



The two front wheels 

 of the airplane sustain 

 practically the entire 

 weight and receive the 

 roughest kind of usage 



The new airplane wheel 

 which is so designed 

 that it will absorb 

 shocks and reduce 

 bouncing to a minimum 



The Re-Inking Roller for 



Typewriters. It Saves the Cost 



of a Dozen Ribbons 



WHEN the ribbon on your typewriter 

 has dried you can ink it again. The 

 inking device consists of a small roller to 

 which the ink is fed by a sort of fountain- 

 pen arrangement. The ink is poured in the 

 cylinder back of the roller. A short 

 padding of felt juts from the end of the 

 cylinder on to the roller. This piece of felt 

 not only prevents the ink leaking out but. 



like a wick, it 

 keeps the roller 

 moistened. When 

 the ribbon is 

 run through the 

 machine against 

 the turning roller, 

 it is thoroughly 

 inked. If the rib- 

 bons are handled 

 carefully the de- 

 vice will save the 

 cost of a dozen new ones and give service 

 indefinitely. A specially prepared ink is 

 used. It will not smudge and it is easily 

 absorbed, so that the type striking against 

 the ribbon give clear cut, neat letters. 



The felt wick feeds the ink 

 from the holder to the roller. 

 Drawing a ribbon over the 

 roller makes it as good as new 



