Article reprinted from 'The Autocar' describing the D.W.S. permanently fitted four-wheel jack system.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 26\3\ Scan093 | |
| Date | 9th October 1931 | |
| Reprinted from The Autocar October 9th, 1931. NOTES AND NEWS CONTINUED THE D.W.S. JACK A Beautifully Made Four-wheel Jack Passes a Stiff Test IN the issue of The Autocar for May 29th, 1931, the first details were given of a new, permanently fitted, four-wheel jack—the Sessions. At the time the opinion was given that the jack was a real engineer's design, soundly made, well finished, and, in short, a fitting that would not disgrace the highest-priced chassis on the road. Production is now in full swing, and it is not surprising to learn that the makers, Donald Sessions and Co., Ltd., 906, Harrow Road, Willesden, are working at top pressure to keep pace with orders. The Rover Co. have paid the jack the compliment of recommending its use on all Rover cars in their catalogue. Mechanically the system consists of three self-contained jacks, operating on the toggle principle, permanently fixed to the axles of the car, and operated by a geared handle. One jack is fitted longitudinally under the centre of the front axle beam, this position ensuring correct axle balance. The remaining two jacks are fitted, one on each side of the back axle, longitudinally with the springs, and immediately under the junction of the spring and axle, forming a rigid three-point lift. The jacks lift dead under the axles, which prevents strain being imposed on the chassis, and allows the brake gear and springs to take up the same position in relation to the car as when the car is on all four wheels. Adequate ground clearance is provided, and no head room is required above the axle. The whole system is independent of bodywork, running boards or valances, and can be easily transferred from one car to another. The chief feature of the system is the geared right-angle drive to the jacks, which permits the operator to stand clear of all wings, bumpers, and so on, while jacking the car. All four wheels can be raised from the ground in sixty seconds. No maintenance is required, as the jacks and handle are self-lubricating. The lubrication of the jacks is well thought out. A grease-gun is applied to the nipple on the end of the screw. Grease will then be forced into the shaft keyway, and it will travel along until it is forced up through two small holes, one at each end of the screw. The grease is trapped and forced round the threads of the screw by sleeves fixed into the inside ends of the trunnion nuts. As the screw turns, these sleeves carry the grease along the threads, at the same time terminating the lift of the jacks when they meet. The D.W.S. jack has just undergone successfully the most rigid test that can be imposed. On the steepest portion of Netherhall Gardens the demonstration car was stopped, jacked up, and all four wheels removed. Four men then stood on the running boards. Even under this extreme treatment the jacks did not slip or give in any way. For use on boggy ground an extra large ground plate can be provided. Two other novel fittings are an auxiliary jack, also working on the toggle principle, which closes to a height of 3in., and gives a lift of 8½in.; and a mobile head, on castors, whereby the car, in conjunction with the front jack, can be manœuvred in a garage. The cost of the D.W.S. four-wheel jack, which will be on view at Olympia on Stand 38, is £10 10s. IMAGE CAPTIONS: A Morris-Oxford equipped with the D.W.S. system, jacked up on the steepest gradient of Netherhall Gardens. Showing the simplicity with which a woman can use the D.W.S. jack. Sturdiness and excellent finish are the keynotes in the construction of the Sessions jack, here shown with its folding handle. DONALD SESSIONS AND CO., LTD., 906 Harrow Road, Willesden, N.W.10. Printed in Great Britain by The Cornwall Press Ltd., Paris Garden, London, S.E.1. | ||
From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).