MG MGB and MGB GT Tech Talk
Definition.
"The term patent usually refers to a right granted to anyone who invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, article of manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof."
There is a patent number cast into the front top of my 68 MGB head.
What patent could this possibly be?
Easiest way to answer that question is look it up. British and us patents are available online.
A patent docket number can be issued without the patent ever being issues. All those "patent pending" products have a patent docket but no patent has been issued. The number is supposed to scare potential competitors.
I believe the term was patent number, not a "patent pending" label was described in the question. I would guess looking up th number would reveal the answer. A legit patent number will produce a patent document which describes the invention protected. If it's a docket number, the search should reveal that.
Probably a reference to the combustion chamber design and porting by Harry Weslake.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weslake
Jack
Interesting Jack.
Maybe someone here can say exactly what the head new design was.
It may relate to the huge battle over combustion chamber design between Ricardo Laboratories and just about every internal combustion engine manufacturer in England in the 1920's and the subsequent legal requirement to acknowledge patent numbers relating to Ricardo developments.
Not 100% certain but it is a possibility.
Pete.
As you can see from the Wik entry HW was into all kinds of engine stuff, from laying out combustion chambers to designing and building whole engines.
I suspect that the patent rights were bought by MG to cover the heart shaped chambers. It is amazing that the guy got so many things right as he did his work eons before computers, high speed cameras and crystal walled chambers and cylinders.
I would love to have a copy of his biography but one would be a tad out of my price range.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0854292543/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&qid=1268001370&sr=1-1&condition=used
Jack
You were the closest Jack.
I could not find this invention patent 565394 pertaining to this number.
Found same number but different invention.
Was Canadian, so maybe it was not a worldwide patent? dunno.
Anyway, here's an email reply from Weslake.co.uk
[color=#0033CC]Hello
The Patent was for the design of most aspects of the cylinder head ie combustion chambers porting valves all of Weslake design. Weslake were involved in the design work of the cylinder heads of all the A. B. & C series engines in addition to the Jaguar XK cylinder head
Regards
Weslake[/color]
Wow - it isn't everyday I learn something really new about MGBs, but this posting was really novel and interesting.
