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SPECIALIZED CHASSIS FOR AMBULANCES.

13th September 1927
Page 50
Page 51
Page 50, 13th September 1927 — SPECIALIZED CHASSIS FOR AMBULANCES.
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Keywords : Chassis

Some Details of the New W. and G.-M.A.B.type Chassis, which is now in Production and Available for Other Users.

A CCOMPANYING this article are the first published 1-1.illustrations of the new W. and G.-M.A.B.-type ambulance chassis, which is the result of the joint efforts of MT. Charles L. Sladden, A.M.I.M.E. M.I.A.E., M.P.E., the engineer-superintendent (M.T.) of the Metropolitan Asylums Board, and W. and G. Du Cros, Ltd.

It will no doubt be remembered by our readers that we published the original specification for a chassis of the M.A.B. type in our issue dated December 14th last year. The new chassis is, in the main, built to this specification, but there are certain important additions anti modifications either incorporated in this or to be embodied in the production model which will follow.

The chassis completed at present includes a Continental six-cylindered engine of 27.3 h.p. and a proprietary gearbox of American make, but both these units will, in the production model, be of British make. The British engine of, approximately, 24 h.p., will also have six cylinders and will be specially built for the vehicle, whilst the gearbox, instead of affording three speeds only, will provide four. Another important deviation from the original is that the ratio of the final drive is 5i to 1 instead of 5 to 1; this enables much better acceleration to be obtained.

It is notable that the new type of two-shoe Lockheed brake is employed, as it was found that the three-shoe, self-energizing pattern was apt to chatter. We may mention in connection with this brake that alcohol, not oil, is employed in the piping and the reservoir. Oil has been found to cause the rubber connections to perish very rapidly. Several "bleeding" points are provided -in the system, and these enable 'adjustments of the pressure to be effected with ease; they also permit air bubbles to be removed from the piping. Once this has been done and the adjustments of the pressure properly effected, the brake should give service for some years without further trouble, except, of course, for adjustment of the shoes to take up Wear, which is effected by double eccentrics which lift both the heel and the toe of each shoe, thus spreading the wear over the whole of the friction fabric. Some 30 of these chassis are being built fOr the Metropolitan Asylums Board, and the maker is prepared to supply similar chassis to other users—in fact, orders in this direction are already forthcoming. The company also intends to show a complete ambulance and a chassis at the Commercial Vehicle Exhibition in November next. . • As we have already given a detailed specification it is only necessary here to draw attention to the outstanding features, of which the most important is the offsetting of the engine and propeller shaft.

• The enginels mounted at one side on brackets carried In the near-side frame-member and on the other in brackets mounted on a secondary frame-member which stretches from the front of the chassis to a stout double crogs-Member situated amidships. This allows the engine to be set at an angle of 44 ,degrees from the centre line of the chassis and, in addition, it is 'given a 3-degree drop.

The propeller shaft is still more offset and dropped, so that the final drive and differential housing can be situated at the extreme near side of the axle. To permit clearance for this shaft the' central cross member, .which is of immense strength and formed of channel steel members welded back to back, has a deep drop. The arrangement provides room for the mounting of a large petrol tank inside the chassis frame.

A wide spring-base is permittTi, as the rear springs are mounted directly beneath . the side members. This feature and the low' build of the vehicle give It remarkable road-holding powers; in fact, we are assured that it has turned corners at 55 m.p.h. during its tests. It has also achieved an average speed of 35 m.p.h. over long distances. These tests were carried out with the full load.

The equipment includes dipping headlights, the fourwheel Lockheed brakes (to which we have already referred), a double -silencer and spare-wheel brackets which swivel as the side doors are opened.

It will be noted that at the front of the radiator is a stout bar carrying a bearing for the starting handle, which, however, would only be used in emergencies.

The whole machine presents a handsome as well as a sturdy appearance, the design of the radiator with the Metropolitan Asylums Board arms on the front being particularly effective.

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