ANOTHER ENTRANT IN THE TROLLEY-BUS FIELD.
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Richard Garrett and Sons, Ltd., Produce a New Railless Vehicle. Keighley's Transport Problem now Satisfactorily Solved.
THE introduetion of the trolley-bus into so many towns in this country in which present-day conditions have rendered difficult the maintenance of tramway services has provided an opportunity for engineers previously engaged in the manufacture of other types of road vehicle. The latest concern to take up the manufacture of this new type of vehicle is Richard Garrett and
Sons, Ltd., of Leiston, who have been associated . with the manufacture of steam wagons, electric vehicles, tracking trailers and steam tractors for many years. Messrs. Garrett are in a particulady favourable position fortaking up trolley-bus work, and have produced a very businesslike-looking vehicle in which not only the chassis but also the controller and the motor have been made by them or by the associated company, Bull Motors, Ltd., a concern which has just carried out an order for the supply of 100 motors for the trolley-bus undertaking at Shanghai.
A Garrett trolley-bus has just been put into service on the route of the Keighley Corporation, where the tramway undertaking has been scrapped and replaced by a railless undertaking. This vehicle is designed to scat 27 passen•4 gers. the body being the product of the works of Charles H. Roe Ltd., of Leeds. With a single-deck, central-entrance body, which has an entrance 4 ft. wide, the car is suitable for service on routes on which there is qonstant change of passengers, as the wide entrance facilitates quick loading and unloading at busy times, thus assisting in the maintenance of strict time schedules. The entrance gives access to two saloons, one of which can be reserved for smokers, and there is also a scat opposite the entrance.
The driver has a separate compartment, however, and has anuninter
rupted view of the road. The is of sturdy construction to meet the stresses of varying loads on town and urban roads, which are often not of be hest in so far as surface is concerned. In plan the principal frame members are perfectly straight. They are made from high tensile pressed steel, and the motor is slung amidships under the central gangway. Only one motor, of h.p., and made specially for trolley bus work, is used, and the transmission is taken from the motor to the back axle through a cardan shaft, equipped with Hardy couplings, centralized by means of ball races which stop vibration and ensure a smooth drive. The drive to the axle is through an overhead worm gear, and all road wheels, which are of pressed steel, are fitted with tapered roller bearings, requiring a minimum of attention. Two tyres are fitted to the rear wheels and single tyres to the front wheel. The wheelbase measures 16 ft. 6 ins, and the track 6 ft. 4 ins., the
turning circle having a radius of 26 ft.
From the point of view of the driver everything possible appears to have been done to ensure ease of control. The steering is particularly light, with the worm wheel mounted on ball bearings and fitted with thrust bearings. The controller is operated by the foot, and gives eight speeds, six being resistance speeds, the seventh being all series, with no resistance, and the eighth with shunted field. The steering wheel is dear of all accessories and the only controls are the foot controller for the left foot, the brake for the right foot, the hand brake at the right-hand side of the driver and the reverse lever at the side of the driver. Both the brakes are on the hack axle and are internal expanding, working in 24-in. drums, with shoes 31 ins, broad, made of cast aluminium. The controller pedal incorporates a device which makes imperative a momentary pause at each notch, and it is necessary to keep the foot on the pedal all the time the vehicle
is running, this ensuring that the car will come to a standstill if the driver is suddenly taken ill. The reverse lever can only be moved when the controller is in the off position, and the controller cannot-be applied when the hand brake is on.
The trolley gear comprises Bonser heads fitted at the end of 18-ft. booms, attached to Estler Bros.' bases on the roaf. The overall length of the vehicle is 26 ft., and the semi-elliptic springs are particularly long, suitable for easy riding under varying load conditions. The motor is of lightweight construction, specially designed for this work, and steel is used throughout. The fullload rating is 50 h.p. and the performance and insulation of the motor are in accordance with the latest British standard specification. The motor will operate sparklessly on all loads up to three times its rated full load current.
• It is of the ventilated type and particular precautions have been taken to ensure that the field and interpole coils
are securely held, there being no possibility of damage from vibration. Heavy roller bearings are fitted at both ends, with a double-thrust ball race at the commutator end. The armature can be removed complete without disturbing the adjustment of the bearings, which are fitted in housings which remain in position OD the shaft. The motor is mounted on pressed-steel box brackets.
Under test the vehicle has provided very comfortable riding for the passengers and the drivers appreciate the ease of control, the central-point .steering tending to ease of manceuvring. The. motor is subject to adjustment for speed, but the one now under test will provide a road speed of approximately 22 miles per hour, and at this speed the lais has excellent riding and road-holding capacities on the varied types of road surface which the town of Keighley provides. The body is Ary well built, every consideration having been given to the passenger's convenience and comfort, the ventilation being excellent.