2-tonner Added to Brush Range
Page 33
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ANEW 2-ton chassis has been added to the range of batteryelectric vehicles produced for a wide variety of purposes by Brush Coachwork. Ltd., Loughborough. This vehicle closely follows the general design of the existing four-wheeled chassis, and it is available both in chassis form and as a large van. •
The chassis price is £545. exclusive of batteries, which are priced at £304, whilst the 350-cubic-ft. van body sells for an additional £200, making a total price for the complete vehicle of £1,049. As with all electric -vehicles, this figure is high in comparison with the cost of petrol-driven vehicles of similar capacity; but the point stressed by the maker is that, apart from questions of convenience and silence, the batteryelectric scores by reason of its low operating costs and long life.
In addition to the large-capacity van, a fiat truck, an Open milk-float and a normal van for general-purpose work are to be offered. Prices for these models can be obtained on application.
The chassis is of simple and robust construction, the frame being of welded box section, with the side members narrowed to what amounts to almost " backbone " construction in the centre of the vehicle, to provide housing for the 36-cell, 290-amp.-hour battery, half of which is disposed on each side of the centre portion.
Suspension is by means of semielliptic springs all round, steering by cam-and-lever mechanism, and braking by a Lockheed hydraulic system oper
ating shoes of width in 12-in.
diameter drums on all four wheels. Heavy-duty 23 by 5 tyres are mounted on interchangeable pressed-steel wheels.
The motor is situated amidships and drives through a Layrub propeller shaft to a one-piece banjo-type axle embodying a double-reduction gear, first reduction being helical and the final reduction by means of a spiral bevel. The total reduction is 15 to I.
01 12 h.p. rating at 2,000 r.p.m., the motor is of the series-wound traction type, with brush gear and commutator easily accessible.
Drum-type Controller
The controller is of the drum pattern and is similar to that employed on other four-wheeled Brush chassis. It is operated by a double-depression pedal and is designed for maximum economy on door-to-door delivery work, combined with normal operation on main roads.
This object is achieved by arranging the controller so that the first stroke of the pedal puts the two sections of the battery in parallel, thus giving half voltage but double amperage capacity; and making for smooth acceleration and
long battery life. When the vehicle attains half-speed the pedal can be released and again depressed, when the battery becomes coupled in series, thus giving full voltage and allowing the vehicle to reach maximum speed.
The manufacturer Claims a cruising speed of 16 m.p.h. and a range varying from 30 miles with eight stops per mile, to 45 miles on continuous running. The forward-reverse switch is interlocked, so that it cannot be moved until the controller pedal is in the " off " position, and the foot brake automatically trips the controller drum to the " off " position to make it impossible for power to be applied simultaneously with braking. An interlock is also incorporated in the charging socket to prevent the vehicle from being driven away accidentally before the charging plug has been removed.
. Chassis equipment includes front wings, speedometer, lighting equipment, driving mirror, electric horn and windscreen wiper.
Principal weights and dimensions are: Chassis weight without batteries, 17 cwt.; battery weight, I ton; gross laden weight, about 4 tons 6 cwt. Length, 14 ft. 31 ins.; width, 6 ft. 61 ins.; wheelbase, 7 ft. 9 ins.; turning circle, 34 ft.
Ibis new model was first seen at a representative exhibition of Brush vehicles at the showrooms of Reeve and Stedeford, Ltd., Berkley Street, Birmingham. The types displayed included industrial trucks and Pony threewheelers.
Opening the exhibition on the trade view day, Mr. F. G. Smith, immediate past president of the Motor Agents' Association, said that war-time investigations into home-produced fuels for motor vehicles had shown that three main lines of development were possible if imported fuels ever become unobtainable. First was the use of methane (which is au excellent fuel, but difficult to extract commercially and inconvenient to handle); second, the employment of gas-producer plants (satisfactory when run on charcoal, but much less so when anthracite was used); and third, electricity (which Mr. Smith considered by far the best of the three for local work).
Mr. E. J. Bachelor, of the Brush concern, pointed out that distribution of Brush electric vehicles was wholly through the motor trade, and stressed the fact that the electric vehicle was complementary to other motor vehicles and was not to be regarded as a competitor.