THE NEW " UNITED " ALL-WEATHER ROOF.
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Details of a Well-thought-out Design Employing Rigid Panels which Move Sideways.
T-NETAILS have just become avail
able for publication of the new type of all-weather roof introduced by United Automobile Services, Ltd., and employed at the company's coachbuilding works at London Road, Lowestoft. The object has been to provide an all-weather roof composed of rigid panels which, when closed, give the appearance of a permanent saloon roof of the clerestory kind, the interior of which may be finished in any decorative scheme.
The aperture available with standard equipment is approximately 17 ft. long and 3 ft. 4 ins. wide. Two panels, each framed up as a rigid structure, the full length of the opening and half tbe width, arc provided. The roof of the coach has strongly constructed bridges, one at each end, and one across the centre of the (*ening; these provide ti support for the links upon which the panels are pivoted. The end bridges also afford fixing points for locking screws, and act as drainage gullies. They are reinforced With steel plates.
Each panel is pivoted by means of three pairs of spring-steel links, provided -with suitable bearing brackets, and the outer links are attached to tubular shafts which run the fall length. of each panel and are mounted at the ends on bushed trunnion brackets. In the centre of each shaft is a worm-andwheel gear, completely enclosed in an aluminium casing and bolted securely to the steel framework of the central bridge. This gear is case-hardened and affords a reduction ratio of 50 to I. It is operated by means of a detachable handle from the interior of the body. Nipples are provided for grease-gun lubrication of the gearbox and trunnion brackets.
In the closed position the panels are secured by six locking screws fitted to the bridge, the screws engaging with threaded sockets in the hinged panels. When in the open position four similar screws, fitted to the Permanent cant panels, engage with sockets in the folding panels.
The question of weather protection has been carefully considered. To provide drainage at the centre joint an aluminium channel is fitted to the inner edge of each panel, having outlets at tbe ends on to the bridges, from which the water is led away over the side quarters of the roof. The ends of the panels rest, in the closed position, on rubber seatinos and are further protected by overlapping aluminium channels. The outer longitudinal edges of the panels, when in the closed position, rest upon rubber seatings.
In producing this type of roof United Automobile Services, Ltd., which has the benefit of long experience as an operating concern, has removed the objections to folded fabric, particularly the liability to the development of leakage at the folds. A patent in respect of the design described above has, needless to say, been applied for and the company is in a position to quote for production.
When this roof is in the closed position the appearance from inside and from mitside is excellent, the lines of the closed saloon vehicle being preserved.
When the roof is open the central panels lie inconspicuously upon the fixed cant panels, with the contour of which they are designed to conform exactly. Their appearance in this position is not at all unsightly, and as route-indication boards are very often fitted above the cant-rails of passenger vehicles—both buses and long-distance coaches—it is a simple manner to extend these so as to conceal the movable roof panels altogether—so as far the pedestrian is concerned.