A More Powerful Helecs 25-cwt. Battery-electric
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PIA PARALLEL chassis frame, a more
powerful motor and a larger battery are among the improvements in the new lielecs Intruder Series II 25-cwt. model. It will make its first appearance at the Dairy Show at Olympia. London, from October 24-26. The new frame is a fabricated all-welded structure, comprising channel-section side members with a dropped front extension, the longitttoinals being boxed and braced by tubular cross-members.
Formerly, a 30-cell battery was housed inside the frame, but in the Series 11 it has been replaced by two banks of 18 cells which are carried. pannier-fashion, outside the frame and serviced throogh the body floor. Performance is said to be improved by raising the voltage from 60 to 72, and the more powerful motor of 9 h.p. has increased hill-climbing performance and raised the speed on level grOund. The motor now employed is constructed to class B standard of insulation.
In The previous Intruder, the control unit was serviced through a removable panel at the front, but this has now been changed so that the unit can be reached from inside the cab. A feature of the contactor gear is that a red or green light is shown, indicating forward or reverse direction, according to the position of the control, as soon as the driving key is inserted in the safety switch.
The contactor panel comprises two double-pole and three single-pole electrically operated contactors with mechanical interlock, giving four speeds forward or in reverse, according to the position of a pushbutton switch on the instrument panel. A Helecs compensated-differential-link controller affords automatic sequence of speed selection at a governed rate.
There has been no change in steering or axles, but the alteration of frame shape enables the springs to be mounted parallel, thus improving the suspension characteristics. The wheelbase of 6 ft. 54 ins. is retained, but the front overhang has beel increased to give additional leg room in the cab. Larger doors improve accessibility to the driving position.
A slight modification ,in the linkage to the Girling hydro-mechanical braking systen1 has improved the retardation rate and reduced pedal effort.