ncreased roll stiffness for Atkinsons
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A 24 per cent increase in roll stiffness nd a weight saving of about lfewt are rovided by overslung rear springs and an laton spiral-bevel back axle that can be Decilled for Atkinson heavy-duty truck hassis. Displayed in prototype form at the 968 Earls Court Show, overslung spring ispension is now in full-scale production. 'he suspension takes the place of an nderslung type and an Eaton axle is cmloyed as an alternative to a Kirkstall Duble-reduction unit. Increased roll stiffess is derived from the wider spring base of te suspension, the increase being some 15 :T cent compared with the base of an nderslung suspension.
Atkinson points out that the extra stabily afforded by the suspension is particularly eneficial in the case of applications to tankers having a high centre of gravity. Ancliff (BLT) Ltd. (a member company of the United Transport group) has purchased a number of vehicles equipped with the suspension.
Use of the suspension has increased the roll-centre height by nearly 10 per cent, which reduces the distance between the centre of gravity and the roll centre and thus increases the roll resistance of the vehicle. A chassis frame is employed that is torsionally stiffer than the standard frame. It has a width of 3ft 2in, and the cross members pick up on the full depth of the main members.
An Eaton 18500 or 19800 spiral-bevel axle is fitted in accordance with the weight and power of the vehicle. The axle is available in singleor two-speed form.