A STEAM-TRACTOR-LORRY.
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The Atkinson Unclertype in Another Guise.
ITITE:.PROGRESS made by that corn pound vehicle, the tractor-lorry, is indeed rapid, and makers are realizing that they must all cater for the needs of their customers by providing efficient examples of this type of vehicle.
It has eveninvaded, the province of steam for both overtype and undertype machines. As regards the latter, the latest development is the Atkinson-Uniflow tractor-lorry, of which we publish two illustrations, one showing the genera} lay-out and the joint between tractor and trailer and the other an actual example of the machine in operation transporting the steel meshing fer reinforcing conerett,employed in road making.. The sheets of meshing are 24 ft.. long, anclit wouldbe somewhat difficult to carry them on any other type of conveyance.
In a combined vehicle of this type it is essential that the articulation be such that, no matter whether the' readbe hogharked, concave or uneven in ertnaber, no Undue strain is ever imposed no either the tractor or trailer. That is to say, 'there should be no binding action at the Point where the vehicles are -united. In the Atkinson tractor-lorry this requirement is met by a simple type of ball and
C22 'sock-it universal joint situated over the rear axle of the tractor. The ball is of ,steeC,whilst the cup has an inverted phosphor-bronze bowl, carefully machined to fi:, the sphere and made in halves, so that there is no danger of undesired disconnection between ball and socket.
The wagon or tractor is virtually the
Abitinson-Irrliflow b-tonner with increased bunker and water lank capacity and with the frame cut off short. As Shown in the drawing whioh we reproduce, the platform may be stepped to facilitate loading by providing a lower loading platform, but where height is no object the whole platform may be in one plane.