America's Largest Vehicle for Iraq
Page 47
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
WHAT is claimed to he the largest goods motor constructed in the United States wasrecently completed by the Marmon-Herrington Co., at Indianapolis, and shipped to the Near East, where it will be used by the Iraq Petroleum Co. in the construction of the long pipe line across the Syrian desert.
The tractor, the four-wheeled semitrailer and six-wheeled trailer, of which the unit is comprised, have a combined weight of 20 tons, a load capacity of 40 tons and an overall length of wore than 100 ft.
Besides having to travel over trackless wastes, the outfit must. be capable of attaining high speeds, and, at the same time; be able to climb hills. These special requirements led to the adoption of the Marmon-Herrington type of tractor-trailer outfit, which has a dual rear axle and drives through all six Wheels and embodies in its design several new and advanced features.
The motive power is supplied by a six-cylindered engine developing 190 b.h.p., whilst 12 speeds forward and three reverse are available. Westinghouse air brakes are applied in drums on all wheels, except the front wheels on the rear trailer. All three units of the outfit run on 10.50-in. by 22-in. pneumatic tyres, twins being fitted to all the wheels, except the front pair of the rear trailer.
A 100-mile test was made on the Indianapolis motor speedway, under the official supervision of the American Automobile Association. Loaded with steel rails, approximating the weight of
the 10-in. and 12-in, pipes which it will carry in the course of its regular duty, the•vehleIe tipped the scales at just over 55 tons, the load totalling 35 tons 15 .cwt. The run, with the designer, Mr. A. W. Herrington, at the wheel, was covered • at an average speed of 28.68 m.p.h.
At no time was maximum speed attempted, the engine speed, in fact, being governed to the maximum intended for routine service. Fuel consumption for the 100 miles equalled an average of 1.82 m.p.g. The acceleration test, also under full load, showed that a speed of 20 m.p.h. could be attained in 20 seconds.
The brakes brought the big outfit to a standstill from a speed of 20 m.p.h. in .3.46 seconds, within a distance of 65.3 ft