Ransome.

22nd November 1927, Page 161

22nd November 1927

Page 161

Page 161, 22nd November 1927 — Ransome.

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MO the technically minded the chief

feature of interest on this stand is the Il'ansome six-wheeled electric trolley-. bus chassis. This is intended to carry bodywork giving accommodation to as many -as 68 people, and is massively constructed for heavy loads, the frame in particular being an immensely sturdy Yob, upswept over both the front axle ithd the rear axle. Amidships the deep Side-members are very strongly' braced by two cross-members, which in turn carry a pair of longitudinal members, between which the electric motor is supported. This motor has a nominal rating of 65 b.h.p. and a speed of 1,000 r.p.m. It is constructed' to B.E.S.A. specification for traction motors and contains two armatures arranged within one casing, suitable for seriesparallel control. The motor is held up by bolts to the underside of the channels in such a way that it may be dropped downwards clear of the frame when necessary. It transmits power through a ring-type universal joint and an exposed propeller shaft to the foremost of the two driving axles, each of which consists of an inverted forging carrying a worm and wheel form of drive. A short shaft with a sliding joilIt conveys the drive from one axle to the other.

Midway between the two rear axles a pair of massive triangular brackets are bolted to the side-members, extending downwards and carrying the bearings for a pair of cross-tubes placed one above the other. The projecting ends of the tubes carry the central anchorages for the four semi-elliptic springs which constitute the rear suspension, the ends of these springs being secured to brackets fitted to the axle casings.

The braking system employed is interesting and very thorough ; it is carried out on the Westinghouse plan and embodies internal-expanding shoes applied

to drums on all six wheels. Bolted to the near side of the frame there is a Ran some D.C. motor coupled to a twocylinder compressor, delivering air to a reservoir. The operation of the driver's control causes the compressed air to be delivered through piping to the four cylinders of the Westinghouse system, which are placed within reasonable distance of the brakes which they operate. It will be recalled that the Westinghouse cylinder consists of a pair of dished castings bolted rim to rim, with a flexible disc between them ; there is no sliding piston, so that leakage is impossible. In the case of the chassis exhibited all the piping conveying the air is painted red, so that it can readily be picked out, thus greatly facilitating the carrying out of repairs which may

be necessary at any time. '

The cylinders operating the frontwheel brakes are mounted in inclined positions on a cross-member just behind the driver's seat, and operate upon bell cranks connected by pull rods to levers on the front-brake cam spindles. The driver's pedal for controlling this brake gear, while giving very light control, is so adjusted that the reactior felt by the foot is proportional to the degree to which the brakes are being applied, so there is no difficulty in nicety of control.

The driver's seat is placed well forward, the cushions being mounted upon 'the box containing the electrical controlling mechanism. The steering gear 'is of interesting design in that a double reduction is provided, and is mounted at the extreme front end of the vehicle. The drive is transmitted from the sloping steering column to a vertical shaft by means of bevel gears in a neat casing, and the vertical shaft operates the worm and wheel mechanism, the shaft of the worm wheel being horizontal and projecting towards the off side, where it carries a drop arm. This connects with a drag-link running back to an offaide steering arm, there being a track'rink of the usual type placed behind the axle.

Also shown on this stand is a Ransome-type C.4a electric truck for 2-ton loads, which embodies four-wheel steering, a very low loading line and a quickly operated elevating mechanism. This is fitted with 20-cell Ironclad Exide batteries, supplying current to two driving motors, bolted direct to the swivel axles. There is also a Icarrier chassis, of the forward-dash type, on which is mounted a very handsome single-deck bus body built by Ransomas, with a permanent top ; this is coloured in orange and black, and is provided with a forward .entrance on the near side and an emergency exit at the back. The driver's cab Nis completely cut off from the rest of the vehicle and is very well protected. Isolation of the driver in this way is a safeguard against his attention being distracted by occurrences inside the bus.

Ransome.

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