The Raleigh Three-wheeler Redesigned
Page 53
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The Latest Improvements in a Popular Light Van Include a New Frame and Numerous Detail Modifications
THE frame of t he Raleigh three wheeled 5-cwt. van, a model which was road-tested and reported upon in the issue of The Commercial Motor dated July 21st, 1931, has recently been redesigned throughout, and, in certain respects, the latest type is undoubtedly a great improvement.
Apart from the front forks . and handlebars, which are still of motorcycle type, the vehicle now shows little sign of having been adapted from twowheeler practice. A substantial pressedsteel frame is used with robust crossmembers riveted to it, and the dashboard and windscreen supports form a part of this structure. The forging in 'which the front forks are mounted is bolted on to the chassis frame.
At the rear the axle is attached not only to the two side-members, bur also by plates which connect the differential casing to the cross-members of the frame, so that the null of the chain does not exercise a bending moment upon the axle casing.
The semi-floating rear axle is provided with large tapered roller bearings and a bevel type of differential. A shock . absorber is included to smooth out the torque of the single-cylindered air-cooled engine with enclosed side-by-side valves and a detachable head. The bore and stroke are 80.8 mm. and 101 mm, respectively, giving a capacity of 598 c.c. and a Treasury rating of 4.7 h.p.
The. crankshaft is supported at three points, there being two roller bearings, one on each side of the steel flywheels, and a plain bearing in the timing-case cover. Oil is led to the last-named from a mechanical pump and is forced through passages drilled in the crankshaft and flywheels to the big-end .bearing.
Mounted behind the engine and con
nected to it by means of an automatically lubricated roller chain is the clutch and gearbox unit. The clutch has four plates with fabric inserts and incorporates a shock absorber. The SturmeyArcher gearbox provides three forward speeds and a reverse.
From the gearbox the duplex-roller chain transmits the power to the back axle, and is adjustable by means .#3f a jockey sprocket mounted on a swinging bracket. The position of this bracket is controlled by a rod which passes forward, so that the adjustment is readily accessible.
Another useful*introduction is the adoption of detachable and interchangeable wheels. Those on the rear axle, of course, present no particular difficulty in this respect, but considerable ingenuity has been shown with regard to the front wheel. For this an adapter is used so that a detachable wheel of normal type can satisfactorily be accommodated, although it is supported on earl side by the front forks.
Four quarter-elliptic springs with extra leaves to provide progressive action are used to support the body, the chassis itself being unsprung at the rear. The front end is, of course, suspended upon the spring fork already mentioned.
Ample braking power is provided by internal-expanding shoes on all three wheels, those on the front operating inside a 7f-in. drum, whilst the rearwheel drums have diameters of 10 ins. All brakes are controlled either by a pedal or by a hand lever on the right With reference to the other controls it should be mentioned that the clutch is coupled to a pedal on the left, the gears are changed by a centrally placed lever and the throttle, ignition and exhaustlifter controls are mounted on the handlebars.
With a van body the latest Raleigh costs £78 15s., completely equipped with a 6-volt 48-watt dynamo, 30-amp.-hour battery, three-lamp set, etc.
For the same price it can be obtained with a lorry body, whilst the boxcarrier type costs £75 15s. and a dualpurpose lorry is available at £74. The chassis with electrical equipment is listed at £73, or, without the windscreen, wiper, mirror and lighting, at £68.
The total weight of the van model is 71 cwt. and important dimensions are as follow :—Length inside goods compartment, 3 ft. 10 ins. ; maximum interior width, 3 ft. 10 ins. ; maximum height, 3 ft. 9 ins.; overall length of vehicle, 9 ft. 3 ins. ; track, 3 ft. 71 ins-; and wheelbase, 5 ft. 6 ins. The maker is the Raleigh Cycle Co., Ltd., Nottingham.