1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136 
HIGH POWER FIRE FIGHTER 'STEP FORWARD'
Page 25
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
REYNOLDS Boughton Chassis Limited has introduced a high speed 6x6 firefighting chassis featuring a unique, centrally mounted transmission system, of Boughton's own design.
Announcing the Taurus chassis at the opening of Boughton's gear division factory at Dolton, Devon, where the new transmission will be built, Mr T. T. Boughton said the vehicle represented a major step forward in design.
Gravity
By using the central transmission unit, which is mounted below the top chassis line, the vehicle's centre of gravity is lowered considerably.
In addition, the uncluttered chassis top allows top hamper manufacturers (the people that fit the machine with fire-fighting equipment) to add their gear straight onto the chassis.
A further advantage is that the transmission unit can be dropped out through the bottom of the chassis without the need to disturb any other components.
Ingenious
The transmission unit itself is very ingenious. Using Borg Warner Automatic clutches, it has five forward speeds — one of which is crawler which can be manually held — and incorporates a power take off and a transfer box for the all-wheel drive system. The gearbox is electronically controlled by a small selector lever.
Drive to the transmission comes direct from the engine via an offset gear, fitted to put the input shaft clear of the rear bogie drive.
The power unit is a massive, twin turbocharged Detroit 12V7'T diesel developing 390kW (525bhp), mounted at the rear of the chassis.
Accepted
To keep the centre of gravity lower still, Boughton use 1600 x 20 tyres on Kirkstall Forge axles.
I asked Boughton if using its own transmission might detract from sales, in countries such as the USA where Allison transmissions are universally accepted.
Boughton believes there is no problem as Borg Warner parts — many of which are used in the transmission — are freely and widely available and Boughton itself has service arrangements in countries where the chassis are to be sold.
Claims
A brief test drive in the Taurus — admittedly unladen — confirmed Boughton's claim that the transmission was as smooth as that of a quality private car. Acceleration was also naturally fast, although Boughton says the vehicle loaded to its maximum gvw of 28 tons will accelerate from 0-50mph in 36 seconds.
Designed for airports of the higher category, the Taurus carries 10,00014 (2200ga1) of water and 10001it (220gal) of foam.
Deliveries of the first five chassis will be to Gloster Saro, where they will form the basis of the Gloster Javelin.