I am a student attending Leeds University (Department of Mechanical
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Engineering). During our final year we are given a design project to carry out.
The problem I am faced with is the design of a two/four-wheel drive transfer gearbox, as a conversion for a standard tipper Ion',' for off-road use. The vehicle I have provisionally chosen is the Leyland 16-ton Super Comet tipper. However, it will be necessary to have details of other vehicles for comparison purposes. The other manufacturers I have considered are Dodge and Bedford who appear to make comparable vehicles.
Unfortunately I cannot find any addresses to write to for information. Could you supply me with the necessary details?
A Only Vauxhall Motors in their Bedford
range of trucks produce four-wheel drive vehicles on a production basis. Scammell Lorries, part of the Leyland Group, build vehicles utilizing transfer cases for other purposes such as 6 x 6 heavy locomotives and 4's 4 dump trucks. Most of the other vehicles equipped with fouror multi-wheel drives featuring transfer cases are conversions. These are mainly carried out by Reynolds Boughton Engineering Services Ltd., Bell Lane, Amersham Common, Amersham, Bucks: Vickers All-Wheel Drive, PO Box 8, South Marston Works, Swindon, Wilts: and Unipower, Universal Power Drives Ltd., Aintree Road, Perivale; Greenford, Middx.
Heavy tractive units with four-wheel drive are manufactured by AEC Ltd., Southall, Middx, using a transfer box of the firm's own manufacture, and David Brown and Co. Ltd., Park Works, Huddersfield, manufacture the TU2 transfer gearbox as a proprietary unit which is available to any company.
Any of these companies will give you the information you require, and from Vauxhall Motors Ltd. you might obtain the necessary information required as a yardstick for the design or selection of such a unit.