A NEW AND LARGER ALBION
Page 53
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A Forwatd-control Chassis for 6-ton Loads, Incorporating a Four-cylindered Engine, Servo Braking and a Special Form of Ventilation for the Cab
HITHERTO Albions have beeti.produced for pay-loads varying from 30 cwt. to 5 tons. Four-wheeled goods vehicles, under the present regulations, are allowed up to 12 tons total weight ; therefore, more than 5 tons can be carried.. In response to a popular demand, Albion 11Intors, Ltd., Scotstoun, Glasgow, W.4, has introduced a new forward-eoutrol chassis capable of carrying a 6-ton pay-load and a body weighing up to 1 ton 4 cwt. In standard form the chassis costs 035 ex works.
This model, which is known as the 1_,P35, has a wheelbase-,of 12 ft. 2 ins., and the ,other. leading dimensions are as follow :—Back of cab to end of frame, 16 ft. 9 ins.; frame height (laden), 3 ft. Ok in.; frame width, 3 ft. 2 ins.; front track, 6 ft. 01 in.; rear track, 5 ft. 10i ins.; overall length (including starting handle), 22 ft. 71 ins.; overall width, 7 ft. 51t ins,; turning circle, 48 ft.; ground clearance, 101 ins. With a platfcirm body the loading height is 3 ft. 8 ins., and can be lower if wheel arches be employed. The platform space is 16 ft. 6 ins. by 6-ft. 9 ins.
A straight frame, supported on semielliptic springs, is employed, and it is braced by pressed-steel and tubular cross-members. At the forward end of the right-hand main frame member is mounted a worm-and-sector steering gear, and the hand brake and gear levers are mounted on the off side of the frame. Below the steering wheel are the throttle and ignition controls, and a facia board is fixed above the column, being located about midway along its length.
The engine is of the familiar Albion design, having four -cylinders of ft-in.
bore and stroke; it has given great satisfaction in other chassis of this make. The maximum speed is 1,900 r.p.m., and the power developed is some 70 b.h.p., whilst the 'rating is 34 h.p. The cylinders are cast monobloc with two detachable heads. The cylinders take the form of dry, removable barrels, and the exhaust-valve seats are preased into the block, making them replaceable when necessary.
On the near side are the inlet and exhaust valves, the fdrmer being of the Ricardo masked type. Also on the near side are the oil filler, magneto, carburetter and induction and exhaust manifolds. The magneto is driven by skew gears from the camshaft and is extremely accessible. The induction pipe is provided with a hot-spot, and the car buretter is fed by an Autovac from thd 20-gallon tank on the near side of the main frame.
Lubrication is by a submerged pump, which feeds the main bearings and big ends under pressure. On the off side of the engine is the water pump driven from. the end of the same cross-shaft as the magneto ; the fan is belt-driven.
An Albion single-disc clutch conveys the drive to the separately mounted four-speed gearbox, and thence transmissionis by an open cardan shaft to the overhead worm-type axle.
Immediately behind the gearbox is an external-contracting brake of 12-in. diameter and 5-in. width-. This is controlled by the hand lever. The brake pedal operating through a Dewandre vacuum servo expands shoes in the 17-in. by 5i-in. drums of the rear wheels. These brakes can be relined without dismantling the hub bearings.
Detachable disc wheels carry 36-in. by 8-in. straight-sided tyres, _those on the rear wheels being, of course, dual.
Special attention has been paid to grouping components requiring occasional inspection in such a manner that they are readily accessible. .For example, the magneto, oil filler, carburet ter, valve, gear and dynamo can be reached with the minimum of interference. The cab can be taken off easily without detaching even the radiator.
The bonnet is made with a double shell, so that air passing between the two sections takes away much of the heat and keeps cool the cab.