An Air-cooled Oiler Exceeds Expectations
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OPERATING in a hilly district in the Dorking area, a Wales and Edwards three-wheeled delivery vehicle, powered by an Enfield 1.13-litre aircooled twin-cylindered oil engine, has been averaging more than 30 m.p.g. in a day's run of 25-30 miles with 150 or more stops. The payload is 25 cwt. and the normal maximum speed is 15 m.p.h. This corresponds to an engine speed in top gear of 1,800 r.p.m.
The consumption is typical of the results being obtained by other operators employing prototype air-cooled vehicles built by Wales and Edwards, Ltd., Wyle Cop, Shrewsbury. Users of the oiler include Cow and Gate, Ltd., Express Dairy, United Dairies (London), Ltd., Milk Marketing Board and the Rank Organization. Twenty oilers have now been supplied.
Based on a 25-30-cwt. battery-electric chassis, the frame, wheel equipment, springs, brakes and so on are interchangeable with those of the standard models, but a new type of swinging-link front-end suspension, incorporating tension springs, will later be fitted to improve road holding at the higher speed provided by the oil engine. The rated power of the unit is 15 blip. at 1,250 r.p.m.
It is reported that because of the good low-speed torque of the engine (45 lb.-ft. at 1,250 r.p.m.) the vehicle can normally be operated in the two higher ratios of the three-speed gearbox. In top gear it will climb a gradient of I in 19 with a full load, and a gradient of 1 in 10 can be climbed in second gear.
Wales and Edwards designers, whose expectations have been surpassed, believe that the unit will operate 50,000
to 60,000 miles between overhauls with the vehicle regularly engaged on stopstart work. The engine starts easily from cold, tests having been made after the vehicle has been left standing overnight in an ambient temperature below freezing point. It can be left ticking over in neutral for long periods without overheating.,
Plans for the future include the provision of two-pedal control. The standard body has a glass-fibre cab, which reduces the unladen weight to 15 cwt.
This information was given to The Commercial Motor at the official opening, last week, of the Harlescott Works of Wales and Edwards, Ltd. The site covers 31 acres, and there is ample space for later building extensions. The shops are fully equipped for servicing and overhauling commercial vehicles and farm tractors of all types,