CONVERTING THE FORD for Heavy Loads.
Page 78
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BY means of a Carrimore attachment the AA-type Ford 30-cwt. chassis can be converted to take a 3-ton load. -The resulting tractor-lorry can be equipped with a body up to 20 ft. long, and the annual licence rate for the resulting vehicle is only 138, the unladen weight being 2 tons 11 cwt. 2 qrs. in the form illustrated on this page. The maker's are Cardmore Six-wheelers, Ltd., Carrirnore Works, High Road, Great North Road, North Finchley, London, N.12.
Various types are listed to meet the requirements of different trades. Priced at £342 is the Ford chassis with the standard-type Carrinrore attaehment, which is suitable for the majority of users. The .cost of the attachment chassis, alone is 1130. Bodywork can be of any type, and is, of course, additional to the foregoing figures.
IiiCertain cases, to reduce terminal iielays, it is desirable to have two or more trailer portions to one motive unit. In these eir-cumstances a quickly detachable Carrimore appliance can he supplied. A handoperated latch is fitted to the king-pin of the turn
table to lock the connection of the two parts of the vehicle.
. To raise the trailer . from the tractor Iwo integral jacks are operated; these also serve as supports when the tractor portion is . driven
away. When this design is specified the price of the first attachment is £145, second and subsequent ones being priced at 1130. Thus a Ford Chassis and two quickly detachable trailer portions cost £4S7 without bodies.
A low-loading level is essmitial for Many trades; this demand iS met by the provision of a type with a cranked chassis frame for the attachment. Au. 18-in, chassis height is allowed.
In all instances a standard AA Ford chassis is employed, having ei 25 h.p. engine anda 'six-speed gear. The latter consists' of the three-Speed gearbox in unit with the engine and a supc48
plernentary two-speed gear giving a 831per cent. reduction' on all gears in its " low " position. •This, is operated by a rocking pedal. Braking is on the four wheels of the Ford plus the two trailer wheels. In the latter ease 14-in. internal-expandingbrakes are controlled by a right-hand lever in the cab. The operating cable passes through the hollow king-pin of the attachment, thus braking is unaffected by the, angle between the two portions of the vehicle when rounding a bend.
Bolted to the Ford chassis are the trunnion brackets for the turntable. Some 14 ins, can be cut off the ends of the tractor chassis to reduee the amount of lateral projection when on full lock. A rectangular channel-steel frame supports the 34-in, turntable wheel-plate, which is provided with greasing .points.
Semi-elliptic springs are employed for the trailer axle. These are located on shackle bolts at the front ends And the rear extremities slide in slippers. Four
• bolts in each ease tie the spring. to a chair on the axle, the lower end of which supports the. brake-operating
shaft. Pressed-steel disc wheels are Used for the trailer portion ; these run on compound ball-bearings and -carry 32-in, by 6-in. tyres—the same size as those of the Ford, .A spare Wheel can be carrie1 in a bracket mounted below the frame Of the attachment. When loaded the frame height
is 3 ft. 4 ins. Straight sidemembers are employed for the Carrimore chassis; these con sist of 3*-in. by 14-in. steel channels, spaced 2ft. 10f ins. apart. Channel steel of the same dimensions is used for the sub-frame carrying •the trailer axle By extending the lateral frame girders the fully supported body width can be 5 ft. 9 ins.
The length of the attachment chassis can be varied to suit the requirements of different customers. For example, a 20-ft. Liddy may be quite safe in the case of a vehicle required to transport cardboard boxes ; on the other hand, a body ol that length might be putting enormous temptation in the way of a ballast contractor grossly to overload the chassis. Open or closed coachwork can be fitted -as required. •
On a level road the speed when laden is said to he about 16 m.p.h., whilst the fuel consumption is in the neighbourhood of 9 mpg. When unladen the vehicle can attain 35 rd.p:h., and the six-speed gear enables the maehine to tackle difficult country with an adequate margin of power in .hand. A turn can be made in Under ,20 ft, if desired.The large window area of the cab gives the driver a wide range of vision when manoeuvring in restricted spaces.
Behind the cab is a roomy. box, for tools and other equipment ; it canalso serve as a step for gaining access oo the front of the body interior.