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A New Electric Tractor
Page 120
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for refuse collection
Electricars, Ltd., Produces a Compact Machine with a Range of 35 Miles on One Charge ALTHOUGH electric vehicles of various kinds have established themselves firmly for certain classes of urban transport,tractors of this type are comparatively rare. Such a machine has recently been produced -by Electricars, Ltd., of Lawley Street, Birmingham, and it is anticipated that it will prove its value in connection with trailers built for refuse collection, as well as for other purposes. This machine is compact, having a w.heelbase of 6 ft. 2 ins. and a track of 5 ft. 9 ins, at the front and 5 ft. 3 ins, at the rear. The steering layout is normal, there being a Marles steering box, whilst the front wheels carry 32-in. , solid tyres ; the at the rear have a diameter of 36 ins. The tyre equipment is of Henley, make. Two quarterelliptic springs carry the front ' end of chassis and halfelliptics are used at the rear.
Two rows of accumulator cells are carried under the bonnet, the top of which is hinged along the centre, so as to facilitate inspection and "topping up." Within the driver's cab there are two more banks of cells, one on each side, making a total of 40 cells with a capacity of 500 amperehours. A charging socket is mounted on the front of the chassis.
Below the bonnet is slung a totally enclosed series-wound c50
motor which is coupled to the rear axle by means of a short propeller shaft, with a Hardy disc at the front and a " pot" joint at the rear. The axle itself has a forged-steel casing with an overhead worm drive.
Designed to tow seven tons, this tractor is said to have a speed of 104 m.p.h. on the level and to be capable of climbing a gradient of 1 in 10 comfortably. The batteries give it a range of 35 miles on one charge.
All four wheels are mounted on ball bearings. Externalcontracting band brakes operate on 20-in, drums attached to the rear wheels. There are two bands to each wheel and in the driver's cab are two pedals, one of which operates a brake on each rear wheel, in the usual way, whilst the other (which is similarly connected) has a ratchet, so that the brake.s can be left " on " when the machine is parked. This ratchet is easily disengaged by applying sideways pressure with the foot.
"Other equipment carried inside the cab includes a drumtype series-parallel controller and a main switch having a removable key. An ampere-hour meter is also provided, and there is, of course, a switch and fuse-box for the lighting system. On the driver's left is mounted a Neate trailerbrake control.
An Electricar tractor, of the type here described is now undergoing extensive trials in the hands of a progressive, local-government authority in the Metropolis.