Chenard-Walcker

12th November 1929, Page 157

12th November 1929

Page 157

Page 157, 12th November 1929 — Chenard-Walcker

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rinHE 45-50 h.p. Chenard-Walcker tractor-trailer outfit has, in the past few years; become a very popular machine, not only in France and in this country, but elsewhere. It has an economical engine capable of high rates of revolution, and a still more important feature is its stability when travelling at speed with heavy loads. The secret of this is a special form of turntable, having no king-pin, the design being well protected by patents. By means of this, part of the trailer load can be imposed upon the driving wheels of the tractor, giving excellent adhesion. A patent drawbar coupling is also incorporated, which makes for quick and easy handling, the drawbar being of the swan-neck type and sufficiently strong to bear the lifting strain.

The appearance of the new 87 b.h.p. engine comes as something of a surprise to the trade. It has four cylinders with a bore of 104 mm. and a stroke of 140 mm. and the speed is governed to 2,200 r.p.m. The engine is of the sleeve-valve type and its extra power permits the hauling of far heavier loads.

The smaller machine has an engine of 79 mm. bore and 150 mm. stroke and is quite capable of dealing with 12-ton loads, for which purpose several examples are continually used in the ser vice of the • London Midland and Scottish Railway Co., not to menden many other important haulage concerns. The L.M.S. type outfit has a two-speed power winch and a ramp, this class of machine being used for the carriage of heavy machinery. It has Westinghouse vacuum braking, incorporating a storage cylinder; the brakes acting on the two rear wheels of the trailer.

The other 45 b.h.p. outfit shown has a new type of entirely enclosed cab. This machine is equipped with the Knorr compressed-air brake system operating on the rear wheels of both tractor and trailer in such a manner that the trailer brakes come into action slightly before those on the tractor.

For the want of space the company is unable to exhibit on its stand a type of six-wheeled tractor employing a fourwheel driving bogie, but this is to be seen in London—probably within easy reach of Olympia—by arrangement with the company's representatives.

Attention should be paid to some of the exclusive features of the ChenardWalcker outfit. The turntable is shown as a separate eXhibit and is sure to fascinate those who have not seen it before. The drawbar coupling and winch gear, which are also shown separately, are of interest, as is the soft-ground belt. The hollow engine flywheel which is employed for cooling and cleaning the crankcase lubricant is another particularly interesting characteristic.

The particular suitability of the Chenard-Walcker tractor-trailer outfit for the fast conveyance of heavy loads of goods by road, and its success in actual service, are largely due to the fact that it was designed especially for this class of work. Great foresight wai shown some years ago by the company in securing patents covering the essential principles of its design.