Dennis

12th November 1929, Page 161

12th November 1929

Page 161

Page 161, 12th November 1929 — Dennis

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HALF the exhibits on this stand are entirely new types, and the range of this old-established maker now covers a very wide field of activity. Dealing .first with the chassis designated the Dart; this has a six-eylindered engine, and is designed throughout as a fast xnachine for carrying 20-seater bodies.

The engine-and-gearbox unit has rubber insulating blocks between its .mounting points and the frame brackets. No less than 60 b.h.p. is developed, whilst half that output is available at 1,000 r.p.m. The valves are offset from the centre line of the combustion chambers and arc operated by enclosed push rods. By removing three cover plates on the off side of the engine the push rods and camshaft are disclosed. Fuel feed to the carburetter is by a camshaft-driven pump which draws its supply from a 15-gallon tank. On the near side is the water .pump, which is driven in tandem with the dynamo and magneto. A four-speed gearbox is provided. This has right-hand control and a dip-stick for checking the oil level. An interesting feature of the transmission is the central bearing for the enclosed propeller shaft. Vacuum-servo operation for the four-wheel brakes is used, and the rear-brake drums are removable without disturbing the hubs.

Turning now to the Arrow, another new six-cylinder chassis, which is destined to carry 32-seathr coachwork, the engine of this machine has an overhead camshaft and the power output is 100 b.h.p. The engine is inclined in the frame and offset in order to provide a level floor in the saloon. The cylinder head and valve gear may be removed without disturbing the distribution chain. The crankshaft is carried in seven bearings, and the cylinder barrels make direct contact with the cooling water ; they are of the renewable type. A single-plate dry cluteh transfers the power to the unitmounted four-Speed gearbox. A twopiece propeller shaft is used, and this has all-metal universal joints. An. inverted worm-driven rear axle is carried by semi-elliptic springs with Silentbloc bearings. -A vacuum-servo motor augments the pedal pressure sad expands shoes in all four wheels.

One of the striking newcomers to the heavy-goods category is the Dennis rigid six-wheeler for 12-ton loads. The side-valve engine has six cylinders and develops 100 b.h.p.; to facilitate handling, the detachable heads are made in three portions. Three differentials are provided for the axles of the bogie.

The gearbox is separately mounted and controlled by a single rod from the, gate. Cam-and-lever steering is mounted on the forward end of the frame, the driver being seated on the off side of the engine. When the brake pedal is depressed, two Clayton Dewandre vacuum servo motors amplify the driver's effort' and apply internal-expanding shoes in all six wheels ; the hand brake works on the rear wheels of the bogie. Twin rear tyres of 40-in. by 8-in, dimensions are used, the single tyres on the front wheels being of the same size.

A new 2-ton chassis is staged. This has a four-cylindered overhead-valve engine developing 42 b.h.p. The en Cased propeller shaft has a emtrul roller bearing, and the braking system is servo operated, the drums being of 17-in. diameter. The wheelbase is 12 ft.

The well-known 30-cwt. chassis is ex hibited. This has a four-cylindered engine developing 36 h.p., a cone clutch, a four-speed gearbox and an enclosed Propeller shaft.

Styled type GL is a low load-line bus with a four-eylindered engine developing 42 b.h.p. It has four forward speeds, 33-in. by 5-in. single and twin tyres, servo-operated brakes with 16-in. drums, and a frame height of 1 ft. 9 ins. ; the 20-seater bus body mounted on this chassis is designed for one-inan control and has an emergency exit.

A 3f-set:ter b is is shown on the EV-type chassis, which has a 70 b.h.p. four-cylindered engine ; it is well known for its smooth running, to which the spring-loaded torque bracket on the dashboard contributes in no small measure. It drives through a separate four-speed gearbox, and final transmission is by worm gear. The frame height is 2 ft. 2 ins.; tyres of 7-in. section are supplied.

Finally, there is the 350-450-gallon Dennis fire-engine. The power unit is of 50 h.p. It has coil and magneto ignition, four-wheel brakes, pneumatic tyres and the Dennis multi-stage turbine pump. It is equipped with a firstaid apparatus, a telescopic ladder,'and is priced at £1,400.