Lan gframe

12th November 1929, Page 174

12th November 1929

Page 174

Page 174, 12th November 1929 — Lan gframe

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MHE Longframe extension aint which

has been developed and marketed in this country by the British Longframe Six 'Wheeler Co., Ltd., permits of four. wheeled chassis being converted into rigid six-wheelers, the final pair of wheels being employed merely to share the load with the driving wheels. The result is an extended frame length and added carrying capacity. The example shown is the standard Chevrolet 30-ewt. commercial chassis, which, as our readers are aware, is very often employed in the construction of 14-seater light coaches or buses. Many Chevrolet machines converted in this manner are running, not only in England, but in other countries, the usual practice being to employ them as 20-seater buses or for carrying bulky loads of goods weighing considerably in excess of 30 cwt.

By the Longframe method no axle is

used to connect the pair of trailing wheels, these being mounted on short stub axles which are carried in fulcrum

arms, the forward ends of the arms being shackled to the semi-elliptic springs, employed for the driving axle. It will be noted that the fulcrum arms, which are extraordinarily strong, are cranked outwards at the rear so that the stub axles for the trailing wheels may be as short as possible. This is a good feature. Naturally, considerable oscillation occurs at the fulcrums and, in order that this may be cared for properly, roller bearings are utilized. The arrangement is simple and practical, and it does not call for intricate care or difficult maintenance work.

With regard to the machine exhibited, this has a 20-seater one-man-operated saloon-bus body, the overall length of which is 21 ft. 2 ins., the width being 7 ft. and the height 8 ft. 6 ins.

Incidentally, the extended frame members themselves are braced by angle-iron stays.