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AP's components in Elm Roadrunner deal

13th October 1984
Page 22
Page 22, 13th October 1984 — AP's components in Elm Roadrunner deal
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AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCTS, the Leamington Spa-based vehicle component manufacturer, is preparing to supply Leyland with more than Elm-worth of clutch, brake and steering equipment for Roadrunner models each year.

Peter Crawford, AP's engineering director, describes his company's equipment for Roadrunner as "the most sophisticated we have supplied for a volume commercial vehicle".

AP's clutch actuation system for the new vehicle was designed to take as little cab and bulkhead space as possible; to achieve the lightest clutch release loads; and to extend component life.

The clutch hydraulic master cylinder is mounted vertically, beneath the clutch pedal with By using a rubber diaphragm to prevent fluid loss from this reservoir during cab tilting, AP says it has been able to reduce reservoir diameter from the normal 90mm to 39mm.

The design of the .clutch release mechanism is also unconventional and is intended to keep friction losses low by minimising the number of linkages used. One end of a cantilever beam is connected to the slave cylinder piston rod, the other pivots on a fixed point on a low friction, sealedfor-life nylon ball joint which AP says should last the life of the vehicle.

The release bearing is mounted at the centre of the beam on a self-aligning carrier which holds the bearing face parallel with the diaphragm clutch pressure-plate spring fingers.

The Roadrunner's air/hydraulic braking system comes from Lockheed, an AP company, and includes a new design of duoservo rear brakes with automatic adjustment.

Sealed cables connect the chassis mounted spring brake chamber to the parking brake mechanism which is housed entirely inside the rear drums.

The Roadrunner's track rod end, which is a heavy duty version of the nylon ball joint used on the clutch release (and on the gear change linkage), employs an AP locking system which hitherto has only been used on agricultural tractors. A cone nut is used in place of the conventional bulky clamps and this has helped in giving Roadrunner such a generous lock.

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People: Peter Crawford
Locations: Leamington Spa

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