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Makers have done their homework

. in providing for better going, stopping, riding and control

by P. A. C. Brockington, M I MechE

COMPONENT makers have had to move quickly to cater for the plating and braking regulations and they have played an allimportant part in the implementation of vehicle makers' design projects in the shortest possible time. Not only have components had to be evolved to provide for uprated specifications; manufacturers have had to keep in mind that heavier, more powerful and more costly vehicles are expected to last longer.

Technicians of the Cummins Engine company say that their new custom torque engine matches the ideal characteristics of a steam engine. Gardner and Rolls-Royce have gone quietly ahead and produced uprated versions of their standard engines. While General Motors are confident that the high power-to-weight ratio of the company's range of two-stroke diesels will increasingly promote their use in heavy trucks.

Both Clayton Dewandre and Lockheed have produced powered hydraulic systems for heavies in anticipation of a demand for lighter, less complex braking systems.

The makers of transmissions have been active in catering for torque and load requirements. Suspension specialists have pro duced systems that could play an allimportant part in future developments, and the manufacturers of auxiliaries have shown that, in some respects, they are a jump ahead of engine and vehicle makers. And instrument makers, too, have shown a realistic approach to uprating problems and proposed legislation notably with regard to recording performance in one way or another.

The Cummins Engine Co. Ltd. will show its new custom torque engine on Stand 390. Will it set a trend? It is called the NHCTCT unit, is based on the well-known NH in-line six and is rated at 240 bhp at 2.100 rpm. By employing a "torque matched" turbocharger and a special regulator in the fuel pump of the PT (pressure/time) injection system, a falling-torque characteristic has been obtained to give .a near-constanthorsepower output.

At 1,100 rpm a torque of approximately 900 lb.ft. is produced and the torque falls to 600 lb.ft. at the peak rpm. This compares with the near-constant-torque output of the conventional Cummins NHK-250 diesel, the torque of which varies between 640 lb.ft. at 1,100 rpm and 600 lb.ft. at 2,100 rpm. The fuel consumption of the CT engine is 5/7 per cent lower than the standard unit and it gives a better road performance mated to a five-speed gearbox than an NHK-250 fitted with a 10-speed gearbox. Moreover, the turbocharger gives automatic compensation for increases in altitude up to 8,000ft. If required the unit can be uprated to give 270 bhp and a maximum torque of 740 lb.ft.

Also on show, the Cummins NHK-200, 200 bhp diesel has been lightened over the past 12 months. In contrast to the NHCT-CT, the V8 185 diesel on the stand develops its peak power of 185 bhp at 3,300 rpm.

Many visitors to the Show will be saying that "Gardner's have done it again". An uprated 6LW, the 6LW-20, will be displayed by Gardner Engine (Sales) Ltd. on Stand 412, that develops 120 bhp at 1,700 rpm, compared with 112 bhp produced by the standard model. And it uses 2.8 per cent less fuel at full power.

Details will be available on the stand of an uprated 5LW, the 5LW-20, the output and specific fuel consumption of which have also been improved correspondingly. Stan dard types of 5LW, 6LX, 6HLX and 6LXB will be found on the stand.

Diesel engines to be displayed by Rolls-Royce Ltd., Oil Engine Division, on Stand 329, include a late newcomer to the company's range, the Eagle 300, which develops 300 bhp gross and is a turbocharged version of the Eagle 220 (also exhibited on the stand) that is rated to produce 220 bhp at 2,100 rpm. An output of 318 bhp at 2,100 rpm is obtainable from the 8V-71N two-stroke diesel which will be a feature exhibit on the General Motors Ltd. (Power and Industrial Division), Stand-260.

Visitors to the Perkins Engine Co. Stand 411 will note that the rating of the company's V8.510 diesel is now given as 185 bhp SAE gross. As has been recently publicized in Commercial Motor, different methods of rating have created confusion on the part of operators (and makers) and use of this rating should help to overcome confusion in this case until such time that the BS AU141 rating can be quoted for the unit.

The new hydraulic braking systems for heavy vehicles that will be shown by Clayton Dewandre Co. Ltd. on Stand 413 and by Lockheed Hydraulic Brake Co. Ltd. on Stand 352 both incorporate an hydraulic accumulator or accumulators and an engine-driven pump.

Other new equipment to be shown by Clayton Dewandre includes a dynamic load-sensing valve, an automatic slack adjuster, a range of air-operated controls, an air-pressure servo for hydraulic clutch operation and a compressed-air-operated throttle control. Lockheed will also be exhibiting a new clutch-operating servo of the air/hydraulic type, while Automotive Products Ltd., the parent company, will display the latest version of the AP Antilok braking system on Stand 350 together with a new hand-brake parking lock and a new range of steering ball joints.

A modified variable-load valve designed for small-deflection suspension systems will be included in the exhibits displayed by Westinghouse CVB Ltd. on Stand 382 and an R-6 relay valve will be on view that is more compact and more efficient than previous models. The demand for an efficient retarder has been very much in the news lately and many operators would favour the hydraulic type; such a retarder will be exhibited by Voith Engineering Ltd. on Stand 283.

The new braking regulations are a challenge to the makers of lining materials as well as braking systems. It is notable that Hubert H.P. Trist and Co. Ltd. will be exhibiting a new high-p material, called the PT37, on Stand 267, that has been primarily produced to help vehicle operators to meet the regulations. And that Transport Brakes Ltd. will be displaying a lining with a co-efficient of friction of 0.43, typed the KL45, which is recommended for other than full-air systems. For "over boosted" systems, the KL49 is recommended which has a coefficient of 0.33, while the KL50 lining has a coefficient of 0.38 and is particularly suitable for direct-air systems.

A number of new Duron lining materials will be shown by Brake Linings Ltd., on Stand 294, that include the P.250 (a moulded type developed for the Foden company) a high-coefficient general-purpose moulded fining called the P.29 and also the P.237, which is available in segment or liner form and has a friction value of 0.39/0.41. Both Ferodo Ltd. (Stand 278) and Small and Parkes Ltd. (Stand 252) will be displaying brake-testing meters in addition to a full range of lining materials. Ferodo will additionally be exhibiting Poly-V drive belts that have successfully been used to drive alternators at speeds exceeding 12,000 rpm.

Whether the trend in power units will favour the high-torque or high-output engine is a matter for conjecture, but currently gearbox makers are mainly concentrating on transmissions for established types of unit. A new Fuller Roadranger 10-speed gearbox having a torque rating of 600 lb.ft. (called the RT-60) will be exhibited by Eaton Yale and Towne (UK) Ltd. on Stand 336 in addition to a new six-speed synthromesh gearbox, the 542SM and three five-speed transmission produced by Eaton Yale and Towne.

Twin mainshafts are a feature of a new seven-speed synchronized gearbox, the T7-600, that will be displayed by Turner Manufacturing Co. Ltd. on Stand 337, the design of the gearbox providing for a high torque capacity (600 lb.ft.) in a compact envelope. Centre piece of the gearbox display by David Brown Gear Industries Ltd. on Stand 241 will be the DB6-500 gearbox which has a torque rating of 585 lb.ft. as a six-speed unit and of 550 lb.ft. as a 10-speed transmission. Also to be displayed, the 10-650 10-speed gearbox has a torque rating of 650 lb.ft.

The acceptance of many operators of the extra cost of automatic transmission has given them a greater market potential and interest in the hydromechanical automatic gearboxes that will be displayed by Voith Engineering should be enhanced by this potential. Torque is split between a hydraulic converter and a mechanical differential gear in the case of the DIWA and DIWAMATIC gearboxes and this enables the efficiency of the transmission to be considerably increased.

Various new transmission components will be displayed by member companies of the newly formed GKN sub-group, Hardy Spicer Ltd. will be showing a new rubbermounted centre bearing in a range of sizes from 35mm to 50mm diameter on Stand 365, which is designed for heavier vehicles and is quiet in operation by virtue of its low vibration frequency. And of interest to the makers and operators of battery-electric vehicles, Salisbury Transmission Ltd. will be displaying a double-reduction axle with helical primary gears and hypoid secondary reduction on Stand 363.

A 13in.-diameter diaphragm spring clutch will be found on Laycock Engineering Ltd.'s Stand 364 which is a derivative of the company's 8i-in.-diameter clutch, and Laycock will also be exhibiting a new (Type J) overdrive unit suitable for lighter vehicles, based on car chassis.

Of non-transmission interest, BRD Co. Ltd. will be exhibiting a new steering column universal joint on the Hardy Spicer stand that is particularly suitable for forward-control vehicles with tilt cabs and, of importance with regard to safety, permits the column to fold up on impact.

In the complex role played by a drying axle, weight is secondary to efficiency and durability, but the new ranges of axles that will be shown by Kirkstall Forge Engineering Ltd. on Stand 415 and by Eaton Axles Ltd. on Stand 255 show how these properties can be combined with lightness. Planned as the centrepiece for the Kirkstall stand as an example of an axle range that will be available for g.v.w.s. up to 42 tons, the B.320HB 4,000lb tandem-drive bogie features helical-spur/spiral-bevel differentials and an air-operated third differential, the casing being of the pressed type. Eaton is to exhibit the Eaton 70 range, which comprises axles that weigh some 801b less than previous models and have a number of advanced features such as a conical type of carrier and a rectangular arm section. The throat area has been modified to reduce stress concentrations.

Included in the range of drive-line power take-offs that will be seen on Martin-Harper Co.'s Stand 331 is new equipment including an hydraulic assembly for the Ford D1000 gearbox and a unit for fitting to the top of the gearbox on the Bedford KM chassis. Features of the 4 x 4 version of a Ford D800 chassis, to be shown by Vickers Ltd. on Stand 203, include a two-speed transfer gearbox designed for torques up to 1,950 lb.ft. and a 4-ton front-drive steered axle. The design of this axle is such that differentials can be employed of the type fitted to rear axles.

Visitors to the Show who consider that more sophisticated suspension systems have a future will be particularly interested in Stand 398 where the Willefts Velvet Ride rubber suspension for tandem bogies is exhibited by Ho!set Engineering Co. Ltd., neither should they overlook the Norde togglelink rubber suspension, exhibited on Stand 414, by North Derbyshire Engineering Co. Ltd. On each side of the Velvet Ride system two axle-carrying arms are mounted centrally on twin-section rubber bushes that provide progressive springing characteristics and are claimed to have a very long life and to give a measure of self-steering. The Norde system also provides such springing characteristics, the two Metalastik rubber sandwiches on each side of the suspension being stressed in compression and shear.

Metalastik toggle-link suspension units of the type fitted to the Norde system will be exhibited by Dunlop Co. Ltd. (Polymer Engineering Division) on Stand 246, together with a new Metalastik Metacone trailer suspension and heavy-duty contrasonic leaf-spring shackle, which incorpor

ates bonded-rubber mountings. The shackle will be shown fitted to Taperlite springs.

Of special topical interest, Primrose Third Axle Co. Ltd., will be exhibiting a Primrose-Ceschi self-steering axle on Stand 357 which is of the castor-action type and is equipped with Dunlop air suspension and an electro-magnetic lock that is used when the vehicle is to be reversed. The pressure in the bellows is controlled by a Westinghouse load-sensing valve on the driving axle, which ensures that the load on the self-steering axle is proportional to the load on the driving axle.

York Trailer Co. Ltd. and York Technical Services Ltd. will be showing major components on Stands 221 and 327 respectively as well as trailer and bodywork in the trailer /bodywork section. New equipment to be exhibited on Stand 221 includes a roller-bearing shackle, a do-it-yourself mounting kit for the York Big D fifth-wheel coupling and a sliding Big D coupler. This permits an adjustment of the tractive-unit fifth-wheel position over 12in. in 3in. increments. On the same stand, a new all-steel ISO container will be found alongside a container fitted with the company's hydraulic lifting type twist locks that provide for easy demounting with the aid of screw-type support legs.

A 5,420 gal. single-compartment stainless-steel tank to be displayed by York Technical Services in the demonstration park is fitted with York TA widespread tandem-axle running gear, the unladen weight of the complete unit being only 5 tons 1 cwt. The tanker is one of a range of Heil tanks being built under licence to the American Heil Company of Milwaukee.

A York city van will be on view in the demonstration park which is also new and is named the dock-walloper because of its robust contstruction. It is based on a York ISO 20ft container which is fitted to a single-axle running gear and is provided with an 18in. loading platform behind the roller-shutter rear door.

Also of bodywork interest, Metal Sections Ltd. will be showing a new all-steel lightweight van body on Stand 243, Motor Panels (Coventry) Ltd. will have a "sleeper" cab on its stand (Stand 281) and British Aluminium Co. Ltd. will be exhibiting new aluminium extrusions on Stand 408 designed to give the bodybuilder greater constructional flexibility. Star Aluminium Co. Ltd. will be -displaying an Alusuisse boxvan, insulated-van, tipper, ISO container and truck body on Stand 269, while a new air-sprung driver's seat will be included in the exhibits of Bostrom Mfg. Co. Ltd. on Stand 318.

Mudguards with rubber half-sections will be found on the M. Stidsen display (Stand 372), Supra Chemicals and Paints Ltd. will be displaying a wide range of multi-layer sound-absorption barrier mats on Stand 217 and among the Brissco Equipment Ltd. exhibits (Stand 256) the company's Brisscal self-adhesive emblems will be included in the exhibits.

The cold-rolled sections used in the Metal Sections steel van frame are readily available to van bodybuilders from stock, and it is notable that the frame to be exhibited weighs only 520Ib, the length, width and internal height of the structure being 13ft 8+in., 7ft 6in. and 711 llin. respectively. It is designed for a vehicle rated to carry a payload of 5 tons.

Called the Owen cab, the Motor Panels sleeper cab is also of all-steel construction and is designed for export as a packaged unit, its overall width being 8ft 2in. The truck body to be displayed on the Star stand is a new Alusuisse development and comprises a sided-body that was specially designed to facilitate assembly. Most of the Alusuisse bodies are argon-arc welded.

The Bostrom seat incorporates a rollinglobe air spring, the air pressure in which can be adjusted by the driver by means of an air valve, damping being provided by a double-action air valve.

A novel type of bus seat, to be shown by Cox of Watford Ltd. on Stand 375 is cantilevered from the body structure and is designed to reduce cleaning time by providing an uncluttered space below the seat. In an entirely different bodywork category, Armstrong Patents Co. Ltd. will be displaying an hydraulic tilt-cab system on Stand 208 (comprising a pump and a ram) in addition to an hydraulic throttle control and a wide range of shock absorbers.

Means of providing a quick turn-round of vehicles will continue to be topical for many years and it is, therefore, appropriate to make special mention of the floor-track system of pallet loading that will be shown by Joloda Transport Equipment Ltd. on Stand 358. Various modifications have recently been made to the equipment, details of which will be available on opening day.

Top bulk-body news this year (in the components section) is provided by the Turboconveyor unloading system to be displayed by the Holset company. Use is made of a modified turbocharger to pressurize a tanker for unloading. This is used in place of a mechanically driven blower and affords considerable savings in cost and weight. The turbine drives the compressor which supplies air to the tank at a pressure up to 20 p.s.i. (gauge) for unloading purposes.

Included in the components that are a "must" for uprated vehicles, improved electrical equipment comes high on the list. And in this category, the AC203 24V alternators to be shown by CAV Ltd. on Stand 236 represent an important contribution to design progress. In 60amp form, the AC203 has a cutting-in speed of 700 rpm and a maximum load speed of 1,350 rpm. while an 85amp machine has a cutting-in speed (hot) of 950 rpm and a maximum output speed of 1,500 rpm. The machines are designed for a life of 250,000 vehicle miles.

Butec Ltd. (of the Leyland Group) will be displaying a range of equipment on Stand 405 that includes A30 30amp and A60 60amp 9-diode alternators, examples of its Al 30amp and A2 60amp six-diode alter

nators and an electric-shift starter motor. New components to be exhibited by Joseph Lucas Ltd. and Joseph Lucas (Electrical) Ltd. on Stands 237 and 238 include a range of new converter units for applications to tractive units where it is necessary to couple the electrical system to trailer circuits of a different voltage. A new Screenjet windscreen wiper with a 15W wiper motor will also be exhibited.

A new 65amp battery, the 12F15L/L will be displayed by Park Bros. Ltd. on Stand 374 that is designed to replace the batteries of the Ford Transit diesel range of vehicles. And Oldham and Son Ltd. will exhibit p.s.v. 135amp /h and 170amp /h batteries with moulded corrosion-resistant handles in place of metal handles, on Stand 296. Crompton Parkinson (Batteries) Ltd. has also applied corrosion-resistant handles (of Terylene) to its Golden Crompton battery for light vehicles, which will be exhibited on Stand 381.

A number of new products, to be displayed by the AC-Delco Division of General Motors Ltd. on Stand 376 include Delco-Remy Delcotron diode-rectified 3 to 35amp 12V alternators in addition to heavy-duty starter motors for diesel engines up to 1,000 cu.in. capacity and petrol engines with capacities up to 1,600 cu.in. The company will also be showing a new range of lin, shock absorbers and Ternstedt quick-lift window regulators.

Trico Folberth Ltd. will feature the FPH heavy duty hydraulically damped windscreen wiper on Stand 282 in addition to the smaller APM type, while new equipment to be displayed by Marchal Distributors Ltd. on Stand 297 includes a quartz iodine headlamp of the dipping type that produces up to 63,000 candlepower and the Senior Starlux matching pair of long-range and fog lamps.

Of special current interest in view of the proposed regulations regarding vehicle recorders, a new tachograph will be displayed by Smiths Industries Ltd. (Motor Accessory Division) on Stand 232 that records vehicle speed, standing and running time and distance travelled on daily or weekly charts and is also fitted with a speed warning light that can be preset to any mph.

A Frankmann electronic fault-warning system will be shown by The Equipment and Engineering Co. Ltd. on Stand 355 that "monitors trouble sourcesincluding the level and temperature of the radiator water; the level, pressure and temperature of the lubricant, air-braking pressure, rear light failure and non-closure of doors.

In an important miscellaneous category may be grouped the new Thermo-King TG 10 lightweight cooling unit to be shown by Petters Ltd. on Stand 261, wagon pumps that include an hydraulically driven type which will be exhibited by Stothert and Pitt Ltd. on Stand 210, the recently introduced TJ series of fifth-wheel couplings that will be seen in the Davies Magnet Works Ltd. display (Stand 366) and a range of GUD oil filters to be exhibited by G. E. Jones and Sons (Machine Parts) Ltd. on Stand 373. Of special note, the company's 0629 filter is designed to separate water from diesel fuel up to a water contamination of 10 per cent.