Dennis Bros., Ltd.
Page 18
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Principal Exhibits :-40h.p. Bus Chassis ; 30cwt. Chassis ; 30h.p. Bus ; two Lorries ; 20h.p. Van.
The principal exhibit on his stand is undoubtedly the 4oh.p. omnibus chassis.built for The London Road Car Co., Limited. It is fitted with a 4-cylinder Aster engine, with a bore of cylinder of 130mm. and a piston-stroke of 140m M. Simms-Bosch low-tension magneto is fitted, and the lubrication is forced by a geared pump, sucking the oil from the crank-case sump, and delivering it, under pressure, to all the bearings. The cylinders are cast in pairs, and are cooled by water circulation which is kept up by a gear-driven centrifugal pump. The water passes through a large honeycomb radiator, and the cooling is assisted by a fan with arrangements for tightening the driving belt. The clutch is of large diameter, leather-lined, and of the cone
type. There is a band brake encircling the male portion of the clutch, and the motion of withdrawing the male cone at the same time tightens the band on the brake drum, which has the effect of slowing up the gear shafts and permitting of a silent change of gear. The band is easily adjustable for wear. The arrangement of the clutch and clutch brake will be more readily understood on referring to the accompanying illustration of it. Between clutch and gearbox there is a, flexible coupling, to compensate for any twisting or deflection of the frame, and the gear-box gives three speeds forward, and one reverse. The top speed is a straight through drive, with the lay-shaft standing idle ; the gear shafts run on ballbearings.
The now weli-known Dennis patent worm-driven live axle is used, the drive thence, from the gear-box, being by a propeller shaft in the usual way. This form of final drive has been well tested in public service, and we have heard nothing but good reports of its be. haviour. It is perfectly silent drive and.,
as the worms and worm-wheels for these vehicles are cut by well-known experts, the efficiency should be ideal. The angle of lead is very high, and there is no possible chance of the gear being irreversible; hence it is equally efficient with either the worm or the wheel transmitting the drive. The worm gear and differential gear is contained within a case of suitable design, and all torque is taken by the cantilever torque bars whose cuter ends slide in slotted barrels, in which springs are fitted to absorb road
shocks. The worm shaft runs on journal and thrust ball-bearings nd meshes with the worm wheel, encircling the differential; this is of the straight tooth type, with six planetary pinions. The axle runs on ball bearings, and its outer ends terminate in a squared portion on which is mounted a star-piece, which, in turn, .fits into corresponding jaws cast in the naves of the road wheels. One of our illustrations shows one end of the axle shafts, with its star-piece and ball hearings, and still another shows the axle parted in the middle showing the worm-shaft, with its ball bearing, and the wenn wheel. The axle is guided in a vertical plane in horn-plate brackets, and the chassis is mounted over the axle by specially long springs. Twin Sirdar tires are fitted to the driving wheels, and the leaders have single Sirdar tires.
A 4oh.p. brewers' lorry, on the same type chassis, is also on view. This is the third repeat order which the company has received from Wm. Hancock and Company, Limited, of Cardiff. The carrying Capacity is 4 tons, and the lorry is fitted with De Nevers grooved tires. A similar chassis, but fitted with
Tylor 3o-35h.p. engine, and a 34seated, double-deck omnibus body, for Thomas Tilling, Limited, completes the list of exhibits of this type of chassis.
A new 1907-model chassis, to meet the requirements of quick travelling with moderate loads, is shown. The engine is a 20h.p. Aster, with cylinders 95mm. in diameter, and having a
piston-stroke of 130rrim. The chassis is intended to deal with a load of 3ocwt, at a speed of t3m.p.h. The lubrication is effected by an eccentric cam on the inlet valve camshat t, operating a plunger pump. In general design the same principles of worm transmission are carried out.
The company also shows examples of its 2oh.p. 2-ton to 2.4-ton chassis, in the shape of a lorry, built to the order of Asters, Limited, 4, Princes Street, Hanover Square, W., and a delivery van built to the order of Carter, Paterson and Company, Limited, Goswell Road, E.C., which has a special winding-winch for hauling heavy goods up inclined ramps. This is the eighth repeat order, and one of to in hand, for Carter, Paterson and Company, Limited, and goes to show the high esteem in which the Dennis vehicles are held by this carrying company, whose work is particularly trying for any vehicle. Both the 2oh.p. vehicles are fitted with De Nevers, solid, grooved tires of a section guaranteed, by the makers for 10,000 miles.
The bus body was made by Thomas Tilling, Limited, and the 2oh.p. van body is by J. Liversidge and Son, Limited, of 56t, Old Kent Road, S.E.
The general design, and the workmanship put into the Dennis vehicles compare favourably with anything in the show, and the Aster engine's good points are too well known to need a lengthy comment from us. This stand has been one of the centres of business at the show, and Mr. Raymond Dennis informed as that the actual sales were most gratifying, whilst the number of genuine enquiries were altogether beyond his expectation. These reports are far from uncommon with the best makers.