Durham Churchill & Co.
Page 21
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Exhibit :—One 24-50h.p. Char-a-Banes ; one 2-ton Chassis.
This well-known liallamshire firm has two vehicles on view. One is a complete char-a-bancs to hold 26 passengers, and fitted with Lee's patent seats, a canopy top, and side and back curtains. The second example is a chassis which has been designed for a load of two tons. All the standard vehicles are fitted with Aster engines, which are second to none for reliability and general efficiency. The char-k-bancs is fitted with a 24-3011.p. engine, having a bore of inches, and a piston-stroke of inches. A patented type f metal to-metal clutch—the Champion—is employed, and this is durable, and is free from end thrust. The gear-box is, also, patented and is, practically, indestructible. Put shortly the system is as follows : the first gear shaft is hollow and contains a sliding rod with a projecting cam at one portion of its surface. The hollow shaft has four rectangular slots in it, and into the slots steel blocks are fitted, and these have central holes which enable the sliding rod to move backwards and forwards easily. The outer extremities of the steel blocks are furnished with teeth. The gear wheels on the hollow shaft, instead of having plain holes through their centres, have an internally-toothed boss, and each wheel is slipped on the shaft directly over one of the steel blocks. To lock any wheel upon the shaft, it is only necessary to push the sliding rod longitudinally until the cam comes to the block directly Leneath the desired wheel, when a further movement will raise the steel block and cause the teeth upon the block to engage with those on the internal boss of the wheel, locking it fast upon the shaft. The gears to give four speeds, and a reverse, with all teeth inch wide upon the face, can be housed in a box only 9 inches long.
The foot brake on the gear shaft is of the locomotive type, and is extremely powerful when in action. The hand brake expands within the sprocket drums bolted to the back wheels.
As showing the satisfactory results which have been obtained from the various patents incorporated in the chassis in a concrete form, it may be mentioned that every vehicle sold during the last twelve months has resulted in a favourable testimony.
The bottom portion of the differential casing can now be readily dropped, for inspection purposes, without disturbance of the shaft bearings.