Pullcar Motor Co., Ltd.
Page 33
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Exhibit :—Two Cabs ; one Van.
A special feature of the vehicles exhibited by this company is that the front wheels are used for both driving and steering. The engine is situated underneath the front seat, and the crankshaft is parallel to the axles. The drive is taken from the crankshaft to the gearshaft, by a wide chain of the silent type in the case of the van, and by gear drive in the case of the cab. This gear drive represents the latest pattern, and will probably he adopted on all the future vehicles.
The gear-box provides two forward speeds and a reverse, of the epicyclic type, and the drive is transmitted from the gear-box to the differential on the front axle by means of a silent chair,. The front axle is encased; this casing carries the weight, and ends in a fork constructed to take the steering pivot of the front-wheel gudgeons. The. front wheels are driven through universal joints, which are on the centre line of the steering pivots, so that the drive is equally transmitted whatever may be the direction to which the wheels are turned for the purposeof steering. The radiator is in the dashboard, and is of the gilled-tube type. The vehicles are very silent in operation, and the extremely novel drive has proved perfectly satisfactory. By this means, it is possible to employ back wheels of very large diameter which, naturally, ride with much greater ease than the usual small wheels fitted to motor vehicles. Pneumatic tires are employed on the front wheels, and solid-rubber tires are found sufficiently resilient for the back. All three vehicles are fitted with the same engines and gears, the engine being a 4-cylinder, 14-16h.p. one, and designed to run at yoor.p.rn. Foot-pedals are employed to operate all the gears, as, these, being epicyclic, are applied by band brakes. Starting from the left, the. depression of the first pedal applies the top speed; the second pedal brings the reverse into action, and the third pedal actuates the brake. These three pedals are situated on the left of the steering pillar, and are all intended to be worked by the left foot, but another pedal on the right of the steering pillar brings the top speed into action. This top speed is really a direct drive, through a leather-faced cone clutch, between the gear-box shaft and casing, locking the whole together. The other pedals are all raised by springs, but, as the vehicle is intended to run most of its time in the top speed, there is no spring to withdraw the clutch : there is, instead, a special pedal worked by the driver's right heel to take out the clutch. This arrangement is designed so that the driver need not keep any pressure on the pedal after he has inserted the clutch to get his top speed. The system of driving appears more complicated than is really the case, because there are no hand-operated change-speed levers, and drivers should SOOn get accustomed to the somewhat novel control provided.
The company is constructing cabs, both of the 6-seated type and of the hansom type, fully complying with Srotland Yard regulations.