Wolseley Tool & Motor Car Co., Ltd.
Page 38
Page 39
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Principal Exhibits :—One 3oh.p. Chassis ; one Van Chassis ; a Char-a-bancs ; an Ambulance Van ; one Cab.
Amongst the numerous and splendid exhibits of the Wolseley Company is a new 3oh.p. chassis, specially designed for public-service vehicles. The fourcylinder vertical engine has cylinders inches in diameter, with a pistonstroke of 5 inches, and develops a maximum of 35h.p. at about t,toor.p.m. The normal working conditions call for the engine to give 3oh.p., at about 900r.p.m. The cylinders are separate castings, and are mounted on an aluminium crank case. The crankshaft is made of Vickers' special crankshaft steel, and is carried in three ample white-metal bearings in the top half of the case. All the valves are mechanically operated, and the inlet valves are fitted into independent boxes, situated above the exhaust valves, an arrangement which renders them very accessible. The cams are turned solid with the camshaft, which is driven by an enclosed fibre gear-wheel from the crankshaft. Ignition is by low-tension magneto, with fixed firing point. A slow-speed centrifugal governor operates a balanced throttle valve, and the fuel is pressure fed to the carburetter, which is provided with strainers, and an automatic valve, connected with the Exhaust pipe, in order to maintain the pressure. A hand pump is provided for raising the pressure in the tank sufficiently high to force the fuel to the ea rburetter.
The fly-wheel is extra heavy and forms the female portion of a leather-faced, cone clutch. The Wolseley Company does not appear to have much faith in spiral springs, and has consequently devised a very good way of loading the clutch by means of two laminated plate springs. These are shown in one of our illustrations. The pressure exerted by these springs may easily be regulated by the trunnions and eye-bolts.
The gear-box is mounted on the under frame provided to carry the engine, and contains four forward speeds of 3,1, 5, 8, and I211.1.13.11., and one reverse speed. The shafts are carried on " Wolseley" type ball-bearings. The ends of the differential shafts are fitted with chain sprockets, each having 17 teeth. The differential gearis of the straight-tooth type, and all bevel gears are of special steel. The differential
gear case is suspended at three points. The drive is transmitted from the clutch to the gear-box, through a universallyjointed shaft. From the gear-box, it is transmitted through another universally-jointed shaft to the differentialgear case, and from there to the road wheels by roller chains. The countershaft is kept well back in the chassis, in order to give a short chain drive. The axles are of Vickers' axle steel, with plain phosphor-bronze bearings for the wheels.
The brakes have been the subject of considerable attention at the hands of the designer, and the foot brake, which operates on a drum mounted on an extension of the gear-box second countershaft, is of the locomotive type with renewable, cast-iron blocks, and has a particularly handy and self-locking form of adjustment which we illustrate. The side-lever brakes act directly on to drums, formed inside the chain sprockets on the back wheels, and are of the compensated expanding type.
The frame is a particularly good job, presenting a stiff but symmetrical appearance. It is provided with Cross, tubular members, and is well stayed. The rear ends are given a graceful curve downwards, and, at their extremities, the two side members are joined by a cross tube, whose ends project beyond the outside width of the frame. On the projecting parts, guiding sleeves are mounted to take the Tee suspension lots ; the Tee-heads are connected to the after ends of the long rear,. side-springs, and beneath the guiding sleeves there are rubber buffers as we show in the adjoining illustra
tion. The tubes have slotted holes, to permit of the spring suspension bolts swinging with the spring deflection. The cushioning effect is considerable, and should make the chassis very easy As in previous types, the driver sits partly over the engine, and all control levers, etc., are brought to a convenient position for comfortable driving. The
wheel diameters are : leaders, 32 inches in diameter ; and drivers, 40 inches in diameter. The pressure-feed petrol tank has a capacity of 30 gallons, and is fitted transversely at the back of the chassis.
The company is also showing a 24seated char-a-bancs fitted on a similar chassis, the distinguishing feature of the body being the very large " boot "
which is about 8 feet long, by 4 feet wide, and about 2 feet deep.
The company's 18h.p. chassis, with 4-cylinder vertical engine, with cylinders 4 inches in diameter and a pistonstroke of 4 inches, is also shown. This chassis has been designed especially for private omnibuses, vanwork, ambulances, etc.; it is a stout, machine and should do well with 3ocwt. loads. Fine examples of the
bodies which can be fitted to it are shown in the shape of a private omnibus body built by Dodson and Compan, Limitcd, allowing seating accommodation for 12 persons, and an ambulance brougham, which is a particu larle. fine piece of coach-work. The brougham has the appearance of a private vehicle, but there are fittings for two stretchers, which are entered from the rear, and which, together with
all their fittings may be taken out and the vehicle used as a brougham for conveying passengers. This chassis has a great future before it, and we believe it will make a stir in commercial circles. It is our intention to deal adequately with it soon after the show.
A toh.p. taximeter cab is also exhibited. This has been built in accordance with, and to meet all the requirements of Scotland Yard.