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Dunlop Air Springs and Disc Brakes on Commer

14th March 1958, Page 118
14th March 1958
Page 118
Page 118, 14th March 1958 — Dunlop Air Springs and Disc Brakes on Commer
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THE first application of air suspension and disc brakes to a goods vehicle in this country has been made by the Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd., at their• Foleshill, Coventry, works. The experimental lorry —a Commer underfloor-engined 7-ton oiler — was demonstrated to The Commercial Motor last Friday.

Dunlop Pneuride bellows-type units are employed for the suspension, there being one to each front wheel and two to each rear wheel. Although the air springs have been applied only by way of a conversion, the weight of the complete vehicle has been increased by less than 100 lb. Dunlop engineers are confident that when the suspension is incorporated in an original design:weight will be saved.

The front wheels of the Commer are independently sprung, this being the easiest way of incorporating air suspension. The standard' heam axle has been split and each side section is pivoted to an additional frame cross-member to form a transverse swinging arm. To each arm is bolted a radius rod which runs rearwards and above the radius rod there is a substantial bracket which carries the air spring, this being at art angle of approximately 30°.

Rubber bushing is used throughout the linkages. A spherical bush is employed at the frame end of each radius arm.

The rear axle is carried on balance beams, at each end of which are bellows units. The beams themselves are rubber bushed to trailing radius arms. As at the front, these radius arms are stressed to provide a measure of roll stiffness.

There are three Dunlop levelling valves in the system—one on each side of the frame at the rear and one at one side at the front. The front valve controls the air pressure in both the front springs through an isolating valve. Dunlop disc brakes have been fitted to. all wheels, with a separate transmission brake on the front of the rear axle. These brakes have four friction pads per disc and their actuation is through a splitcircuit air-hydraulic system.

Operators of tankers have been particularly insistent on the development of air suspension. A full report of Dunlop disc-brake and air-suspension „developments will be published next week. •

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Locations: Coventry

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