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American Powered-trailer Train

15th September 1961
Page 91
Page 91, 15th September 1961 — American Powered-trailer Train
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DRAWBAR trailers withtheir • own engines and transmissions which can operate singly, in pairs or in trains of three or four units. Fantasy? By no means, for such vehicles were described recently to the American Society of Automotive Engineers by the designer, Mr. L. I. Wolf of the St. Louis Car Co.

This new type of vehicle is known as the Wolfwagon and has been in -course of development for several years. In appearance each unit is like a box-van independent trailer, but here the similarity ends. The forward part of the " box " forms a driving cab, whilst there is a power pack consisting of engine, radiator, gearbox and transmission brake which can be either mounted amidships below the floor or located above the front axleThis drives into the rear axle.

Each unit has a conventional fa,type drawbar, and this is isolated and stowed vertically against the front of the cab when the Wolfwagon is travelling solo or when it is being used as the leading vehicle of a train. Any unit can be used as a leading or trailing component., and the controls are carried from unit to unit through quick-acting couplings. These controls consist of a throttle hose for controlling the engines of the trailing vehicles, and a hose through which gear changes are effected when conventional gearboxes are used, or through which the " hill-retarder section of an Allison Torqmatic auto

matie transmission can be applied. There are also conventional brake hose and lighting connections.

The throttle is controlled through a sensing valve in the leading unit and a vacuum pump driven by the engine of the towed unit. The sensing valve determines the throttle opening required by the leading unit, and this is signalled to the towed unit so that its throttle will open in direct proportion to road speed and load. If a towed unit should break away the throttle shuts automatically.

If the engine in one unit of the train should fail the remaining engines continue to run, and either engine of a two-unit combination can propel the pair: for example, should the leading engine fail the rear engine supplies more driving power automatically.

The power pack is attached to the unit by six bolts only and the pack can be replaced in 30 minutes, it is claimed. Diesel or petrol engines may be fitted, and tests carried out show that two 240-cu.-in, petrol engines can provide more power throughout the entire load-speed range than a single 500-cu.in. unit, and under full-power conditions this means an improvement in fuel consumption.

Several sizes of Wolfwagon are projected, with front-axle capacities ranging from 8,000 lbs. upwards and rear axles from 16,000 lbs. Tandemaxle versions can be produced, and a pair of six-wheeled Wolfwagons could operate at a gross train weight of 40 tons.


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