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THE SECOND VEHICLE in Leyland's 745 range has made an early appearance on the toughest of all markets as 30 ton eight logger. The 30 ton Constructor has gone through rigorous proving trials and LV is confident of its future. Like Roadtrain, the first of the T45 range, Constructor is initially for the home market where LV obviously intends to make up lost ground and make its presence felt.
The new vehicle should have little problem selling — it already has a good pedigree. Based on the well proven Routeman chassis and carrying the award winning C40 cab of T45 its antecedent are known.
As part of LV's rationalisation plans with the T45 range both Routeman and Octopus will eventually give way to Constructor. CM will road test Constructor as soon as one can be made for the purpose.
As with the Roadtrain range, Constructor models are identified by a four figure code; the first two digits indicate the vehicle's gross weight and the second two digits refer to the output of the engine.
Unladen weight of a TL11 engined chassis cab will be around 8.25 tonnes (8.1 tons), depending on specificiation, to give a maximum 22.25 tonnes (21.9 tons) payload and body capacity at 30.5 tonnes (30 tons) gvw.
Leyland say that Constructor components have, as part of the 145 project, undergone one of the most exhaustive development and proving programmes ever undertaken at Leyland.
In addition, the specification of many components common to the Routeman should ensure maximum reliability and durability. And with the specification of the C40 cab, Constructor offers easy access to daily check items and an easily tilted cab for maintenance and repairs. This was one of the considerations taken into account by the Design Council when they made the award last month. "C40 provides the same levels of cab appointment and driving ease as that achieved with a luxury car," says the company.
The cab lines are nonaggressive and that is part of Leyland image building philosophy. The vehicle appears less intimidating in normal traffic conditions so that it should also have public appeal. The aerodynamic shape of the cab reduces wind drag by up to 30% resulting in fuel consumption/ performance benefits.
All Constructor 30.21 models feature the C40 Premium cab. They are available with the choice of three wheelbases, two engines and two gearboxes to suit both tipper and haulage applications.
Tippers are offered with two wheelbases and the choice of either the Leyland TL11A turbocharged engine or Rolls Royce 220 naturally aspirated engine. Both engines take the Eaton 0473 six speed constant mesh gearbox but the Spicer SST10 constant mesh splitter gearbox is available as an option.
Haulage models take two wheelbases, one is common to tipper models, the Leyland TL11A engine and the Spicer SST10 gearbox. The Dana Spicer 356mm (14 in) twin dry plate clutch with automatic adjustment and Albion hubreduction rear axles complete the driveline specification on all models.
Another feature drawn from the design of the Routeman is the two-spring rear suspension and the braking system.
A notable difference is the specification of spigoted wheels for Constructor 30.21.
The C4OP cab is a full width all steel unit, outside it has "an aesthetically pleasing appearance," say Leyland. Inside it is both spacious and comfortable, Leyland had the driver very much in mind when designing this one. It is a trend set by the continentals and well emulated by LV. Offering all of the benefits of the cab fitted to Roadtrain 16.28 the premium cab for Constructor has certain additi. nal features to meet the cl. mands of this particular applic tion.
Certain switches have bee removed, the trim level has hoc altered and the driver's se specification is changed.
Full width rubber floor ma replace the carpets for easi cleaning, a good point for si vehicles. Both the driver ar mate are supplied with a C( seat with a full range of acljte ments. The Chapman Bremshi suspension seat — as fitted Roadtrain 16.28—is offered an option.
In addition, the documel box mounted on the conso between the seats is replace( on tipper models, by a purpoe designed tipping control pan. — this provides an ideal locatio for the controls as, in this pos tion, they fall readily to tidriver's hand. While tipp( drivers are less troubled wil documents than haulage me some form of document "store is desirable. Perhaps LV w consider CM document foldere The internal noise level of the is less than 78 dbA.
Both the Leyland and Rolls fce engines are six cylinder in direct injection diesel units iilar to those fitted to the curt Routeman and — in the of TL1 1 A — Octopus dels.
II Constructor 30.21 dels will take the Dana Spicer plate 56mm (14 in) twin plate clutch with automatic Jstment — as fitted to Roadn 16.28. Clutch operation is ing assisted and a clutch ke is incorporated.
3earbox fitment for Conctor 30.21 depends on the posed application. Tipper leis take the Eaton D473 as Idard with the Spicer SST10 an option, whereas haulage Jels take the Spicer SST10 tandard.
he Eaton D473 gearbox for istructor is the Eaton D473 speed constant mesh unit rently specified for iteman. The gear change ern shows first and reverse osite one another with the laining upward shifts folng in the normal 'H' pattern Jence and 6th (top) gear is in wn gate.
'ositioning of the first and arse opposite each, other atly eases 'rocking' the icle to and fro should the icle become temporarily • k on soft ground.
'he ratios are: 7.17; 4.45; 4; 1.53; 1.00 and 0.75 to 1 fwd. Reverse 7.49 to 1. )ffered primarily to meet the ti-speed requirement for lage applications, the Spicer
SST10 ten speed constant mesh splitter gearbox is offered as an option for tipper applications requiring a very low bottom gear.
As with Roadtrain, the splitter is pre-select and the driver has the option of using any number of the gears available to suit prevailing operation conditions, for instance, when running unladen or part laden, the driver has the option of using the box as a straightforward five-speed Unit without the need to select ' the intermediate "splitter" ratios.
The ratios are: 8.86; 6.83: 5.04; 3.89; 2.98; 2.30; 1.74; 1.34; 1.00; 0.77 to 1 forward. Reverse 8.86/6.83 to 1.
PTO availability for the Eaton D473 is also as for Routeman: left hand side seven stud and right hand side seven stud. The Spicer SST10 has a bottom SAE heavy duty eight bolt facing and right side mounted SAE regular duty six bolt facing.
All models from the Constructor 30.21 are fitted with the well tried and proven Albion hub reduction rear axles. These are axles that are currently fitted to Routeman, Octopus, Bison, Reiver and more recently Super Mastiff models.
The leading axle on the rear bogie is fitted with a lockable third differential — as standard — which transmits drive, via a prop shaft, to the trailing axle.
Designed operating capacity of the axles is 9.6 tonnes (9.5 tons), the bogie plated weights are 18.8 tonnes (18.5 tons) for 5.64m wheelbase vehicles and 19.3 tonnes (19 tons) for 5.77m and 6.40m wheelbase vehicles.
Constructor front axles are the Alford and Alder 6.6 tonnes (6.5 tons) units that are carried over from the Routeman and Ergomatic models.
For the rear bogie suspension on Constructor Leyland has opted for the two-soring suspension from Routeman — longtiduninal semi-elliptic leaf springs mounted on centrally located trunnions. At the front end there are twin taperleaf shackle ended springs backed up by telescopic double acting dampers. All Constructor models have high tensile steel frames to 'reduce chassis weight but improve durability. The frame is cranked and profiled to provide additional packaging ease for the engine specified. The frame is fully flitched — the flitch running from the rear of the frame to just short of the engine bay.
Constructor takes a similar full air braking system to that specified for other eightwheelers in the current range. The service system actuates Girling fixed cam sliding shoe (FCSS) foundation brakes at the front axle and Albion 'S cam units at the rear. The system is split into two, each part covering one front axle and one rear. In the event of one of the parts failing, the remaining part will provide secondary braking.
At the full extent of the faciamounted brake lever travel the spring brake units of the second and third axles are fully applied and mechanically secured.
Constructor is fitted with 394mm (15.5 in) dia drums and 178mm (7 in) width linings all round.
Total frictional area at the front axles is 5510cm2 (854) in2) total frictional area at the rear bogie is 4878cm2 (756 in2) total brake frictional area is 10388cm2 (1610 in2).