New Bedford Passenger Chassis Announced
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A NEW passenger chassis, designed for 29-30-seat bodies, is announced today by Vauxhall Motors, Ltd. The new model is additional to the Bedford SB 30-ft. vehicle, and has a wheelbase of 13 ft. 8 in., with a gross weight rating of 6 tons 91 cwt. Plaxtons (Scarborough), Ltd., and 'DupIe. Motor Bodies. Ltd., have designed 29-seat coach bodies for the chassis. There is a choice of two power units: the Bedford 214 cu. in. petrol engine and the Bedford 300 cu. in. diesel, these having gross power outputs of 100 13,1a.p. at 3.600 r.p.m. and 97 b.h.p. at 2,800 r.p.m. respectively. When the petrol engine is fitted, the basic chassis price is £850, whilst with the diesel the basic price is increased to £1,035.
A flat-topped chassis frame has been adopted, and the side members are 9-in.deep pressed channels, braced by top-hatsection and channel-section crossmembers, which are riveted in place.
A I2-in.-diameter clutch is standard with both engines, but there is the option of a 13-in. unit on the diesel engine. Four-speed synchromesh gearboxes are specified with both engines, that for use with the petrol engine having forward ratios of 7.059, 3.332, 1.711 and 1 to 1 with 7.0594o-1 reverse, whilst the box for the diesel engine has ratios of 6.5, 2.86, 1.576 -and 1 to I forward, with reverse gearing of 6.5 to 1.
A two-piece propeller shaft takes the drive to the rear axle, which in the case of the petrol chassis has final-drive gearing of 5.43 to 1, diesel models having 4.37-to-I gearing. There is an optional ratio of 4.7 to 1 available with both power units. The rear-axle rating is 5 tons 16 cwt., and the rating for the front axle is 2 tons 133 cwt.
Telescopic dampers are standard at both axles, and the semi-elliptic springs used at the front have eight leaves, and are 58 in. long and 2+ in. wide. The rear strings have 10 leaves and a length of 60 in., the width being the same as at the front. Vauxhall semi-irreversible wormand-sector steering gear, with a ratio of 25.5 to 1, is used, and the quoted turning circle is 52 ft.
Braking systems similar to those
adopted for Bedford TK forward-control goods chassis are used on the new passenger models, with the exception that the drum transmission brake is mounted on the nose of the rear axle—to comply with p.s.v. regulations—instead of on the rear of the gearbox as on the goods chassis. This brake is a 12-in. x 3-in, unit, with a frictional area of 52 sq. in.
The foot-brake drums have a diameter of 13 in., the front brakes having 33-in.-wlde linings, whilst the rear linings are 4+-in, wide, giving a total frictional area of 401.3 sq. in. for the wheel brakes. Petrol-engincd chassis have a vacuum servo, but an air-pressure servo is fitted when the diesel engine is specified.
In common with many current Bedford goods chassis, the new passenger models have 16-in.-diameter wheels which, in addition to reducing unsprung weight (with subsequent benefit to road holding) lower the floor and step heights. Radial 7.50-16 tyres are standard equipment, but when 8-ft.-wide bodies are mounted 8.25-16 (12 ply) equipment is fitted.
Both the new chassis have an overall length of 19 ft. 93 in. The front track is 6 ft. 1+ in., and the rear track 5 ft. 4/ in.
WEST YORKS GET NEW TOURS FROM BRADFORD
THE West Yorkshire Road Car Co., Ltd., were given permission by the Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners at Leeds last week to operate 19 additional full-day, half-day and evening excursions from Chester Street and Morley Street, Bradford.
Wallace Arnold Tours, Ltd., opposed the application.