30-ton 8-wheelers from Atkinson
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• A new range of rigid eight-wheeled chassis, plated at 26, 28 or 30 tons gross, was announced on Tuesday by Atkinson Vehicles Ltd, designed to take advantage of the relaxed weights proposed by the DoE.
For 26 tons gross there are two wheelbases — 16ft 7in and 17ft 8in. For 28 and 30 tons gross either an 18ft 6in or 20ft wheelbase is offered. A prototype of the 28-130-ton eight-wheeler, a tipper weighing 9 tons 18cwt unladen. has already been built and has been in service with a Preston haulier, Goodier and Sons Ltd, for several weeks. Remote ZF power-assisted steering gear gives an unusually tight lock on the 28and 30-ton gross Atkinsons. The 18ft 6in wheelbase model has a 62ft-diameter turning circle — smaller than that of the older 16ft 7in wheelbase 24-ton-gross model.
The chassis frame is a new wide-span design and extra torsional strength is given at the suspension areas by wide-spread upper and lower cross-members forming a strong box. A four-spring balance-beam bogie rated at 18f tons is used for the compensated rear suspension. Double-drive models have Eaton 38DP spiral-bevel axles. Otherwise Seddon-Atkinson doublereduction 13-ton axles are used.
All models employ the Gardner 6LXB 10.45-litre six-cylinder engine, which will give the 6hp/ton power-weight ratio required by law in a year's time.