Dual Controls on 120 lo.h.p.
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Latil Tractor
pOWERED by . a Latil 120 b.h.p. oil engine, and having a vertical steering column, ' two steering wheels and duplicated controls, the Latil type TRI20 tractor, of which the first example in this country was inspected by " The Commercial Motor" last week, also drives andsteers on all four .wheels. .
With a wheelbase of .9 ft. 10 ins., the machine can be turned irf' a 'circle of about. 46 ft., and, moreover, as the steering is power assisted, maticeuvring in a limited space can be carried out
without undue effort. r .
The engine is a six-cylindered overhead-valve unit with a bore of 108 rum, and a stroke of 152 mm., dimensions which give a piston-swept volume of 8.35 litres, or 510.57 cubic ins. The injection equipment is by Lavalette Bosch, and a b.h.p. of 120 is developed at 1,850 Three-point mounted, the engine is bolted direct to the frame with rubber pads interposed between the engine bearers and frame members. The drive is taken through a two-plate clutch to a four-speed gearbox, from which the power is conveyed to a two-speed transfer box.
Thus, eight forward speeds are available, the respective highand low-speed ratios being 1, 0.58, 0.338 and 0.197 to 1, and 0.335, 0.195, 0.113 and 0.066 to 1. These ratios provide for road speeds ranging from about If m.p.h. to nearly 30 m.p.h. By engaging the reverse gear in the
transfer box the vehicle 'can be driven rear-end first, i:vith -all the forward gear 'ratios available. From the transfer box
the drive.. taken to frame-mounted .differentials from which mechanically jointed _shafts convey. the power to internally toothed rings via straighttoothed pinions.
. The axle beams,. which are pure load carriers, are moinited on semi-elliptic springs-so shackled to the frame that maximum -articulation of the chassis cannot promote' serious torsion sti'esses in the spring leaves.
Compressed air is used for brake operation and for steering assistance. the. normal operating pressure being 80 lb. per sq. in. The Westinghouse two-stage compressor is mounted as a unit with the .engine being driven off the reafpf the timing case. The brakes are of the contracting-band type, the bands bearing {Hi the outside of the internally toothed drive rings -in the wheel-hub assemblies. The hand brake, also takes effect on all four wheels, the leverage build-up being through ratchet gear at the base of the lever.
Lock for Rear Steering By means of a simple and robust dog clutch, the steering at the rear can be locked, the operation being effected from the driving seat. The model inspected was equipped with 1/75 by 24 tyres. . There is a power take-off mounted on the near-side of the gearbox; and provision is made for fitting a second one behind the transfer-gearbox 'case. In all there are seven levers in the 'driving . compartment controlling respectively
• the hand brake, transfer-box .Feverse, each differential lock, transfer-box gears, and the main power take-off. With the engine running at 1,800 -r.p.m.. the following speeds, in m.p.h., can he obtained:—.-On the low-gear range-2.3, '3.9, 6.5 and 11.5, and on the high gear range 5.6, 9.7, 16.8 and 28.6. The tractor can deal with loads of up to 40 tons.
The general dimensions of the machine are: Wheelbase, 9 ft. 10 ins.; track, 6 ft. 5 ins.; overall length, 20 ft.
, 4 ... ins.; overall width, 7 ft. 11 ins.; ground clearance, 1 ft. 3 ins. The maximum permissible weight, using the tractor as a load carrier, is given as just over 10 tans. The maker is U.S. Concessionaires, Ltd., Ascot, Berks.