THE "FOREUSE," OR SOIL-DRILLING APPLIANCE.
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AN example of the very progressive policy followed by the industrial vehicle department of the great Renault concern is to be seen in one of their latest products, a motor tree-planting drill, or " foreuse." So soon as Messrs. Renault become aware that a real demand exists for some new type of industrial vehicle, their designers set to work to produce the required machine.
The appliance in question is an interesting adaptation of the wellknown Renault six-wheeler for bad land. The chassis employed is the well-known OX. type. This chassis has a four-cylinder engine, 100 mm. in the bore and 160 mm. in the stroke, a four-speed gearbox and a double rear axle with four-wheel drive. The transmission system has been described upon more than one occa sion in these columns. The drill is mounted in a sort of pylon of steel girders, hinged to the rear of the
chassis. This pylon is raised to a vertical position or lowered on to the chassis by means of a simple • hand-operated rack and pinion gear. The drill is mechanically driven, but it is lowered into the hole and raised again by hydraulic power, oil pressure for the hydraulic cylinder being obtained by an engine-driven oil pump.
Transmission from gearbox to drill comprises a cardan shaft driving a countershaft through bevels. On the countershaft are mounted a Perodo-lined clutch and a chain sprocket. The clutch is operated by hand, the lever being placed at the rear of the chassis. The chain is entirely enclosed. A second pair of bevel pinions finally transmits the drive to the drill itself. The drill turns at 40 r.p.m. for an engine speed of 1,000 r.p.m.
In soil of medium density it is possible to drill a hole 60 cm. in diameter and 80 cm. deep in the astonishingly short time of 40 seconds. As a result of this, the machine in normal circumstances should be capable of drilling between 400 and 500 holes per day in a rubber plantation.
The O.X. type six-wheeler chassis has been chosen for this work, in preference to other Renault models, as the surface conditions in the average rubber plantation make the use of a cross-country type of vehicle absolutely essential.