Light Vans and Parcelears : No. 16. The Calcott
Page 17
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6-cwt. Model.
This week ifivle.are in a position to give particulars of the Calcott 6.avvt van, recently listed by Calcott Bros., Ltd., XL Works, Coventry. This company has already gained a good name for itself through the Calcott light touring model, which has proved so successful in various trials. In its construction the van chassis closely follows the small pleasure car, the only differing paints, of particular moment to the prospective •user, being the strengthening up of the springing and the modification of the ratio in the back axle.
The chassis is ,engined with a four-cylinder type of nuonobloc casting, the respective bore and stroke of the cylinders being 65 mm. and 110 mm., and we understand that on the test bench this unit develops 10.5 b,h.p.• All the valves, which are interchangeable, are disposed on the near side of the engine, and the adjustable tappets are enclosed in a single oil-tight cover. The cylinders are cooled by thermo-syphon, and the extra-large diameter inlet and outlet pipes which are fitted enable an efficient circulation of water to be kept up.
The Intake Gas is Pre.hcated.
The inlet manifold is cast integral with the cylinders, and the engine exhaust-pipe is a separate adjunct. The passage for the main intake of the gases is conducted between the two centre cylinders, this feature tending to pre-heat the main intake. The engine depends for its explosive mixture on either a Longuernare or Zenith carburetter, as desired by the purchaser. Fuel is gravity fed, the tank itself being placed on the dashboard, but in no wise interfering with the knee room of the driver. For ignition, a Bosch high-tension magneto is fitted. Although this accessory is located on the same side of the engine as the valves, its position does not interfere with the accessibility of the tappet mechanism.
The engine power is transmitted to the gearbox through a cone clutch of the leather-to-metal type. The clutch is self-contained in the flywheel, so that there is no end pressure directed on the crankshaft. To afford an easy engagement of the clutch, inset springs are fitted to the under side of the leather. There are two universal joints fitted between the clutch and gearbox, and they are protected from dust and water by suitable covers. The gearbox provides for three speeds, and, as will be seen in the above photograph, the change-speed mechanism is quite a compact and sturdy job. The end covers are bolted on to the main body of the gearbox, and these serve to house the ball bearings on which the primary-shaft revolves. This arrangement makes it quite easy to provide a ball bearing on each side of the constant-mesh pinion, a desirable point of design not always embodied in light-van construction. Another refinement in the speed control worth recording is that the hand lever is mounted on a spherical joint, so that in changing gear there is no possibility of januning. From the gearbox, power is transmitted to a live axle through a propeller shaft. At the front end of the shaft there is the block-type universal joint, and at the rear end of the shaft another joint provides for any lateral movement set up by the deflection of the rear springs.
Carefully Considered Back-axle Design.
The design of the back axle itself is quite in keeping with the other good features of the car. The differential shafts are only relied upon to transmit the driving torque, the dead weight of the machine being carried on two sturdy malleable east-sleeves, which go to build 11r3. the rear axle component. The final drive is through a bevel gear-set, and the drivingpinion spindle is supported at either end on a ball bearing, so that there is no overhang of the gear.
Both the service and the emergency brake take effect on the rear road wheels. The shoes are of the expanding type, actuated by earns, and these fake up to pressed-steel drums bolted directly to the spokes of the wheels.
The chassis is supported fore and aft on semielliptic springs, the rear pair of which transmit the driving effort, it being considered quite unnecessary to fit a torque-rod. The front axle, which is a good example of pressed-steel stamping, is provided with the Ackermann type of steering, and the transverse rod is placed behind the axle, and, therefore, well protected. The road wheels, which are of the Sankey pressed-steel type, run on the Hoffmana combined ball thrust and roller bearings, and the wheel rims accommodate tires of 700 mm. diameter and 80 mm. cross section. Dunlops are usually fitted as standard. Two grooved and one plain are provided with the machine., one of which, of course, is a spare. The wheelbase of this speedy little model is 7 ft. 6 ins., and its track 3 ft. 9 ins,, the overall length is 10 ft 3 ins., and the extreme width 4 ft. 6 ins., so that it will be seen that the Caleott van will not take up an undue amount of room, a consideration where space is limited. As before stated, the machine is marketed to carry useful loads of 6 cwt., and the capacity of the box-van body is about 60 cubic feet. The model is listed at £185, which price includes domed mudguards, storm screen, two acetylene headlamps with acetylene generator, two side and one tail electric. lamps with accumulator, a. horn, pump, jack, and full complement of tools.