TYPES OF SINGLE-DECK BODY for Forwardcontrol Four-wheeled Chassis
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\A THEN selecting a chassis a bus proprietor will V probably buy the same make and type as that which he already has in service, with a view to reaping the advantages incidental to standardization. On the other hand, he may desire a larger vehicle or wish to adopt a different arrangement of seats and entrance which he thinks will be more suitable for the particular route concerned than the design of vehicle which he has in service.
In any .case, the proprietor will be interested to know the possibilities of any particular type and size. of chassis that he may have in mind, so that he may. review the various points in connection with each different pattern of body which may be mounted on the chassis in question.
In order to deal with the various types of body which may be mounted upon the same model of chassis, it will be assumed that the purchaser is desirous of having a comparatively large seating capacity. At the same time, it must be supposed that he has no intention of unduly crowding the passengers
and, furthermore, has no. prejudices regarding the position and number qf entrances.
With a view to ensuring a large seating capacity, whatever.-his decision may be as to the other features of the body, thebus proprietor has acquired a fourwheeled chassis having forward control. Let us also assume that mounted upon the same model he has inspected a single-deck body equipped with both front
and rear side entrances and seats providing accommodation far 32 passengers. The principal dimensions of this chassis are approximately as follow: Wheelbase, 16 ft.; dashboard to centre of hind wheel, 13 ft. 6 ins. This will allow the mounting of a body 21 ft. long and permit an overhang of 7 ft. 6 ins, beyond the centre of the rear axle. The single-decker is estimated to have an °Venal length not exceeding 26 ft. _ _ _ _ The bus which has been inspected has a front entrance which is immediately behind the forward bulkhead, and against this is placed the first row, of seats facing the rear. As these seats are immediately level with the door there is accommodation for only three passengers, leaving sufficient floor area to provide a landing which will afford ample safety to the passengers. The back entrance is placed so that there is room for a transverse, full-width seat for five persons behind the doorway.
As •the front and back seats together hold eight passengers seating accommodation has to be found for the remaining 24 persons. Of these 16 are repro. seated by four pairs of cross-wise seats in front of the wheelarches, six by the two long seats over the wheel-arches and the other two by , an offside transverse seat oppoSite the hind ,entrance.
It will, be difficult, from the points of view of general convenience and compactness, to improve upon this seating and entrance arrangement, but the alternative suggestion of placing the front entrance farther back, so that the first row of seats not only faces the rear but is the full width of the body, may be considered. As the position of the front entrance prevents a second row of cross-wise seats being provided on the near side, the full seating capacity of 32 is made up by
designing the off-side transverse seat, which is level with each entrance, to hold -three passengers instead of the usual two perscins.
If only one entrance be provided it.may be supposed that the body can be designed to hold one or two more passengers than is possible with a body of similar length, but having two entrances. Any increase in seating capacity which is achieved will depend upon whether the emergency exit provided is to be obstructed by a seat.
I. Another factor -Which affects the seating capacity is . the excess of length or spacing of the Seats beyond the legal minimum, as well as what degree of comfort is to be provided for those passengers occupying the cross-wise seats close to the wheel-arches. If the provision of 34 seats is to be /attempted it will usually be necessary for the first row of seats to face the rear and to accommodate three or five passengers according to whether a front or rear entrance be used.
The bus operator may decide only to have a forward entrance and to utilize any space saved by the omission of an entrance to increase the comfort and attractiveness of the seating arrangement.
An excellent seating plan for a front-entrance forward-control 'single-decker consists of five rows of facing-forward seats on the off side and four rows on the near side, then two long seats, each carrying three passengers, over the wheel-arches and two rows of facing-forward seats at the rear.
By this means 28 passengers face forward and the remaining six face each other. There is also ample .tirculating area close to the front entrance. If a maximum seating capacity be desired for a front-entrance bus the forward-control cab may be built the full width of the body, so as to provide a passenger seat in line with that of the driver. The first row of seats inside the main saloon holds three persons and faces to the -rear. The back seat is for five pasiengers and has a Middle portion which -is hinged ta give access to the emergency door. The position of. the other seats is more .or less conventional, with the result that the bus 'accommodates 35 people.
The special advantage of the middle-entrance bus is that if the seating plan be not unduly crowded there is the opportunity for arranging for about a third 'of the passengers to sit on long seats facing each other.. -In the Middle of the saloon along and wide gangway is available, which gives easy access to the entranceand provides room for standing passengers. The back-entrance body, like that which' has a middle entrance, is eminently suitable for use on busy routes, because the seats may easily be arranged to give plenty of free floor area close to the entrance.
On a chassis having the dimensions already given it should be possible to mount a body with five pairs of facing-forward seats in front of the wheel-arches, whilst the other half of the saloon should have a long seat for six persons on the off side and a longitudinal seat for four people on the near side.
With the entrance placed at the end of the body. the seating plan is of the simplest and most straightforward description, and it is an arrangement which should find favour with the most severe licensing authority.