Salford's 20-seater Karrier Six-wheelers.
Page 58
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
WE have already dealt with the large Karrier rigid six-wheelers which are being built for the Salford Corporation Tramways but we have not referred in detail to the smaller type, which is being constructed to seat 20 people and will be equipped with 34-in. by 7i-in. low-pressure tyres, Weed bumpers at both ends and a sixcylindered Continental engine.
The bodywork will be of orthodox type, with the driver in a partitionedoff compartment behind the engine. An interesting feature, however, is that the body will be flexibly suspended, and the entrance Will be at the near-side front, an emergency door being provided at the rear.
Frameless windows of the new Rawlings type and three roof ventilators of the oblong hinged type will afford an• ample supply of fresh air. The interior lighting will be by five rosette roof lights, and another point of interest is that all, the vehicles will be coachfinished in cellulose.
n40 The chassis is of the C.L.6 type, in which the engine and gearbox are inclined to give straight-line drive to the unclerneata worms of the two bogie axles. In its main construction the lighter model closely resembles the heavier one we described two weeks ago, except that the transmission brake is accommodated immediately behind the gearbox. instead of being carried by a separate cross-member.
The overall length of the chassis is 20 ft. 8 ins., and the body space (from the dash to the end of the frame) 16 ft. 10 ins. The wheelbase (to the centre, of the bogie) is 13 ft. 6 ins., and from the centre of the bogie to the rear of the frame measures 5 ft. 7 ins. Loaded, the frame height at the centre will be 1 ft. 9 ins., and, unloaded, 2 ft.
The brakes are of particular interest in that they are operated by pneumatic pressure derived from a reservoir, into which air is forced by a pump drivenfrom the Iaysla aft of the gearbox through a clutch, which is automatically die
engaged when the pressure is sufficiently high. Th'ese brakes act on all four wheels and are controlled by a pedal, whilst the hand-brake lever operates the transmission brake, which is of the external contracting type with shoes lined with east iron.
The power cult, to which we have already referred, has a bore of 3g ins. and a stroke of 41 ins. The gear ratios and the corresponding speeds at 1,000 r.p.m. of the engine are as follow :—Top, 5.8 to 1 (16.5 m.p.h.) ; third, 9.543 to 1 (10 m.p.h.) ; 6ceond, 15.6 to 1 (6.1
; first, 26.6 to 1 (3.6 m.p.h.) ; reverse, 34.8 to 1 (2.76 m.p.h.). The weight of the chassis is 2 tons 6 cwt., and the ground clearance, up to the forward axles of the bogie, 101
Grease-gun lubrication is provided throughout The control is at the right, the gear and hand-brake levers being carried on an extension of the gearbox. In the bogie the inverted semielliptic springs are fulerommed well below the axle centres.