An "Electric" Drive
Page 36
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on the Dairy Trade
BATTERY-ELECTRIC vehicles will be represented on various stands at the Dairy Show, which will be opened at Olympia. London, on October 28.
The Harbilt pram. manufactured by the Harborough Construction Co., Ltd., will be shown in three forms on the manufacturer's stand. A chassis will be on view, together with a milk delivery van, and an industrial truck which is normally used in bottling departments or factories.
Brush vehicles are to be represented on the stand of the London distributor, Henlys, Ltd., which will be devoted entirely to Brush vehicles, chassis and chassis units. Pony models with dairy and van bodies will be shown, as well as 10-14-cwt. and 18-22-cwt vans for milk or general delivery. An industrial truck will also be exhibited on this stand. Some of the component parts on view will be linked up as working models.
From the West Douglas battery-electrics will be exhibited by the manufacturer, Douglas (Kingswood), Ltd., and distributors. Among the models to be seen will be the 10-15-cwt. and the 20-cwt. and 30cwt. dairy types.
Apart from the exhibition, Q Vehicles, Ltd., has opened a sales and service depot at Avonmore Road, opposite Olympia, where several electrics are to be on show. Visitors will be able to inspect open and closed dairy vans, and a closed delivery van for parcels or bakery work.
In the Q delivery vehicle, which closely resembles a normal petrolengined vehicle in outward appearance, the batteries are housed under the bonnet, mounted forward of the driver's seat. The Q, which has profited by 25 years' continental experience of this B2 form of transport, is based on a welded tubular frame with transverse springing at the rear. Parts have been standardized throughout the range, the motors, controllers, batteries, bearings and even bolt sizes being the same for all vehicles.
Dispensing with the normal hardwood battery casing, the manufacturer has designed a lightweight cast-metal casing to carry the batteries. It is a wellribbed, strong and light structure, and is cheap to construct. Treated with an anti-corrosive paint, the carrier is expected to outlast many batteries and. having lifting eyes at each corner, enables the batteries to be removed easily.
A single motor housed on the backbone of the frame drives through a short rubber-cushioned propeller shaft to the undeislung worm of the rear axle.
The front axle, with wishbone linkage, has transverse semi-elliptic lanni
flitted springs with twin master leaves.
Body panels of 20 s.w.g. aluminium are secured to a hardwood frame reinforced with an underframe of mild-steel channel section. Lightness in design is a feature of both body and chassis.
From an outside source, it is understood that a large number of-Q delivery vehicles is being assembled to deal with the present petrol shortage.
For the benefit of those people who are unable to attend the Dairy Show, further particulars of the Harbilt range of vehicles may be obtained from the Harborough Construction Co., Ltd., Harbilt Works, Market Harborough, Leicestershire.
Details of Brush vehicles can be obtained from the manufacturer, The Brush Electrical Engineering Co., Ltd., 32, Duke Street, London, S.W.1.
The Douglas range of vehicles is manufactured at the Douglas Road Works, Kingswood, Bristol.