Light Vans and Parcelcars : No. 13. The Singer
Page 17
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7-cwt. Model.
A Finely-finished Chassis which is Intended for Express-delivery Work.
When we review the run of successes which have attended Singer touring cars since their first introduction, it was quite to be expected that, consequent upon the present big demand for the light type of business vehicle, this old-established Coventry concern has turned its attention to the marketing of a goods-carrying model coming under this category.
From the outset, Singer productions have been characterized by much careful attention to their design, material and workmanship, and the construction under present consideration bears ample evidence of these characteristics which go far towards the production of an efficient commercial model.
The chassis in principle closely follows the wellknown Singer light car, the outstanding departure being the strengthening of the suspension springs in order satisfactorily to accommodate the 7-cwt. loads which the machine is intended to carry.
A four-cylinder engine is embodied which has its cylinders cast in pairs, the bore and stroke respectively being 63 mm. and 88 mm. Each set of cylinders, before being fitted up, is thoroughly tested under hydraulic pressure, so that a leaky combustionchamber or a faulty water-jacket are unknown factors in the Singer erecting bays. All the valves are interchangeable, and are disposed on the near side of the engine. This allows for a single cover-plate to be utilized to keep dirt away from the valve-tappets, which, by the way, are provided with means for fine adjustment. In order to reduce friction as much as possible between the earns and tappets, hardenedsteel rollers are interposed. The power unit. is cooled by thernto-syphon action, particular attention having been given to making the diameters of the inlet and outlet pipes as large as possible. The main bearings of the crankshaft are lubricated under pressure, a submerged gear-type of oil-pump being utilized to effect this, and it is quite an .easy matter to detach the pump when necessary for cleaning or inspection purposes, the unscrewing of a couple of nuts and uncoupling of a single pipe-union being all that is necessary for the withdrawal. A high-tension magneto provides for the ignition, and this component is mounted high up on the near-side of the engine, and can be readily attended to immediately the boanet is lifted. The ClaudelHobson make of carburetter is adopted as standard, and the main throttle can be operated either by hand or foot. As regards the main transmission to the live axle, the Singer light-van chassis differs from the usual type on the market in that, from the leather-to-metal cone clutch, the engine-power is transmitted by a propeller shaft extending almost to the rear axle, the change-speed gear-set being embodied in the lata2r component. This form of unit, before it became standand, was submitted to severe and prolonged tests and proved absolutely reliable.
The construction offers quite a rigid drive, and it is claimed that by its adoption the maximum of engine power is transmitted to the road wheels,.
The gears are located by a gate type of bracket, and when one set is in mesh, the others are positively locked out of action. The final drive is by bevel wheel and pinion, and the differential shafts are enclosed in malleable castings ; the latter carry the bearings on which the rear road wheels are mounted. The spring tables and the rear-brake anchorage brackets are also mounted on the axle sleeves.
Quite a noteworthy point in the design is that the bevel-pinion is mounted on two sets of ball bearings, so located as to minimize overhang, and accurate tooth-contact of the bevel pinion with its mate is ensured by the provision of an adjusting ring. Perfect rigidity of the axle when it is mounted on the chassis is obtained with the aid of two stout tubular-members which converge to a V joint mounted on a tubular cross-member bracketed amidships in the frame. Both the foot and hand-operated brakes take effect on the rear road wheels. They are of the expanding ring type, and the soft east-iron shoes face up to pressed-steel drums through the action of cams. Detachable shields are fitted to each drum to exclude grit and water. The front axle is a good example of the I-section class of stamping, and an irreversible worm and sector type of steering affords ample lock for manoeuvring this light van in. all sorts of congested areas. The particular dimensions which will interest those readers who are contemplating a light van of . this class are as follow: track, 3 ft. 6 ins. ; overall width, 5 ft., wheelbase, 7 ft. 6 ins. ; overall length, 10 ft. 6 ins. The Sankey detachable steel wheels take pneumatic tires, 700 mm. by 80 trim. The inside dimensions of the body, when fitted with the khaki-coloured canvas hood are :—wtelth 3 ft. 9 ins., height 4 ft. 1 in. and length behind driver's seat 4 ft. The selling price of the complete equipment is 2193.