A NEW DROP-FRAME BUS CHASSIS.
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Exclusive Details of the Latest Model Produced by the Four Wheel Co.
TT P to the present the F.W.D. chassis
has been looked upon, at least in this country, more as one particularly suitable for certain classes of heavy haulage and for work where its essential feature of distributing the drive and braking over all four wheels enable it to be used in rough ground or on surfaces of such a nature that two wheels could not always provide the necessary amount of adhesion, rather than as one suited to the needs of passenger work. There were other reasons for this, -one of which is that the standard chassis is built rather high and, consequently, when equipped with, say, a bus body, the overall height may appear to some to be excessive, and, apart from this, entry and exit are not so easy as might be desired.
With a view to overcoming any objections of this nature, the Four Wheel Drive Lorry Co., of 46, Charing Cross, London, S.W.1, have designed a new typo of chassis with a frame the side members of which drop immediately aft of the engine and are then humped over the rear axle, to drop again behind it. This has resulted in a reduction of the floor height from the ground from 3 ft. 4 ins. to 2 ft. 9 ins., and thus a 7-in. drop has been attained without Materially affecting the main units, except in those chassis equipped with the fourwheel drive booster gear, in which ease, the booster gearbox, instead of being situated vertically in front of the gearbox proper, is tilted over on to its side, thus bringing it into line with the rest of the chassis.
In view of the need for the expansion of our overseas trade, it is of interest to know that five of these chassis have already been ordered by the Norwegian State Railway, which will itself equip them with bodies. They are to be used as supplementary feeders to the railway, and will also act as carriers for the mails, for which purpose each bus will have, built as a separate compartment beside the driver's cab, a mail room.
The arrangement of the seata, the petrol tank, doors, etc., will clearly be seen by referring to our drawings of the body, whilst the main features of the chassis are best shown in the photograph which we reproduce.
The standard clearance between the engine and the front axle has been retained, and the rear end of the subframe has been lowered 3i ins. The F.W.D. standard springs and spring hangers have been replaced by new types with less curvature, so that they can be adapted to the new frame.
Careful attention has been given to the important matter of adequate braking, and the Westinghouse system of operation has been installed, the brakes obtaining their pressure from cylinders, as well as from a separate air compressor, whilst an arrangement has been made for conveying the compressed air to the trailers which are used in conjurmtion with the buses.
The petrol tank of each vehicle has a capacity of 30 gallons. It is carried on the side of the frame and used in conjunction with an Autovac.
The equipment includes electric starter and electric lighting, whilst 36-in. tyres will be employed.
We consider that the company are showing great enterprise in thus providing a chassis which should meet the needs of many users, particularly those
whose vehicles have to operate in difficult country.
The principle of the four-wheel drive is now so well known as not to necessitate any laudation, and it is one which might well be looked into by others amongst our manufacturers who eater for overseas trade.
Another interesting order which has recently been received by the company is for three chassis suitable for buses for His Highness the Maharajah of Bharatpur. In this case, however, the drop frame is not being employed, but the wheelbase is particularly long, affording a body space of 21 ft. Each of these chassis Is equipped with fourspeed gearbox, electric lighting and starting and a 20-gallon petrol tank mounted belowthe frame at the rear end.