Ideas for Improving
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THE REAR PANEL of the Passenger Vehicle
Useful Suggestions that will Enable Operators to have the Rear Panels of their Vehicles Designed to Give the Maximum Degree of Utility and Attractiveness
rrilERE is much variation in the
design of the back of the coach and motorbus, and more attention has been given of late to improving this part of the bodywork. This part being of the maximum width permitted, there is ample scope, if no emergency door be required, for the display. of an imposing area of windo*,',.so long as konly a single back light be adopted. This may be elliptical or rectangular in outline, the latter shape sometimes having an arched top so as to match the shape of the roof.
The large, single back light may be opposed as a source o f weakness, b e cause there is no support to the roof.4 central pi ....„, llar to give This objection, however; may easily be overcome by fastening a steel plate to theinside of the window framework. On the other hand, some owners may prefer more than one window, because the introduc c32 tion of more vertical lines into the rear elevation tends to give more height to the vehicle, which, when viewed directly from the rear, is apt to look somewhat unwieldy.
The upper back panel may then be pierced by a pair of windows with only the thickness of a pillar between them. Another arrangement, which is quite as attractive, consists of a set of three lights, the middle one being about twice the width of the light on each side of it. This arrangement of windows is to be preferred to that of three lights which are all aboUt the same size---a method often used when there is an emergency door. This door, however, is now being made wider, in order to follow the general trend of larger entrances and exits. The former width of door will, however, be retained if there be a buffet and lavatory on each side of the gangway at the rear.
Making Provision for a Wide Emergency Exit.
If a wide emergency door be required and only two rear windows should be desired, the back exit is arranged on the near side, so that the door has a position similar to that of one of the back doors of a van. A near-side door necessitates a rearrangement of the back row of seats. The near-side seat would then be arranged for only one person, with a seat for three passengers on the other side of the gangway.
The design of the back of the body is less monotonous if the middle window, or the top of the emergency door, be arched above the top line of the others. When applied to the door, the shaped top has the practical advantage of providing more headroom.
The aspect of the back of the body is altered if the coach has a clerestory roof The true clerestory roof has vertical sides provided, with hinged ventilating frames, but the head may also be raised above the gangway and provided with curved sides to the middle portion,_ so that the roof is similar in cross-Section to that of some double-deckers.
Many persons, no doubt, consider that this style of roof is more artistic than is the ordinary clerestery pattern, and the former design may give ample ventilation by means of sliding panels, which are sometimes worked in conjunction with a wind tunnel, running the full length of the vehicle.
These curved sides may also be utilized when a luggage locker is built on the roof. The locker being higher thana clerestory, it is essential that every., precaution be taken ,to blend the outlines of the locker with the other parts of the roof, so that the container, gives the impression of being part of the body and not something which has been temporarily added.
If a fixed roof ladder be considered ugly; the near-side panelling may be provided with folding treads and handles.. The ladder may also be mounted on the near side of the front bulkhead if the chassis be arranged for forward control. Better than a detachable ladder is a pattern recently seen, which, when not in use, slides into the roof and is cencealed in the base of the luggage locker.
A dominating feature of the back of the motorbus or coach is the design of belt panel which is used. This, may be of various depths, with a moulding at the top and bottom, or only on the bottom. The belt panel may be higher than the side
ones and joined by a rising curve at the ends. Sometimes, the belt panel consists of a gentle bow, curve from side to side.
As the mounting of a destination indicator on the top of the roof would spoil the outline of a top back back panel, many coacheXiare now equipped with an illunaideed destination indicator which is let into the belt panel. In other instances, the indicator may be inserted just below the belt panel, with, maybe, a similar arrangement for the registration number, a few inches above the bottom of the body.
The upper glazed panel may also be used for the name of the operator, instead of • for a destination. The rear glazed panel will, in the future, it is thought, be a popular feature cf the coach, and be preferred to the usual writing clisplay,whieh line • the disadvantage that it cannot be readily seen at night.
A. narrow platform step is occasionally carried along the bottom of the body and across the back as well. This, acts as a bumper rail. The rear . step may be interrupted at the spare• wheel position. Often the back panels are curved outward to wards the bottom, so as to meet thc front edge of this step. This not only improves the appearance, but it also prevents the step from being used as an unauthorized 'riding place. If this step be omitted, • quadrant-shaped bumpers may be mounted, a popular pattern being covered with rubber, giving a neat appearance, as well as having the advantage of being serviceable.