Refinements in a
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New-model AMERICAN VAN
An Entirely New Power Unit Characterizes the Latest Dodge Brothers' 15-cwt. Van.
WE are able exclusively to give details of a new Dodge Brothers' light van which replaces the smallest of that company's range of eight goods vehicles. The first consignment of the new chassis is just being completed at the works of Dodge Brothers (Britain), Ltd., Park Royal Road, London, N.W.10, and an examination of the new model reveals the fact that, apart from the different capacity of the engine, many commendable refinements are included which were not seen on the previous 15-cwt. model.
The wheelbase is 9 ft. 1 in., just an inch longer than previously, and the c38 frame is practically unaltered. The engine, however, is an entirely new unit having four cylinders of 3g ins, bore and 4i ins. stroke. Although smaller than the former engine (which had a bore of n ins, and a stroke of 4/r ins.), the new type is more powerful in proportion, partly by reason of the specially designed cylinder head, which, in conjunction with 'side valves, gives superior turbulence to the combustion mixture. With an R.A.C. rating of 21 h.p., the engine develops 46 b.h.p.
at 2,800 r.p.m., so that it should be more economical to operate than its prototype.
The new unit has a three-bearing crankshaft in place of the five-bearing shaft, but the diameter is greater, being now 2+ ins., and the total length of the three bearings is 6+ ins.
At first glance we noticed that the fan is now mounted on an extension of the dynamo shaft, the unit being fixed on an adjustable bracket in front of the cylinder block and driven by a belt which also actuates the water pump, the latter being located on the near side. Delco-Remy ignition, lighting and starting system is employed.
The next feature which catches one's eye is the inter-connection between the oil pump and the petrol-supply system. The pump, which is mounted on the off side of the crankcase, draws air from the vacuum tank through a pipe of considerably smaller bore than that through which the oil is sucked. By this simple arrangement, the exhausting of air from the vacuumtank ceases so soon as the oil level in the crankcase falls below the orifice of the suction pipe. As the oil supply gets low thg vehicle stops for want of petrol! The 15-cwt. van is the first Dodge Brothers model to incorporate this feature, which will be appreciated as a means for preventing careless drivers from allowing the' oil level to fall too low.
On the off side of the engine one notices a pipe of about 1-in, diameter leading downwards from the top of the crankcase. This is a crankcase ventilator and the end of it is so shaped that the passage of air past it creates a slight negative pressure in the pipe, .thus drawing off fumes, which are replaced by clean air entering through the normalbreathing orifice at the front of the crankcase. It is affirmed that this ensures a continuous draught through the crankcase while the vehicle is moving forward.
An improvement which is noticeable is that the exhaust Pipe now passes down the front of the engine, the object of this arrangement being to prevent undue heating of the driver's compartment.
The engine is mounted on rubber blocks at three points in the frame, and sideways oscillation of the power unit, with 'which • is combined the clutch and gearbox, is counteracted by two dampers, each fixed at one end to the metal scuttle and at the other end to one of the rear ,cylinder-head studs. The dampers are of a simple kind employing the friction between a metal plate and a fabric facing, these being pressed together by two coil springs. Filters are provided for the oil, petrol and air supplies.
A single-plate, dry clutch and a three-speedand-reverse gearbox are employed, the drive being conveyed by an open propeller shaft to the rear axle, the universal joints at both ends of which are of the ball-and-pin type.
The Lockheed hydraulic braking system, which has for some time been standardized on all the other Dodge Brothers models, is _ now incorporated in the
15-cwt. chassis, the master cylinder being fixed to the off-side main frame member close to the gearbox. Depression of the pedal brings the Lockheed system into operation on all four wheels, a hand lever mounted on the gearbox actuating a contracting brake on the transmission.
• The frame is very wide and the semi-elliptic rear springs are underslung, being mounted on brackets exactly under the frame members. The front tyres are 29 ins. by 4.75 ins., and the rear tyres 30 ins. by 5.50 ins., both being fitted to 20-in. by 4-in. rims. The spare tyre is of 30-in. by 5.50-in. section.
The price of the new chassis is £220, and with a boxvan body it is listed at £260.
The Dodge Brothers goods-vehicle range comprises, besides this 15-cwt. van, a one-tonner, two 30cwt. models, two two-tonners and two three-tonners.