THE BEARDMORE CHASSIS.
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A Vehicle Designed Chiefly for Taxicab Service by a Famous Engineering Concern.
WE HAVE MADE one or two brief references during the last few months to the introduction of the Beardmore taxicab for service on the streets of London, but so far as we are aware, little has yet been published concerning the design of this chassis. As it is a completely new design of vehicle expressly produced for a particular need, we propose dealing with it at some length.
The engine is of the four-cylindered vertical type, the bore and stroke being 4 ins, by q ins. respectively; it develops about 22 h.p. at 1,200 r.p.m. The cylinders are made from a single casting of hard and fine-grade iron. The interior of the water jacket is treated by a process which prevents corrosion due to the use of hard water, thus ensuring that efficiency of the cooling system is maintained. The cylinder heads are detachable by the removal of a few nuts. The crankshaft is machined from special aero steel, and provision is made in the construction of the bearings to obtain quick and easy adjustment for taking up wear.
Forced lubrication is provided by means of a gear-driven pump placed in the bottom of the crankcase. The effective pressure of oil can be varied by means of a simple external adjusted nut. The oil is first drawn through a fine meshed filter gauze and delivered to the main bearings and through them along holes drilled in the crankshaft to the connecting rod bearings; .a, further lead is taken to the camshaft bearings. The cylinders and small ends of the connecting rods are lubricated by a separate external steel pipe; the outlet from this pipe is so arranged that at the bottom of each stroke of the pistons oil is forced through the gadget-in pins an to the bearings. Means for replenishment are provided through the usual filler cap situated on one of the crankcase arms. The usual type of oil gauge is fitted to indicate the amount of oil in the crankcase.
The crankcase is an aluminium casting made in two halves, the lower half being easily removable to allow of inspection of the main and connecting-rod bearings. The camshaft is formed from a solid steel bar. The drive is by silent chain direct from the crankshaft and is enclosed in an oil and dust proof aluminium casing.
Careful study and experiments have been carried out to obtain the most suitable type of carburetter for the special conditions under which a taxicab operates, and it is claimed that the accessory embodied gives the maximum power at low and medium engine speeds.
Gravity feed is used from the petrol tank, which is placed on the offside under the driver's seat and has a capacity of 8i gallons. A gilled-tube radiator of neat and ample dimensions is incorporated. The water pump is of the centrifugal type and is bolted direct to the cylinder water jackets. This system reduces the num ber of water, connections, and, in addl. tion, it forces the cooling Water Aired on to the points where it is most required; viz., the combustion beads. • A leather-to-metal cone type clutch of large proportions is used. The clutch is connected to the gearbox by a universal joint of the disc pattern.'
The gearbox providea four forward speeds and a reverse, direct drive being on the fourth speed. All gears are machined from a special grade of Beardmore alloy steel, the wearing parts being carefully case-hardems'! and ground to interchangeable limits.
Internal-expanding brakes act on steel drums fitted ta the rear wheel hubs; the foot brake is en the main driving shaft at cie r ar of the gearbox, and adjustment for wear is provided I y .,,e,tes of a hand nut accessible from the hinged floorboards.
The front axle is made from an H section, heat-treated forging, the swivel axles being machined from solid etre! forgings. The weight is supported by ball thrust bearings. Steering is by worm and sector completely enclosed, and provision is made for adequate lubrication. The steering column is rigidly supported, and has the most pronounced rake that the restricted chassis , dimensions willpermit. • T i
Tie rear axle s light and well constructed, and is of the fullfloating type. The differential casirg is machined from a hightere'le steel forging. The 'ear axle shoves, which are bolted, to the centre casing, are fitted. with solid drawn steel tubes, which carry road wheel bearings of the Timken roller type. TM: driving shafts are of special Beardmore steel, and all the 'gearwheels are nmehined from solid steel for,gings. The frontsprings are half-elliptic and the rear ones are three-quarter elliptic, the spring eyes being bronze bushed and
A front
carried on hard steel bolts, each bolt being fitted with the ueual form of screw lubricator.
ne frame is of preeed• channel section, made from a high-grade. steel manufactured throoehout in the company's Pa4khead steel works. As will be eeen from one of our illustrations, it is of
curious shape. The engine and gearbox are carried upon a sub-frame, which is fittsd at an angle in order to obtain a straight-lire live from engine to ,ear axle, thus red.neinfr the strain on the working of the universal joint to a minimum and lengthening its life.
Wheels of the artillery -pattern are used, and.these are fitted with Captain detachable rims, including one spare ,im, which is tilled as standard. Tim wheels are shod with Dunlop tyres, 815 mm. by 105 mm. The standard tyre. equipment consiste of a steel armoured non-skid, one runeer non-skid, and two plain treads; a plaial-tread tyre is fitted to the spare rim. After having consulted topresentative men men in the taxicab, . industry on the possibility of incorporating a dynamo 'lighting or a combined lighting and starting outfit, the " company have decided to omit same from the Standard specification: In view,' however, of the possibility of this being asked for .individual cases, provision has hien made in the design to aliew•of qiiieleand eaSy, attachment for either dynamo or complete lighting and starting devices.
There is no need for us to enter into a lengthy exposition of the constructien of the taxi cab body. Suffice it to say that it is well constructed and embodies all the latest improvements in bodybuilding of this description. The standard colour is dark coach green with frames and wings of black. The cab is to be sold at the price of £650, which imeludes all the necessary equipment.
Although William Beardmore and Co., Ltd., have paid special attention in the design of this chassis to the needs of the taxicab inclustry, it must not be too readily assumed that it is only for use within this defined sphere ; as a matter of fact, by reason of its adaptability for almost any form of
light motor service, it will be found to he an idtal type of vehicle for small trades men and the like, amongst whom there exists an unfulfilhd demand for a vehicle of this capacity capable of carrying light and Moderately bulky loads.