This New Tracked Vehicle Has Air Suspension
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Pl.A NEW type of off-the-road vehicle, designed to carry heavy oil-exploration equipment, is thought to be the first tracked machine to embody air suspension. The machine is known as the Musk-Ox and is built by Wilson, Nuttall, Raimond Engineers, Inc., the first examples having been produced for Imperial Oil, Ltd., Canada.
The Musk-Ox works in conjunction with a powered tracked-trailer and can handle a total payload of 20 tons at speeds of 10 to 15 m.p.h. The gross weight is about 30 tons, but the nominal unit ground pressure is only 3.4 p.s.i.
The frame of each unit has a welded backbone, with the suspension axles cantilevered from it. The entire load is carried through four stub axles on the towing unit and six on the rear, each having a two-wheeled bogie. The wheels are connected to each walking beam by air springs.
General Tire 14-in, air pillows, working at a pressure of about 120 p.s.i., are employed, whilst the tracks, which run on smooth rubber tyres, are rubber-covered nylon-rayon fabric belts, to which are bolted cast-steel grouser bars.
The Musk-Ox is powered by a Cummins NRTO-6 turbocharged oil engine, developing 335 b.h.p. at 2,100 r.p.m, and driving through a torqueconverter transmission.