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A FRENCH TRACTOR FOR ROUGH GROUND.

27th May 1924, Page 21
27th May 1924
Page 21
Page 21, 27th May 1924 — A FRENCH TRACTOR FOR ROUGH GROUND.
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The Delaunay-Belleville Tractor, Ara, which is Being Developed for Ploughing and Cultivation and Haulage in Military and Civil Occupations.

AN exceedingly useful general-purposes tractor, known as the Ara, is that which is now being put on the market by the Delaunay-Belleville Co., of Paris. This machine, it will be reniemhered, attracted considerable attention at the last Paris Heavy Vehiele Show. The most notable feature of the Ara is the great flexibility given to the chain tracks. The sprocket carriers are allowed to oscillate about their axles, and, as a result of this, when the tractor is passing over an obstruction, the tracks actually mould themselves to the form of the object passed over, whether it be a hump or a depression: When the machine is travelling over really bad ground, the advantages of this arrangetalent are most apparent, as•the full tractive surface is in use the Whole of the time.

The Ara is fitted with a four-cylinder overhead-valve engine, 70 mm. bore by 130 aim. stroke, developing 35 b.h.p. at 2,000 rpm, or 47 b.h.p. at 2,600 r.p.m. The engine is provided with a governor which limits the revolutions to 2,600 per minute. .

A Feroda-faced single-disc clutch is fitted, and the power is transmitted through the medium of an ordinary type of three speeds and reverse gearbox to a Worm-driven .axle provided with a differential. This axle, in addition -to carrying the driving sprockets which operate the chain tracks, bears two internally expanding brakes, which are alternately thrown in or out of action by turning the steering wheel. A lever is provided by means of which kith brakes can be brought into action simultaneously to stop the machine. As in the case of most chain-track machines

which steer by braking alternately on the driving tracks, the Ara can turn on itself in a very small radius. The actual turning .radius is 1 metre 50 cm. For negotiating esceptionally difficult surfaces, a complete set of U-shaped cramps is carried on the machine, and these can be attached to the tracks in a arery few minutes. When the Ara is in use for plerighing or cultivating, the plough or other implement is close-coupled and also attached at its rear by steel cables to the vertical capstan of a small windlass driven by the engine. When turning at the end of a furrow, this windlass is thrown into gear by_a lever, and the H

plough hoisted up. clear of ie ground, being dropped for the commencement of the next furroav. When it. is desired to use the engine for stationary par. poses,a pulley-raelipped On to the forward extension of the crankshaft.

•• The speed. of the machine on top gear is 6.5 kilometres an hour; and the fuel consumption, when the engine is work, ing under full load, is claimed to be not more than 14( gallons an hour, so that the machine is very economical. The weight of the Ara is slightly under two tons, and the ground pressure on the chain tracks 300 to 325 grammes per sq. cm. The tractor will negotiate graclients of 1 in 4 and over whilst pulling a full load.

The windlass is bevel-driven from a trained gears beginning at the forward end and outside of the gearbox. The control lever' throws either bevel pinion into gear aceording to the required direc tion of windlass rotation. . .

It is claimed for the chain tracks that They will withstand long usage over hard -surfaces without damage, and the machine can even be used-lor hauling trains of full-gaugo railway wagons. With regard to the excellence of material and workmanship in the Ara, the name of Delaunay-Belleville is sufficient guarantee of this, and it only remains to be said that, as an engineering production, the Ara is worthy of •this famous firm.

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Locations: Paris

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