Omega Hits the Jackpot
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As soon as the Atkinson Omega 90-tons-gross tractor (described in the November 15 issue) had been completed It was taken to the South. of England for extensive trials on the Army's test grounds, supervised by a representative of Aramco, the purchasers of the vehicle. Its performance was highly satisfactory, despite the hammering dealt put, and successive attempts to break the •vehicle failed. Furthermore. not a spanner was used on it,. maintenance being confined to
fuel, oil and water replenishments. .
The Omega was tested. at 53 tons gross train weight, but in service it will tow several trailers and work at up to 90 tons gross. A tractive effort test showed its maximum pull to he 53,000.1b. As the accompanying pictures show, a 1 in 3 gradient was climbed quite 'easily, such is the power of the design.
An important feature of the specification is the Self-Changing Gears RV30 eight-speed semi-automatic gearbox. Apart from the ease with which gear changes can be made, this gearbox gives a constant drive to the axles, even when changing gear. thereby reducing shocks to the transmission lines and the semitrailer coupling. A special two-speed auxiliary and transfer box is employed, and hypoid-and-epicyclic double-reduction axles are used The turning circle is 108 ft.
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The Omega is to be employed on oil-fields work in the deserts of Saudi Arabia, hence the use of Atlas 16.00-20-in. (10-ply) flotation-type tyre equipment. These are low-pressure tyres which can withstand a considerable amount of distortion, as was shown during the transmission-wind-up 'tests.
Comfortable and roomy, the cab of the Omega is fully tropicalized. The windscreen glasses have green anti-glare tinting along their upper edges, and a double-skinned roof provides air insulation for the occupants.
Two more Omegas are to be built shortly and an even larger model might be made also, with a Rolls-Royce cight-cylindered engine.