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A Battery-electric Halted by War

30th July 1943, Page 23
30th July 1943
Page 23
Page 23, 30th July 1943 — A Battery-electric Halted by War
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Brief Details of a 12-15cwt. Chassis Designed by Crossley Motors, Ltd. DTJRING this war the possibilities of the battery-electric vehicle have received considerably more attention from potential operators than has ever previously been the case, whilst those traders and others who have succeeded in obtaining machines of this type have considered themselves fortunate, in that they had less worry with fuel problems.

So far as the manufacturers are concerned, there are indications that in early post-war days several new models will become available. In this connection it may be of interest to refer to the fact that Crossley Motors, Ltd., Gorton, Manchester, 18, had in course of construction when the war started a vehicle of this type, which, however, was, unfortunately, never put into production and willprobably continue in this state until after our victory.

It is designed for a pay-load of 12-15 cwt., the dimensions being:— Wheelbase, 6 ft'. 6 ins.; overall 'length, 12 ft. 3 ins.; frame height (laden), 1 ft. si ins.; space behind driver's cab, 8 ft. Oi in.; turning circle, 25 ft.; track, front 4 ft, 2i ins., rear 4 ft. 2 ins.; and the tyre equipment was to be 6-in. by 16-in, extra-low-pressure pneumatics.

Constructed from high-tensile pressings of deep channel section, the main frame is braced with heavy channel cross-members. Viewed vertically, these members are parallel for the whole length, but they are dropped 6 ins, at about the front point of mounting of the front springs, to allow leg room for. the driver, who sits above and to the right of the motor.

The last-named is of the series-wound ventilated type carried centrally immediately above the front axle and inclined to give straight-through drive, via a short tubular shaft with needleroller-bearing universals, to the doublereduction and spiral-bevel final drive. This drive, with-the differential, is carried in a banjo axle, which also deviates slightly from The vertical. It is notable that a large-diameter ball-thrust bearing is rhounted in the motor to relieve the armature of end loading.

Reverting to the rear axle, this is a steel drop forging, the ends of which are accurately ground to take the spring brackets. Front and rear springs are all of the semi-elliptic pattern in silica-manganese, the anchored ends being equipped with hardened-steel bushes.

The wheels are of the spoked-disc type and the Etendix brakes act through all four.

The batteries are arranged in two groups carried in rigid crates at the outsides of the main-frame members.

It is appropriate, seeing that the maker has had a bang experience with the production of electric trolleybuses, 'that the electrical equipment should be designed on the lines of the equipment included in such vehicle's.

The contactors are energized through _a master controller operated by the driver's left foot. This controller carries only the small current necessary to perform this duty, and each contactor has a powerful magnetic blowout coil obviating burning of the contacts. A change-over switch of robust design has three operating positions" central," "off," and "reverse "— and is mounted on the contactor panel to the left of the driver. A similar 'switch is mounted on the same panel to the right, so that the driver can change to the half-speed position in fog or when slow running is necessary. This is carried out by a patented method which does not affect the battery connections. An automatic overload relay opens the circuit should the driver accelerate too rapidly. Another automatic device is a battery chargetime relay., which prevent; overcharging.

The resistance is of the nistless, jointless, unbreakable type, generously rated to prevent overheating, and the charging plug is a 50-amp. type designed to B.S.I. specification for battery vehicles. Battery sections can be readily removed by lifting hinged flaps on the side of the body, Considered as a whole, the vehicle is clean and straightforward, designed especially for its job, and not merely a conversion of a petrol chassis.

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Locations: Manchester

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