NEW ARRIVALS AT WEMBLEY.
Page 25
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Monthly Changes of Exhibits are Permitted and Several Manufacturers Show Different Models.
WHEN PERMISSION was granted to the exhibitors in the motor section of the British Empire Exhibition to change their exhibits not less than once monthly, we quite thought that a large number would take advantage of this valuable opportunity of displaying a good variety_ of their products, but on the first change-over date, viz., May. 25th, only four makers of commercial vehicles replaced their original exhibits by others.
Of these,. the Beardmore 25-30-cwt. chassis is dealt with elsewhere in this issue.
Dealing individually with these vehicles, the P.H.2 Leyland, which is designed for 5-ton loads, embodies the familiar Leyland features of a four-cylinder engine with the cylinders cast in pair a and of 5-in, bore and fi-in. stroke; a cone clutch encased by an aluminium disc; a four-speed gearbox alung on tubular cross-members; and a bevel-and-spur double-reduction live axle with an extended torque tube, which takes its hearing in a spherical housing carried on. a special tubular cross-member of great strength. 'There are special points about the chassis which deserve much more space than we hare at our disposal. We may draw attention, for instance, to the method of supporting the engine. This is carried on tubular cross-members housed in the crankcase itself, and upon which the unit is located by means of -suitable lock-nuts, thus rendering the alignment of the engine in relation to the other units a matter of great The pump and magneto are connected to a cross-shaft at the
front of the engine,shaft being driven by spur and spiral gears, the whoe arrangement making two of the most important parts of the engine very accessible.
Two powerful brakes are employed. These consist of an external contracting type behind the gearbox _and controlled by a pedal, and internal-expanding corupensatecl shoes acting direct on the rear wheel drums and operated by means of a lever.
The Super-Sentinel 6-tonner is a fine exponent of modern design1 and something like 73 per cent. Of the total length is available for loading. One of the most interesting of the improvements in this vehicle is the differential gear, which is incorporated with the crankshaft of the engine This enables the use of afixed back axle and chain drive to each rear wheel, whilst retaining the simplicity of the single chain
drive. In addition, the differential gear is thoroughlylubricated and is sprung with the vehicle, whilst the special friction brakes which are embodied practically obviate skidding of the rear wheels.
The engine is .an undertype, with two cylinders provided with double glands, which prevent leakage to the crankcase. There is no cleait centre, as the cranks are at right angles, and up to 70 b.h.p. can be developed for short periods. A fitting which has proved of particular value is the patent engine brae. If a pedal be depressed the supply of steam to the engine is shut off ; then, if the engine be reversed and the pedal gradually released the engine will act as an air compressor and gives a very powerful braking effect.
The boiler is also unu.sual, The inner shell has a series of landings pressed in it, and these allow the tubes to be arrangedwith a steep slope and tangentially to the stoking hole, thus giving better circulation of the water and making the tubes almost self-cleaning, whilst the firebox can easily be dropped for inspection or repair. Ackerman steering, combined with dished front wheels, render the vehicle easily controllable at any speed within its capacity. The 2-ton Vulcan is specially designed to meet the requirements of the timber trade. The driver's cab is provided with a sloping roof adequately strengthened to accommodate a portion of the load and equipped with pillars which prevent long timbers from falling off at the sides.
Inside the body is a strollg detach-able bolster. The lorry body itself is of the fixed-sided type with a tailboard which is hinged and detachable, and whirl can be fixed in any desired position by means of two strong chains with hooks. The chassis has a four-cylinder engine of 95 rum, bore and 130 ram. stroke, fitted with a hollow crankshaft through which oil is forced to the main and connecting-rod bearings, The drive is taken through a Ferodo-faced cone clutch fitted with detachable springs and a flexible disc universal .jcint to a four-speed gearbox with central gate change, the final drive being by overhead worm gearing. The petrol tank is mounted on the dash providing gravity feed for the carburetter, and there are two efficient brakes, nne acting externally on the drum behind the gearbox, and the other' which is of the internal-expancling type, acting directon the rear wheel drum.