FRENCH MEET THE LOW-LEVEL DEMAND.
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The B-type Latil Chassis Proves Particularly Successful for Hotel Bus Work.
ACOMMERCIAL chassis which recently has achieved a well-merited success in France is the B-type Latil. One of its strong features is its exceedleigly low build. The upper surface of the frame side members is only 56 centimetres (22 ins.), whilst in the special extra low model the height is reduced to 48 centimetres (18 ins.) from the ground. This lowering has been arrived at by very careful design, as all 'vulnerable portions of the chassis have a good ground clearance. The advantages of the low build are to be found in the great variety of purposes to which the vehicle can be put,
The compact power unit is of the classic type, but the clean lines of the engine are worthy of special note. The whole outfit is a typical production of a firm which, from its foundation, has specialized solely in industrial vehicles, and the unit bears no suggestion of adapted touring-car practice. The cylinders are cast monobloc, 85 mm, bore, the piston stroke being 130 mm.. giving the engine a capacity of about 2 litres. Side-by-side valves are employed, and the camshaft is driven by helical spur gearing. The timing gear is placed at the forward end of the engine, and the water pump, dynamo and magneto are mounted in one line, as also is the driving pulley for the fan, which takes a broad, Eat belt The crankshaft is mounted on three bearings of ample dimensions.
The oil pump is situated at the bottom of the sump and driven by a train of helical gearing. After leaving the pump the oil passes through a large filter of fine gauze before reaching the main bearings. After lubricating the crankshaft the oil returns to the sump by way of the timing-gear casing, ensuring proper lubrication for the gears. A large oil filler and breather is fitted on the off side of the crankcase.
The carburetter is a Solex. A centrifugal governor, operating on the butterfly valve of the carburetter, is fitted in a recess in the cylinder block casting. This recess has an aluminium cover plate, whichealuThot be removed without the breaking of lead seals. The governor connections are arranged in such a manner that the carburetter can be dismounted, or the cylinders lifted without disturbing them. B24 A dry-plate clutch, remarkably sweet and progressive in action, transmits the power to the four-speed gearbox, which is built on standard lines. The rear transmission is of the well-known special type which Messrs. Latil have developed with great success during a number of years. The differential is fixed to the chassis, and the wheels are driven by transverse cardan shafts. By this arrangement the rear axle is relieved of the entire weight of the differential, with its casing. Moreover, the bevel gearing is not directly exposed to read shocks. A further reduction gear is incorporated in the drive to each wheel, thus permitting of a saving in the size and weight of the parts composing the rear transmission. The road wheels are mounted on solid hubs, fitted with two ball races. A steel plate receives the end of the plain axle and also carries the wheel hub, the driving pinion of the doublereduction gear and the brake-operating mechanism. All universal joints on the propeller shaft and transverse cordon shafts are of the Glaenzer type. The suspension is by long, half-elliptics fore and aft. The frame is straight sided and is swept sharply downwards immediately in rear tif the position for the driving seat. It is stiffened at this point by a very deep cross-member. Steering is of the ordinary worm and sector type, right-hand steering being fitted to all chassis. The gear-change and hand-brake levers are centrally dis posed, being mounted directly on top of the gearbox.
The B-type Latil chassis, owing to its special form, is capable of taking a great variety of bodies. In omnibus form it has found great favour amongst hotel proprietors in France. Nearly every famous hotel along the Riviera runs one or two B-type Latil buses. Ingress or egress for the passengers is rendered particularly easy by the low position of the body. Several of these fine vehicles will probably be seen at Olympia. The chassis weighs a little over 24 ewt. The maximum speed with the governed engine is 28 m.p.h. A fuel consumption of 13 miles to the gallon is claimed.