AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

Wallis and Steevens, Limited. I

7th March 1907, Page 25
7th March 1907
Page 25
Page 25, 7th March 1907 — Wallis and Steevens, Limited. I
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Exhibit: One 5-ton Tractor; One 5-ton Wagon.

This well-known flampshire company is exhibiting examples of two of its leading productions : a standard steam tractor, and one of its standard 5-ton steam wagons. The Wallis and Steevens tractor calls for a few notes about its leading points. The boiler is of the company's standard, locomotive, multitubular type, having 19 smoketubes each x inch in internal diameter, and four tubes each 21 inches in diameter at the top. A damper is fitted in the smoke-box, in order to close up the ends of all the tubes with the exception of those of the larger bore when desired : these " by-pass " tubes permit of sufficient draught to keep the fire going while the tractor is standing idle. Water is fed to the boiler by a steam-driven, automatic ram-pump, supplemented by an injector when necessary. The working pressure of the boiler is isolb. per square inch. A steam-operated water-lifter is fitted, for quickly filling the tanks, one of which is carried over the smoke-box at the base of the funnel. The joint capacities of the tanks is 118 gallons. The engine is a compound one, with cylinders 4.-1 inches and 8 inches in diameter, and a piston-stroke of 9 inches. It is mounted on what the company terms a " deflecting plate," which disposition allows the boiler plates to expand freely without any strain due to retardation by the engine bed-plate. A great feature of the engine is the fact that all the link-work is enclosed and runs in an oil-bath. All bearings are of Admiralty mixture gun-metal, and the crankshaft is forged of high-tensile steel with the keys solid on the shaft. Gravity drip-feed lubrication is employed.

Two speeds are provided; one for hill climbing, or for soft g,rotind, and the other for all normal running. The pinions on the crankshaft slide in or out of mesh in order to effect the change of gear. The drive is by gear throughout to the steel differential gear and back axle on which is mounted a winding-drum haying so yards of cable.

The tractor is spring-mounted on both axles, and protection for the driver, in the form of a hood or canopy is provided. The wheels are built up of steel, of the usual traction-engine type, the leaders being 3 feet 4 inches in diameter, and the drivers 5 feet.

In constructing the 5-ton steam wagon, Wallis and Steevens, Limited, has relied upon its well-tried loco. boiler and compound engine, as used on the steam tractor', and has embodied them in its latest product. The engine is, however, fitted with a geared pump, instead of the steam-driven, automatic ram-pump, and an auxiliary starting valve, Machine-cut gears provide for two speeds of 3 and 5 miles an hour, and the final transmission is by means of a Hans Renold roller chain, of 2-1inch pitch, to the chain-ring fixed to the spider of the differential gear which

is mounted on the rear live axle. The differential gear is enclosed, and is of steel, with large surfaces.

A powerful mechanical brake is fitted, and this acts direct on both hind wheels, whilst, of course, the eng-ine offers an additional brake. Steering is of the turn-table type, operated by worm and worm-wheel, on to a drum to which the actuating chains are attached. The bottom of the steering pivot is stayed to the main frame.

The longitudinal members of the frame are of channel steel, rolled section, 6 inches deep by 3 inches width of flange, with both flanges and web

-tile/1 thick. The principal members are connected by transverse members, also of steel, and are suitably stayed and braeed. The longitudinal members are set inwards at the forward ends, and are fixed to the sides of the smokebox. The vehicle is mounted on semi

elliptic springs of ample strength, two over the back axle, each having 14 plates, and one similar, transverse inverted spring over the steering axle. The water-tank is exceptionally shallow, which is a very good point : many steam wagons are fitted with tanks so deep, and so close to the road surface, that the after bottom-corners often scrape the ground when driving over soft or very uneven roads. The shallowness of the tank is compensated for by its greatly-increased length. The capacity is 16o gallons, and the tank is slung from between the main sidechannels, as is clearly shown in the photograph (see supplement). The fuel bunker has a capacity of about 5 cwt.

The wheels are built up of steel, traction-engine type. The leaders are a feet 9 inches in diameter, with smooth

tires inches wide, but, in the latter case, the tires are provided with steel stropes. These wheels are designed to withstand the rough usage to which the average steam wagon is subjected. The board-sided wagon body, as fitted by this company, has been subjected to a considerable amount of attention in its design. The sides and tail board are each hinged separately, and are stiffened and locked in position by substantial, removable stanchions, which enable the wagon to be conveniently loaded from either side or from the after end. The general design of these vehicles, coupled with the fact that they are built by a traction-engine builder of repute, should command a careful inspection of the exhibits on this stand. The company's address is North Hants Ironworks, Basingstoke. A large number of this company's tractors have been sold, both for home use and for export to all parts of the world.

Tags

Organisations: US Federal Reserve

comments powered by Disqus