IMPROVEMENTS IN INTERNATIONAL CHASSIS.
Page 19
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New Models with Overhead-valve Power Units, Four-speed Gearboxes, Radiators in Front of Engines, and Dual-type Axles.
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CHASSIS marketed in this country by the International Harvester Co. of Great Britain, Ltd., 80, Finsbury Pavement, London, E.G., have been well
• favoured because of their reliability and • strength of construction, and we have no doubt that the many improvements embodied in the new heavy-duty chassis will also be appreciated.
At the moment only the 3-ton chaisis has been received on this side, but this will quickly be followed by chassis of 1-ton, 30-cwt. and 2-ton capacity. In this article we will, however, confine ourselves to details of the 3-ton type, which closely resembles the 2-ton model. .
The first feature which strikes the eye as being different is the employment of a radiator in the normal position in front of the engine, in place of positioning it at the dash, as was formerly the case. • Careful attention has also been paid to the comfort of the driver, and to give a 30-degree rake to the steering column the designers of the new chassis have • broken the steering shaft at some distance below the wheel, giving the upper section of the shaft the desired rake and making the lower section vertical. This is aceomplished by placing the -worm and gear, which are usually below • the footboard. 011 a one-piece steering post, above the footboard and underneath the dash. This construction provides plenty • of footroom for the driver and also facilitates adjustment of the gear. Many alterations have been carried out in connection with the engine, which is of an entirely new design. It is a four-cylinder, with valves in the head. An interesting feature is that each cylinder really consists of a liner, which may be replaced independently in the main monobloc casting if worn or scored. This permits the wall of each cylinder to be uniform in thickness, and prevents unequal expansion. .
Another unusual feature is the provision of a two-bearing crankshaft carried on very large ball hearings. We' understand that the breakage of one of these shafts is almost unheard of ; in fact, in America each shaft. is guaranteed. for the life of the vehicle. The magneto, dynamo and governor are mounted in line at the right side of the engine and above the frame, so that they can be reached conveniently when the bonnet is raised.
Thermo-siphonic circulation is employed for the cooling water, which is passed through a gilled-tube radiator provided with an auxiliary tank, the air being drawn through it by means of a four-bladed fan driven by a flat .belt. The governor is of the centrifugal type, the maximum speed being set to 16 m.p.h. for solid tyres. Combination force-feed and splash is employed for the engine lubrication sy,tem.
The power unit has a bore of 4i ins. and a stroke of 5 ins,, and is three-Point suspended from the main frame. Power is taken through a multiple dry-disc clutch with wire-woven asbestos friction material.
The gear ratios are : First speed, 53 to 1; second speed, 29.2 to 1; third speed,. 15.7 to 1; direct deur°, 9 to I, and reverse 65 to 1.
A single-piece cardan shaft of tho -tubular type transmits the torepie to the rear axle, which is of the dual type with a separate load-carrying member at the back and enclosed differential 'shafts driving the wheels through spur pinions and internal gea rings.
The service brake is on the propeller shaft, and is of the external-contracting type,. whilst the • emergency brake operates internal-expanding shoes in, drums carried by the rear wheels.
Special attention has been paid 'to • tha matter of springing, that at the front being by half-eliiptics, thatat the roar being of the same type, but with auxiliary :•,juarter-elliptics, the main springs having a length of 56 ins., and the auxiliary springs of 33A ins: Mesa extra springs are inoperative under light loads, but are-automatically brought into action when the load is sufficient to deflectthe main springs beyond a certain point.
The petrol tank has a capacity of 18 gallons and is mounted on the dash ir the well-protected cab,
We have not yet referred to the frame. This is of pressed steel of channel section, 7 .,ins. :deepand k in thick, with eight cross-members a‘nd two braces at the rear. •-•
The following -prices have now been fixed for the new chaSsis.:---30 cwt., Model 33, £450; 2-ton, Model 45, £403; 5-ton, Model 63, £595.. •