A.E.C. Air Suspenston Greatly Modified
Page 35
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THE air-Suspension system exhibited on 2an A.E.C. 'Reliance underfloorenginecl passenger chassis at last year's Commercial Motor Show has been greatly modified and a demonstration coach fitted with the new equipment has been built. Conventional axles are retained at front and rear, but the method of suspension and axle location is quite different from the previous design. The front axle carries two. longitudinal bellows beams, at the ends of which are 'a new type of bellows-diaphragm air spring. At each side there are two radius arms which extend horizontally forward, one below the bellows unit and the other above it. 'The lower arms are pinned to brackets suspended from the frame, whilst the upper ones are fitted to the frame side members. Metalastik bushes are used. Lateral location is provided by a transverse Panhard rod and an anti-roll bar is employed to give roll stiffness. The bar is fixed' to the bellows beams behind the axle and attached to the chassis frame through ball-jointed links. Telescopic dampers are fitted. A basically similar layout is employed for the rear axle, but there are only two outer radius arms, torque reaction being taken by a third arm, which extends forward from a bracket on the side of the axle pot to a frame cross-member. The rear suspension incorporates, two levelling valves—there is only one at the front axle—which have a delay setting to prevent adinitting or exhausting airduring normal suspension movements. Extra surge capacity for both suspension s.ysterps is incorporated in the suspension brackets",
GRIMSBY PROFITS UP
THE estimated profit of the Grimsby and Cleethorpes transport undertaking was £15,775 in 1958-59, said Cllr, .I. P. Murphy, chairman of the joint transport committee, last week. This represented an increase of more than .E11,000 over the previous year. In the period under review the two services had been amalgamated, savings had been made with one-man buses, and more passengers had been attracted by linking key points in the two towns. In spite of the October wage award, fares had been maintained at the level of August, 1957, but the surplus was only 3.5 per cent, of the turnover.
COVENTRY TRAFFIC UP 3%
A N increase last year of nearly 3 per ri cent. in the number of p. nuassengers carried by Coventry Transport Department is reported by Mr. Ronald A. Fearnley, general manager.
The improvement is the result of a reallocation of mileage between services, and further extensions and deviations for the benefit of residents in newly developed areas. Mileage increased by 275,000. This course will be pursued during the current year with the completion of outstanding road works.
[See "Profit and Loss," page 414.} BI