GB434606A - Improvements in and relating to passenger road vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

434,606. Omnibuses; spring-suspensions. LEYLAND MOTORS, Ltd., Richmond Road, Kingston-on-Thames, and BIGGAR, P. E., Motor Works, Hough Lane, Leyland, Lancashire. March 14, 1934, No. 8065. [Classes 108 (i) and 108 (ii)] [See also Group XXXI] A trolley bus or other passenger type road vehicle is characterized by (1) a chassis frame, Figs. 1 and 2, upon the sides of which separate engines or motors 1, comprising the whole power plant, are mounted and drive the rear wheel or wheels on each side independently, the wheels being mounted on dropped axles 6, and (2) a body, Fig. 12, mounted on the frame, with a central gangway 35 at or below the level of the axes of the rear wheels, extending at the same low level to a platform 36 beyond the front wheels, while the floor 37 on each side, on which the seats are mounted, is raised a step above the gangway. The motors 1, with series parallel control drive in known manner through cardan shafts 3 and worm or bevel gearing 4, Fig. 3, or through differentials to tandem rear wheels. The axle boxes 5, the lower halves of which may be removable with or without the gearing, are connected by a transverse I beam or axle 6 dropped in the centre to provide for the low gangway. The frame longitudinals 2 may be connected between tandem rear wheels by a cross member 8 carrying suspension springs 9 the ends of which are attached by pins 10 to the axle boxes 5, radius rods 11 being provided. If the longitudinals pass above the axles, as at 2a, Fig. 3, additional springs may be provided, secured at their centres to the longitudinals and at their ends to pins 12 carried under the axles. The front-end of the frame, projecting beyond the wheels sufficiently to accommodate a lifeguard tray 15, is formed on one side to allow of a front entrance 31 by attachment of a dropped extension 16 to the longitudinal 2 immediately beyond the front axle. The front wheels are preferably independently sprung being carried by parallel pivoted links and transverse springs or in place of transverse springs there may be provided torsion rods 22, Fig. 7, fixed at their rear ends to a cross frame member 23 and interconnected by arms 24 and linkwork or gearing, whilst arms at the front ends take the place of the lower links. In a further form, Fig. 10 (not shown), the wheels are carried on vertical pivot pins connected at their lower ends to the torsion arms or to the ends of a transverse spring or surrounded by helical springs The front entrance may be furnished with a folding door 31 controlled from the driver's seat 32. Front and rear staircases 33, 34 lead to an upper deck.