Farmer Builds His
Page 55
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Own Tractor.
MONG the outstanding.features at 'la tractive unit designed and built by Ir. P. H. G. Bagshaw, a farmer, of Ireat Oakley,near Kettering, are ydraulic lever steering on all four heels, four-wheel drive, eight forward itios and two in reverse, and. a speed inge of from 11 m.p.h. to 25. m.p.h. The frame is built of•6-in. by,3-in. by -in. box-section members with double :oss-bracing, the structure being elecically welded at all points. An A.E.C. x-cylinclered oil engine, developing 31 b.h.p. at 1,800 r.p.rn. supplies the ower, which is taken to the main fourned gearbox by a single-plate dry utch. A two-speed transfer box dis-ibutes the drive to the front and rear Kies, for which overhead worm units re used.
Lever Steering
The drive to the wheels is transmitted trough constant-velocity joints, and tere is a locking device for the dififeritial. The steering wheel is replaced y two levers giving independent connt of the front and rear wheels.
These levers operate the hydraulic alves governing the admission of oil rider pressure to the hydraulic rams, of
which there is one to each steering head. Two-ton hydraulic jacks are used for this purpose, and so effective is the system that the wheels can easily he turned when the vehicle is stationary on rough ground.
With such independent control of the front and rear wheels, the tractor can be turned in a 6-ft circle. By inclining both sets of wheels to the right or left, the machine can be driven forward with the chassis at an angle to the direction of travel, the wheels running in two separate tracks.
Incorporated in the steering system are a Lockheed remote &intro] gear and a Dowty pump. The pump is .driven from the front of the engine by twin 2-in. V belts.
The pedal operates brakes on all four wheels, assistance being provided for the hydraulic -.system. The near-side and off-side wheels can be braked independently through mechanical linkage.
Suspension is by semi-elliptic springs, whiclr incorporate trunnion ends. The wheels have 12.00 by 20 tyres.
A drawbar pull of 17,000 lb. is claimed. This, if substantiated, is high, taking into consideration the complete weight wIlich is 61 tons.
Adaptability Although only a winch is shown• mounted on the chassis, the design is such that a dumper body or any other equipment calling for a machine of high tractive effort, can be fitted.
Although built without the backing of drawing office or other facilities, the tractor would appear to call for little modification were it being put into production.
The following are the gear ratios with the relative road speeds at 1,800 r.p.m. of the .engine.. First, 11.32 (1-1, in.p.h.);6.31 (21 m.p.h.); 5.34 (3f m.p.h.); 3.62 (5 m.p.h.); 2.12 (8 m.p.h.); 1.985 (Ill m.p.h.);.1.71 (12f m.p.h.); and I to 1 (25 m.p.h.), In reverse, top ratio is 4.7 to 1 and low 996 to 1.
Some of the leading dimensions are: Wheelbase, 9 ft. 2 in.;. track, 6 ft. 3 in.; overall length, 17 ft.; overall width, 7 ft. 7'in. overall height, 7 ft. 6 in.; axle ground clearance, 1 ft. 4 in4 clearance under centre of chassis, 2 ft. 4 in,.