New Berliet Heavy
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ANEW heavy-duty four-wheeled goods model has been introduced by the French manufacturers, Automobiles M. Bertiet, Lyon-Venissieux. Known as the G.R.K., the vehicle is suitable for operation at 19 tons gross solo, the trainweight rating being 35 tons. The standard power unit is a Berliet "Magic" 9.5-litre unit. incorporating MAN. combustion principles, and having a gross rating of 180 b.h.p. at 2,100 r.p.m.
A six-speed constant-mesh gearbox, with overdrive top gear, is employed, and the rear axle is a double-reduction unit, with spiral-bevel primary gearing and helical-spur secondary gears. There is a choice of two ratios-7.16 or 8.13 to land these give maximum overdrive speeds of 53 m.p.h. and 47 m.p.h. respectively.
An extremely robust riveted chassis frame is a. feature of the G.R,K., the 0.275-in.-thick side members having a maximum depth of 11.8 in., with 3,55-in.wide flanges. Other chassis details include the use of an air-operated twin-plate clutch; semi-elliptic springs with torsionbar stabilizers at front and rear, telescopic dampers at the front and helper springs at the rear; dual-system air braking with a total lining area of 800 sq. in.; and hydraulically assisted steering. A Telma electric retarder is optional.