AUSTRALIAN CAR

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 586, 18 July 1933, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN CAR

CON STRU CTIONAL DETAILS. Recently in this section (says the Sydney iRleferee) was told of the ehristening of the first South'ern Cross car — an Australian-made chassis-less job with a laminated wood body . Eollowing a successful 200-mile test ; run over some of the worst country roads -in New South Wales, further details of the job have been made available. The laminated wood body is constructed on the same prinoiple as wing spars, propellers, etc., of many aeroplanes. Ten sheets of thin Queensland pine and walnut (|in maximum) are used, each sheet being glued separately to dts fellow with' a special cassein glue, which is impervious to moisture and unaffected hy elimatic conditions. The sheets are bent separately round a mould to the shape desired, and glued in that positdon. A pressure of approximately 80 tons fo the square inch is applied, which has the effect of squeezing the glue right int0 the wood. The finished body is llin in thickness, and of great tensile - strength, ibeing approximately 16 times as strong as an orthodox chassis. Two cross sections are embodied dn the construction. These serve the double purpose of bracing for latitudinal stresses, and as the divisions be_ tween engine eompartment and front and rear seating compartments. The forward ends of each side are cut down and project beyond the engine, thus acting as dumb irons. Sounds Good The wh'ole body is therefore in one piece, and perfectly rigid. No rattles or squeaks can possibly develop. The doors are perfect fitbing, as after the body is built, they are simply cut out of the sides, hinged, fitted with locks, and put back. The body carries the weight of all . internal mechanism and passengers. No chassis is required to support the load. The engine, gear box, etc., are supported hy hrackets or steel cross members holted to the sides or cross sections of the ibody. The Semi-elliptic springs carrydng the car are attached by special metal clamps bolted through the body. The main advantages of this rnethod as compared wtdh th'e use of a steel chassis are greatly decreased weight and much lower cost of production. A touring car of 130in wheel-base will weigh approximately 19cwt, and cost approximately £240, as compared with a smilar car of conventional design weighing about 27cwt, and costdng probably over £300. It has been proved that laminated wood has tremendous strength to withstand tension stresses, and gives exceptional elasticity. Mechanical Details. Th'e engine is of unorthodox design, having four cylinders horizontally opposed. Details: Bore 3§in by stroke 4in, capacity 2345 c.c., h.p. 18.21 R.A.C., developing 55 b.h.p. A specdal "hot water box" through which the engine water circulates, is mounted on the engine, and the induction pipes pass through the box, thus being water heated. Timing ds by vertical shaft driven from crankshaft to centred overhead cambshaft. There is a special oil pick-up to each beariing. Pressure is adjusted hy a screw on the outside of the crankcase. Lubrication is force-feed by pump to crankshaft, camshaft and timing tgears. The springs are of Innes type, made of very thin leaves, 18 to the front springs and 24 to th'e back. Each alternate leaf interlocks. The gear box has three speeds forward, and a special over-riding top gear at 3-1. Back axle gear ratio is 4.321. The springs are so made as to avodd the necessity for shock aihsorbers, as in themselves they act in this capacity. As the result of recent road tests, it is anticipated the car will be capable of 70-80 m.p.h., usdng the overriding gear, on fl|[rt or undulatiing country. The first experimental ch'assis- less car was built in Sydney in 1921, and various models have been tested continuously during the last 12 years. One ^ model, which is still operating effi- ■ oiently, has travelled. over 200,000 miles through several States. :