A redesigned Stevens
Three-wheeler
From the Commercial Motor –
October 4th, 1935
| Modifications include the adoption of shaft drive and an
improved brake mechanism. A useful outfit for the economical
transport of 8cwt. loads. |
This view of the Stevens van shows the
capacious body. It is built for an 8cwt. payload. |
The Stevens three-wheeled commercial
vehicle has recently been redesigned and now has a
shaft-drive transmission system. Its power unit is not
altered and the general arrangement of the chassis, apart
from the transmission is the same as in the previous model.
A sturdy three-speed gearbox forms a
unit with the engine and clutch, the mainshaft being now
arranged fore and aft, of course, instead of across the
chassis. A housing for the clutch is combined with half of
the crankcase, but the clutch itself is not directly
attached to the engine shaft. |
|
Between those two components there
is a shock absorber of generous dimensions; it is of the
rubber cushion type. Attached to the main shaft by a
taper joint and key is a member with three radial vanes
on its face. Mating with this is another member with
three similar vanes, and six rubber blocks separate the
two sets of three vanes.
On the reverse side of the second
member there is a single dry-plate clutch of
conventional design. Behind that again is the gearbox,
which provides three forward ratios and a reverse.
Combined with it is a kick-starter, and the rear gear
lever is mounted directly on the top of the box.
Hardy flexible couplings are fitted
to each end of the propeller shaft. A steel banjo-type
rear axle houses spiral-bevel gears and differential
mechanism. All three wire wheels are detachable and
interchangeable, the tyre size being 27 inches by 4
inches.
An alteration is to be noted in the
method of brake operation. As before, the rear brakes
are controlled by foot, and the front shoes by hand, but
the lever for the latter now has no ratchet. For parking
purposes the rear brakes can be locked ‘on’ by pulling
out a small knob on the dashboard. |
This semi-plan view of the Stevens
chassis shows the new shaft-drive transmission system.
The rear axle is of the spiral-bevel type and
incorporates a differential gear. |
|
In the ordinary way, this knob is
not withdrawn and the brake pedal rises as soon as the
driver’s foot pressure is released. To park the vehicle
the pedal is depressed and the knob pulled out. The
pedal is then locked on.
When that is done, neither
pressure on the pedal nor any tinkering with the knob
will release the brakes. To do so, both the pedal and
the knob must be pressed at the same time.
Features which are not changed
include the steering and front suspension, as well as
the power unit. A front fork of the motorcycle type is
employed and the steering is by a car-type wheel, coupled
to the fork stem by two roller chains in parallel. |
The near side of the
chassis showing the single-cylindered water-cooled
engine, which is rated at 5.8hp. The engine, clutch and gearbox are built as a unit.
|
At the rear, the chassis is now completely sprung.
Two half-elliptic springs are interposed between the
axle and the chassis frame.
The chassis frame is built of channel section steel
with cross members of similar form riveted to it, and
reinforced by gusset plates at the joints.
A large diameter tube acts as a stay between the
steering head and the central cross member. |
|
It is worth emphasising that the
single-cylindered engine is water-cooled. It has side valves
and a detachable head. The bore and stroke dimensions are
84mm and 106mm respectively, and the capacity is 588c.c.
This new Stevens chassis is available
with either a van or truck body. In the former case the pay
load is 8cwt. and the body has a capacity of 91 cubic feet,
with a maximum length of 5ft. 6 inches. The internal width
and height are 4ft. 5 inches and 3ft. 9 inches respectively,
whilst the doors at the back measure 3ft. 8 inches wide.
Like the van the truck can carry 8cwt.
It has a hinged tail-board, and the dimensions of the goods
space are 4ft. 3 inches long by 4ft. 5 inches wide. The
sides are 1ft. 7½ inches high.
For each model the price is 89 guineas.
A spare wheel and tyre is listed at £3 extra. |
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