Scammell Mechanical Horse
Scammell Townsman
Mechanical Horse ( German: " mechanical horse " ) is the name of a three-wheel truck, the British manufacturer Scammell. In the history of transportation of Britain, he is considered a milestone in the gradual replacement of horse-drawn vehicles by motorized tractors. In principle, unchanged technology it was built from 1934 to 1968.
History
Until the mid- 20th century, a variety of land transportation was still solid draft animals carts. The railway companies used for the short transfer from train station to the customer a horse-drawn vehicles. There were a disadvantage, the high operating and personnel costs (feeding the horses, even if they are not needed ) and nursing and space requirements of animals. During the performed manually, time-consuming loading in the market place the horses were usually not connected to the wagon ( decoupled). The associated, constant connection and disconnection of the animals was also for only short maneuvering in the depots hard because of the handling of the harness and required for the handling of horses trained personnel. As disturbing and increasingly no longer acceptable also caused by the draft animals impurities were perceived.
The British Railway Company London and North Eastern Railway took the early 30s to the prestigious motor manufacturers Napier & Son contact in order to promote the development of a motorized tractor with a quick and easy to entkoppelndem trailer. The aim was to replace the horses, but to use regular trucks in order to preserve the flexibility of the proven trailer handling cargo.
The subsequently created by the Napier Company design of three-wheeled tractor was purchased in 1933 by Scammell Lorries Ltd and developed under the direction of engineer Oliver Danson North and brought to production. 1934 began production under the appropriate names Mechanical Horse.
Technology
The car was very simple and robust design: As a central tube chassis frame made of steel was chosen, on which a cabin was built of wood. As doors were stretched canvas in the first models with canvas. The special feature of the vehicle technology were the 360 degree controllable, single front wheel, and that also fully rotatable coupling module. Considered Mechanically they won as two nearly full- angle rotatable hinge points. This hitherto unique design made it possible for the team to turn to a smaller space than we needed for its overall length. Even immediately before an obstacle (such as a wall or wedged into a parking space ), it could still be ranked easily.
The Mechanical Horse was offered in two versions: as a three-ton or as a six-tonne; meant here was the solid payload (in British tons). The engine consisted of a house Scammell petrol engine with side valves with 1125 cm3 (for the three-ton ) and 2043 cm3 (for the six-tonne ). This engine was installed on one side offset to the left of the cabin, which in certain riding positions could lead to stability and equilibrium uncertainties of the vehicle. The top speed was 20 mph ( 30 km / h) and was judged to be inadequate, particularly since it exceeded the speed of the horse-drawn carts far.
Newly designed clutch system
A technical innovation made the connection between tractor and trailer dar. This newly developed design allowed it, as far as: approaching the tractor back to the trailer until it was automatic, so, docked without exiting the driver:
At the rear of the tractor were two of the vehicle protruding, steel rails. The trailer was equipped at the bottom with a rotatable and foldable frame. At the rear of the tractor driving up to the trailer of the Mechanical Horse came across this frame. The tracks recorded the now einknickende base and launched it in the further backward on the towing vehicle. In the center of this frame, two rollers, which supported this process were accurate. The vehicle drove up as far as, until the connecting piece of the trailer ( like an eyelet ) met with a steel hook of the vehicle and einrastete safe there. A second, lower coupling hooks served to safety: He began the event of accidental, false coupling the connector on and prevented from slipping off the trailer on the road.
The coupling process was completed and the team ready to go. The driver needed before riding only the parking brake of the trailer solve. With this coupling system of the Mechanical Horse is one of the simple precursor of modern tractor-trailers. This system was also used by other manufacturers, even for four-wheel tractors, over, under anderemc by the companies Thornycroft, FAR, Karrier and Jensen Motors.
Areas of application
The vehicle was first used by railway companies. It gained public attention and was soon acquired by a variety of other businesses. Especially breweries estimated the agile Mechanical Horse to replace the horse-drawn carriages, even breweries overseas ordered this vehicle. In India, the team found a garbage truck use. The popularity of the vehicle led to the company einrichtete UK specialized outlets only for this type. During the after-effects until the end of the 30's Great Depression, it was mainly this simply designed truck which enabled the survival of the Scammell company in difficult economic times.
The Royal Air Force used a vehicle on airfields, eg for transport of small fuel trailer, the Navy on aircraft carriers such as HMS Ark Royal. In the limited space of this ship type, the maneuverability of the Mechanical Horse proved to be particularly advantageous. Total Mechanical Horse were acquired by the British armed forces during the Second World War 676.
The particular maneuverability made the three-wheeled vehicle popular with fire departments. In particular, in the usual in the middle of the 20th century tenements with narrow courtyards they were the larger fire engines have an advantage against.
After the construction of the Dartford Crossing in 1963, the first tunnel under the Thames, tow truck were needed to ( approximately 6.4 meters) wide tunnel could turn lanes along with a towed vehicle in case of emergencies in the narrow, only 21 feet. The solution was resorted to Scammell Scarabs that were stationed on each side of the tunnel. In Germany and Austria, the vehicle was not offered.
Scammell Scarab 1948-1967
In 1948, with a production of 14,000 vehicles, was superseded by the Scammell Scarab the Mechanical Horse. The Scarab kept the essential elements, but has been enhanced with several innovations: he now had a Scammell 2.090 cm3 - side valve petrol engine in both the three-ton and the six-ton - payload version. The first time, diesel engines were offered; while you went back to the company Perkins Engines. The cab was now made of steel and clear round. The engine was now mounted lower and central, creating more stability of the vehicle as well as more space and reduced noise levels have been achieved in the cab.
Scammell Townsman 1967-1968
The Scarab was in 1967 replaced by the Scammell Townsman. For the six-ton version of a replacement model was created, as more powerful tow vehicles from other manufacturers were offered on the market already. Also, the Townsman pointed to the basic concept of the Mechanical Horse. However, the engine and transmission are mounted in a small stem in front of the driver's cab. An innovation introduced is the cabin made of glass fiber reinforced plastic, which had a futuristic design. In this case, the manufacturer went back to the experience he had gained in other made from this material truck cabs. Those were mostly designed by automotive designer Michelotti. The Townsman also took many developments of larger trucks such as vacuum assisted hydraulic brakes. However, the brake system remained as in previous versions of a considerable disadvantage: Since it is technically only with considerable effort reached seemed the individual, in addition to slow rotating front wheel without risks to stability of the vehicle in a full circle, in all versions of the Mechanical Horse was halted only the wheels of the rear axle. Although the same automatic trailer coupling function has been used, they now had a vacuum operated release mechanism instead of the hand lever of the earlier models. The Scammell brand was taken over in the 50s by Leyland Motors. Therefore enhanced, now house Leyland engines were installed in the Townsman. This could also be an increase in speed can be achieved (50 mph). Despite numerous improvements over the Scarab the Townsman was mainly ordered only by British Rail and Royal Mail, which is why they ceased production at the end of 1968.
Production abroad
From 1937, a license to the French company was awarded FAR, which was the Chenard & Walcker automobile manufacturers connected. This French version used, inter alia, the engine of the Citroën Traction Avant and was marketed under the name cheval mécanique and Poney Mécanique. There, the model was produced until 1970.
End of the production
In the late 1960s led a more demanding legislation to improve the safety of commercial vehicles (especially in terms of braking behavior ), the technical development of building trucks in general, and the decreasing acceptance of three-wheeled vehicles with customers to declining demand. 1968 production ended after 35 years. During this period a total of about 30,000 tractors of all versions and about 100,000 followers were built.
Historical vehicle
According to various sources remain to this day some 30 Mechanical Horse, Scarab 60 and 30 Townsman as vintage condition. These vehicles are among lovers of historic commercial vehicles or in museums, such as the Royal Air Force Museum in London, the STEAM - Museum of the Great Western Railway in Swindon (England ) or the British Commercial Vehicle Museum in Leyland, Lancashire, (England).
Toys
The Mechanical Horse was copied by many well-known model car manufacturers Britain as a toy. Already in 1934, was offered by Dinky Toys a first version. The company Lesney Products & Co. Ltd., known for the production of Matchbox model cars, had 1955-1961 the Scarab in the toy program. The model that had once cost only a few shillings, is now rated in collector catalogs in very well-preserved version with up to 125 U.S. dollars. With the end of production of the Mechanical Horse at first also ended the production of corresponding model cars.
In the 90s, the British manufacturer Corgi Toys was launched under the name Trackside a model car series of historic commercial vehicles, including various versions of the Mechanical Horse. Based on these models have been formed in England collectors clubs, adjust the historical scenes of the model in dioramas.
A recent revitalization is the Mechanical Horse in the offered since 2008 by the Japanese manufacturer Tomy Co. Ltd. Wooden Toys from Thomas Wooden Railways. Here, the Mechanical Horse is represented as a vehicle called Madge own human traits. This imaginary for preschoolers Wooden Railway is based on in Germany under the name of Thomas the Tank Engine marketed stories that are also common in television and as a movie as part of the sales promotion.