First a basic description: A torsion bar is a high quality piece of steel
rod (round or hex, even square) that is held fixed at one end, and placed in
bushings. When a suspension or wrench attempts to twist the other non-fixed
end, the spring rate of the rod tends to force it back into the original
position. This replaces springs in the suspension system (French had a car
with these in it at one point)
If the torsion bars were above each other, the track would be raised about 6
Inches to accommodate the brackets and torsion bars being atop each other.
One side would have to have longer suspension arms, longer shocks, etc. As
they are located beside (behind) each other, you merely add a shoe (or
three) and make up for the difference in length. (This allows the track to
be lower in profile)
Since the sprockets doing the driving are turning at the same rate, the
track moves over it at the same time, allowing for straight direction of
travel. Track length is irrelevant, as you can in emergency "Short track"
any tracked vehicle to keep going. To maintenance track, you only break one
side apart, then drive forward or reverse off the track, it goes straight
along the good track and merely reversing the process to reinstall. If you
broke both tracks at once, you would end up having to push the dead rolling
weight of the vehicle till you could link the track back on the sprocket.
(dumb idea, unless you want to tow the thing around the motorpool without
track resistance)
My M113 and Bradley had this in service, and my German Pioneer track has it
as well.
Anyone interested in a 57mm towed AT gun (trade for a 37mm US) or sell for
$8500 (has welded breech and ring) Great to tow behind the halftrack or
a WC63.
Also still have a 105mm German M18 (WWII) gun for $14K Set up for blank
fire.
http://home.mindspring.com/~jhooah/index.html
Regards Winget
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Sun Jan 06 2002 - 22:26:52 PST