Road Test of Pullman-Standard Trucks on Sfbartd Test Tract

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Road Test of Pullman-Standard Trucks on Sfbartd Test Tract

T. R. Schmitz / W. R. Shaver / W. P. Manos

The concept of a centerplateless truck of the Pullman-Standard configuration is sound. Under the full range of operating conditions experienced at the Mt. Diablo test track, general truck behavior was good. No sustained harmonic oscillations or other erratic truck action were noted. Vehicle ride quality was quite acceptable for any of the several suspension systems tested. Under the final arrangement, which was presented to P-B-T-B for their evaluation tests, ride quality was judged to be excellent. Truck frame reaction to loads experienced during road test tends to agree with design expectations. Stress levels were moderate. Based on extrapolation of stress data to correspond to maximum passenger service loads, the truck frames are structurally adequate. There are areas of understressed material and points of stress concentration which suggest minor structural change. For this aluminum frame, the effect of such modifications is expected to be a net weight reduction. The comprehensive load and stress data gathered during these road tests should be useful for engineering design refinements. (Author)