Moto Guzzi Mulo Meccanico

Moto Guzzi "Mulo Meccanico"
mil. Name: Autoveicolo da Montagna Tre-per-Tre
General properties
crew	1
length	3.00 m
width	1.57 m
height	1.42 m
Dimensions	1.5 t
agility
drive	Petrol engine, 0.8 l 14.7 kW (20 PS)
suspension	front coil spring rear rubber
Top speed	50 km / h (road)
Power / weight	13.3 hp / t

The "Mulo Meccanico" (German mechanical mule ) was a tricycle produced by the Italian motorcycle manufacturer Moto Guzzi . Also known under the name Autoveicolo da Montagna Tre-per-Tre (German mountain vehicle 3 × 3), it was produced in the period from 1959 to 1962 exclusively for the mountain units of the Italian army ( Alpini ). The single-seat transport vehicle can carry 500 kg payload and has an adjustable track. It also has all-wheel drive and can be equipped with chains for the rear wheels. The off-road tricycle was very suitable for the sometimes impassable mountains of Italy. Depending on the source, around 400 or around 500 vehicles were produced. From 1979 onwards they were phased out and replaced by a completely different concept.

history

During the Second World War, Moto Guzzi supported the Italian army with the Moto Guzzi 500 Alce, which was equipped for military purposes . On the basis of this motorcycle was 1,941 tricycle Moto Guzzi TriAlce developed. As usual with these designs, the front part of the motorcycle was retained up to the driver's seat and behind it an axle with two wheels and a loading area or two seats side by side and a machine gun mounted. After the war, similar constructions were made for civilian use (for example Moto Guzzi Ercole ).

In the 1950s the Italian Ministry of Defense pushed through the general motorization of the army. The army's vehicle fleet was modernized and the units in the mountain regions were to get motorized means of transport. In 1959, Moto Guzzi was commissioned to develop an all-terrain three-wheeled transport vehicle for the Alpini of the Italian army. One goal was that the vehicle could also drive the mule tracks in the mountains and also tracks that are unsuitable for mules . The vehicle was submitted for testing in the year of the order. Series production ran from 1960 to 1962 and around 500 (other sources mention around 400) three-wheelers were manufactured.

In 1974, the first attempts to replace the "Mulo Meccanico" with a new vehicle began. For this purpose the company Fresia SpA developed a prototype, the Fresia F 10 . A mobile transport platform with a gasoline engine and hydrostatic transmission , all-wheel drive and all-wheel steering, where the driver either walks behind the platform or sits down to steer the vehicle. From 1979 the further developed version Fresia F 18 was introduced to the Alpini and the Moto Guzzi "Mulo Meccanico" was gradually phased out.

• 

  Moto Guzzi 500 TriAlce

• 

  Moto Guzzi 500 Ercole (1960)

• 

  Fresia F 18

Name of the vehicle

It can be assumed with a high degree of probability that the name Mule Meccanico is not the actual company name. From the Ministero difesa - esercito (German Defense Ministry - Army) it got the name Autoveicolo da Montagna Tre-per-Tre (German mountain vehicle 3 × 3) and at Moto Guzzi the department Servizio Tecnico Motorizzazione Esercito - Moto Guzzi (German technical Service Motorization Army - Moto Guzzi) responsible.

Description of the vehicle

Mulo Meccanico with mounted chains

engine

The engine is a two-cylinder four-stroke petrol engine. Its cylinders are at a fork angle of 90 ° as V to each other. Each cylinder has an intake and an exhaust valve. The valves are controlled by a central camshaft via tappets, push rods and rocker arms. A Weber 26 IMB1 was used as the carburetor. The engine's dry sump lubrication is supplied by two pumps driven by gear wheels. One for the conveyance and one for the recovery of the lubricant. 5.4 kg (6 liters) of lubricant is available. Due to the expected low speeds of the vehicle in the field, the air-cooled engine was provided with a centrifugal fan directly on the extended crankshaft and the cylinders are encased in order to achieve the best possible cooling. The motor is installed lengthways in the middle below the driver's seat. The entire drive system, including the gearbox, differentials and shafts, is inclined backwards by approx. 15 °. For operations in very cold areas, the vehicle has an auxiliary battery to support the main battery when starting the engine. If both batteries fail, the engine can also be started by hand. The front end of the fan shaft has a corresponding toothing for this. The engine later served as the basis for developing the engine for the Moto Guzzi V7 .

Power transmission

The clutch is a single-plate dry clutch. It is operated with the left pedal. The transmission has six forward gears and one reverse gear. The first gear and the reverse gear are provided with sliding gears . The gears of the other gears are in constant mesh. The gearshift lever is located to the right of the driver and is guided in a backdrop. The reverse gear is on the right front, the first gear on the right front and left of the reverse gear. The first and second gears as well as the reverse gear are protected against unintentional engagement by a device. Starting off on the plane is usually done in third gear.

The central differential is attached directly to the gearbox . Here the power is distributed to the front wheel and the rear axle in a ratio of 20% to 80%. The differential can be locked manually and has an additional manual lock that prevents the vehicle from rolling back on inclines. A cardan shaft runs from the differential between the cylinders and below the carburetor to the front of the steering head . Here the force is first transferred to the left and then downwards via a shaft in the shock absorber to the bevel gear on the wheel hub . The gear ratio is 10.2: 1. The rear axle is driven by an axle differential attached directly to the central differential . This differential can also be locked manually. In the differential, the force is routed to a bevel gear on both sides. A cardan shaft is connected to each of these gears, which then transmit the force through the rockers backwards to the bevel gears on the wheel hubs. Here, too, the gear ratio is 10.2: 1.

Structure and chassis

General

The frame is welded from tubes and sheet metal. The entire drive unit is secured with an underride guard. The vehicle is equipped with a steering wheel for safe control. The tank is behind the driver and the backrest cushion is attached to it. It is secured against leakage by a special tank cap.

Wheel suspensions

The front wheel is only connected to the steering head on the left side via the sheathed shock absorber. A coil spring is used as suspension. It is braked by a drum brake in the hub. It is operated hydraulically via a hand lever on the right below the steering wheel.

The rear wheels are individually suspended from a single swing arm and are each sprung by a two-part rubber element. They are braked by drum brakes in the hubs, which are operated hydraulically by the driver on the right-hand side of a pedal. In addition, brackets for one auxiliary roller each are attached to the wheel hubs. An auxiliary roller consists of two small disc wheels. Together with the respective wheel, they form a wheel pair for the use of a chain. In order to apply the required contact pressure of the auxiliary rollers, a spiral spring is attached to the outer sides of the wheel hubs of the rear wheels. The chains increase the climbing ability considerably. In addition, both rockers are connected to one another via a gearbox and two cardan shafts. This gear is used to adjust the track. The driver can change the lane from 850 mm to 1300 mm, or in the opposite direction, with a lever to the left of his seated position. A distance of 25 m is required for this. Adjusting the track while standing is only possible with a special tool.

Climbing ability

Because of its free-standing front wheel, the “Mulo Meccanico” has no theoretical limits in terms of climbing ability. A popular element for demonstrating this ability was approaching vertical walls, trees, posts or the like.

Technical specifications

Remarks

1. ↑ 4.7 kpm was calculated by Quattroroute magazine. The basis was that the manufacturer specified the highest torque at 2400 rpm, but not the value. According to Quattroroute, the engine delivers 15.8 hp at 2400 rpm. (For calculation see torque )

Individual evidence

1. ^ ^{A b c} Bart H. Vanderveen: The Observer's Military Vehicles Directory From 1945. Frederick Warne & Co. LTD, London 1972, p. 234.
2. ↑ ^{a b c d e} Jasper Spencer-Smith: A Complete Directory of Military Vehicles. Anness Publishing Ltd., Wigston 2012, p. 71.
3. ↑ ^{a b c d e f g h i j} G. Madaro: Il "mulo" meccanico. in Quattroruote October 1970, pp. 128-134.
4. ↑ Bart H. Vanderveen: The Observer's Fighting Vehicles Directory World War II. Frederick Warne & Co. LTD, London 1969, p. 310.
5. ↑ Bart H. Vanderveen: A Source Book of Military Wheeled Vehicles. Ward Lock Limited, London 1972, p. 69.
6. ↑ Shaun C. Connors, Christopher F. Foss, Melanie Rovery: IHS Jane's Land Warfare Platforms - Logistic, Support & Unmanned. IHS Global Limited, Coulsdon 2016, ISBN 978-0-7106-3213-5 , pp. 353-354.
7. ↑ Bart H. Vanderveen: World Directory of Modern Military Vehicles - Unarmored Vehicles From 1970. Arco Publishing, Inc., New York 1984, ISBN 0-668-06022-0 , p. 89.
8. ↑ MULI E ALPINI - IL MULO MECCANICO Website of Secondo Sessantasei. Retrieved April 30, 2019
9. ^ Ministero difesa - esercito: Autoveicolo da Montagna 3 x 3, norme per uso e manutenzione (German Ministry of Defense - Army: Mining vehicle 3 × 3, rules for use and maintenance), manual, title page
10. ↑ La STORIA del MULO website of Moto Guzzi 3x3 "Mulo Meccanico". Retrieved April 30, 2019