ZIL-134: specifications

ZIL-134 is an experienced multi-purpose tractor, created in the 50s of the last century in the USSR. The car was distinguished by the presence of a number of innovative at that time systems, such as multi-link suspension, centralized inflation of tires and others. In terms of the level of development of this technology for several decades, anticipated the development of domestic automotive vehicles with high throughput.

The design organizations of several automobile plants in the USSR, beginning in the mid-1950s, began to intensively develop and construct various equipment for the defense department. Among these organizations was the SKB Likhachev Plant. The head of the bureau was the well-known engineer Vitaly Grachev.

A real all-terrain vehicle

In 1955, under the leadership of Grachev, ZIL experts created an experimental model of the ZIS-E134 artillery tractor. He became a prototype of the "number one" and had extraordinary capabilities and technical characteristics. Having experience in designing such equipment, the design bureau staff began developing the ZIL-134. It was planned that this car will become the medium artillery tractor ATK-6.
A four-axle all-terrain vehicle, the wheel formula of which is 8x8, was designed for towing various trailers and other equipment weighing up to 6 tons over rough terrain. On a ground covering the car pulled to 7,2 tons of weights. On the road with a hard surface - loads and trailers up to 15 tons. In addition, up to 8 people could be accommodated inside the vehicle, as well as up to 4 tons of cargo. These requirements were then matched only by caterpillar technology.

However, engineers were able to develop something unique. In the design of the ZIL-134, technical specialists succeeded in implementing the most progressive and advanced ideas, which were then applied in practice. To ensure high off-road capabilities, each driving bridge was located at the same distance from each other. So, four bridges are installed with an interval of 1450 mm.

Cabin and its equipment

The cockpit was completely organized in the front overhang. The power unit is installed behind it. Overhangs on both sides were minimal. The ladder frame made of extra strong materials easily withstood the most serious loads. The platform, designed for combat calculations, could be equipped with arcs, as well as a tent. If necessary, all this could be dismantled.

The necessary climate inside the cabin for three passengers (which, by the way, had a good visibility) was maintained by the stoves connected to the cooling system of the power unit. Armchairs and backrests easily turned into two places on which you can comfortably sleep. ZIL tractor on the roof of the cabin had a manhole.

Under the hood

The car is a tractor with four driving axles and a wheel arrangement of 8x8. The front four wheels are steerable. At the plant, the engine was developed specifically for this all-terrain vehicle. Under the hood there was a ZIL-134 V12 engine - a gasoline unit, which was first installed after the E134 experience. The volume of this 12-cylinder monster was 10.4 liters. Engine power - 240 hp In general, the power unit was two experimental six-cylinder V-shaped E180. With all the innovations that were implemented in this engine, it worked quite unreliable.
Due to frequent malfunctions and malfunctions in the ignition system, valves and pistons often burned out. Also, the timing mechanism failed. Along with this, regular breakdowns of auxiliary nodes were observed, they broke through and burned gaskets in the cylinder head. With a nominal power of 240 forces, the actual figures were only 200 hp. This was not enough to get the necessary traction and dynamics.

Original features in the design

The power plant was equipped with new systems and mechanisms - they are completely original. This is a centrifugal filter for fine cleaning, hydropushers. The design uses an inertial starter, a pre-heater, operating both on electricity and on gasoline. He made it easier to start a cold engine. The engine was also equipped with a fan shut-off clutch. It was controlled automatically, with two silencers and an expansion tank.

Twin brother

Externally, this car almost repeated the lines and features of the Minsk all-wheel drive vehicle MAZ-535.

This technique was developed in the Minsk Assembly and Design Bureau in 1954 year. The first serial copies were published in the 61st. The car was produced for three years, after which it was replaced by a more powerful tractor model 537. Minsk cross-country vehicle had the same drive system and wheel formula. The differences were only in the technical stuffing, and even then minimal.

Automatic transmission

The driving of the ZIL-134 was greatly facilitated by the presence of an automatic transmission - yes, it is. Particularly relevant was the automatic gearbox on the roads. Transmission of this all-terrain vehicle was two knots - a hydrotransformer, and also a gear box on three steps. CAT - planetary type.

Parallel feeding of the torque to the driving axles was carried out by using a pair of two-stage dispensing boxes. In this case, there was a function of separate connection of the front and rear boxes.
Differentials on single-stage main gears were equipped with a mechanical type interlock. A little later on the ZIL tractor put already self-locking differentials. At different times, different types were used.

In the drives of the front wheels used the most perfect for that period ball joints of the Pts, the feature of which is that they are synchronous. To increase the clearance at 470 mm, the wheel hubs were equipped with gears.

Driving performance

Smooth running and high running performance off-road and in rough terrain this car was provided with an independent suspension. Engineers used the lever-torsion system and telescopic shock absorbers. The course of the suspension was 220 mm. A powerful hydraulic amplifier was used to rotate the two front pairs of wheels.

Brake system and rubber

To a heavy car could reliably slow down in critical situations, engineers developed special brakes. So, the machine is equipped with hermetic shoe mechanisms. As their drive is used pneumohydraulic system.

The car was equipped with special tires with thin walls. Their feature is in ultra-low pressure. The size of the rubber is 16.00-20.00. The pressure inside them ranged from 0.5 to 1.25 kg / cm2. The pressure level was maintained and changed automatically using a centralized system. This positively affected the passability and driving qualities of the tractor. The truck could move even if the tire was punctured or had a lumbago.

The machine was equipped with a drum winch with a cable-laying machine and a forced release of the cable. It was installed between the third and second driving axle. The running capabilities and characteristics of the vehicle's patency were improved due to the absence of protruding parts at the bottom and a smooth pallet. The body is completely sealed, which allowed even the water obstacles on this cross-country vehicle.

On tests

In the winter of 1957, and then in the spring, two cars were built by specialists of the design bureau of the Likhachev plant. They showed excellent results in tests. The tractor ATK-6 for off-road capabilities significantly exceeded the serial model of the ZIL-157 plant. The passability was strongly influenced by the wheelbase of the car (1450 + 1450 mm). The ATV was almost inferior to the crawler models. As for the average speed of the traffic, the car has surpassed ZIL-157 and caterpillar GAZ-47 and AT-C vehicles. At full load the tractor could easily overcome the rises of more than 40 degrees, ditches with a width of 1.5 m, escarp in height of 1 m.

Due to the completely sealed housing, the machine easily passed fords, regardless of their depth. The car was able to move in water at low speeds, about 2-3 km / h.
The machine could pull trailers along, towing planes weighing up to 70 tons.

Other data

The length of the car was 7160 mm, width - 2700 mm, height - 2650. The curb weight of the off-road car - 10 600 mm. The total weight reached 15 tons. For carrying capacity, the all-terrain vehicle was able to withstand a load of 4 tons. The wheelbase is 1450 + 1450 + 1450 mm. The fuel consumption for driving on rough terrain without cargo is 59 liters per 100 kilometers of track. The capacity of the gasoline tank was 500 liters.

Conclusion

So, we found out what the ZIL-134 has technical characteristics. As you can see, this is a car with an interesting history. Live to see such instances now is not possible.