Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: Industrial Revolution (6)
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Trucks are different from regular cars.
That's because they have to haul massive loads of cargo.
Meaning they need to carry weights that ordinary cars can't handle.
Of course, there are a lot of important parts on a truck, but if I had to pick the top two...
"The transmission and suspension."
Oh, and brakes too.
Those three are the most crucial.
Engines we already have, so we'll skip that.
The transmission is obviously key for properly delivering power.
Shifting gears at the right moments to control output and ensure the power gets through smoothly.
Next up is suspension.
As you might expect, it has to withstand the weight of heavy cargo.
I'm considering leaf springs and hydro-pneumatic suspension.
The problem is they each have clear pros and cons.
Leaf spring suspension—also called plate springs—has the advantages of being cheap and durable.
That helps cut costs and allows for heavier loads.
But it's weak on corners and absorbs shocks poorly.
Drivers tire out quickly, and it's no good on unpaved roads like we have now.
Next is hydro-pneumatic suspension.
In simple terms, it uses gas and oil—a combo of liquid and gas.
This can handle even more weight than leaf springs.
Just think about how it's used on tanks.
"But it's expensive."
Hmm, what if I mix the two?
Hydro-pneumatic up front, leaf springs in the back.
That way, I can manage the weight and still get a decent ride.
"There are other suspensions out there too."
For now, let's go with these two.
They're the first ones that came to mind.
Now for brakes—what to do there?
There are two main types of brakes, and several ways to operate them.
First, the brakes themselves: disc or drum.
Each has pros and cons, but I think drum's the way to go.
"Or maybe offer both versions?"
Hmm, let's start with drum brakes.
They have better stopping power and can handle more weight.
As for the operating mechanism...
"Alright, magic it is."
Yeah, that's what magic's for—why else use it?
I decided to use magic for the brakes.
Before I knew it, the next day had arrived as I hammered out these plans one by one.
"...Gasp! When did I fall asleep?"
Ugh, this has only happened three times in my whole life.
Once back on Earth, once in grad school, and now.
I shot up, wiped the drool from my mouth, and stretched lightly.
Did some proper stretches too.
"Phew, gotta finish the prototype quick."
I gathered the scattered blueprints from my desk and tidied them up.
Then I grabbed one and headed out of the lab.
First up: the chassis frame.
I went to a skilled smithy in Rerangbur.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Luckily, I managed to finish the basic frame without too much trouble.
There were a couple of frustrating moments, but nothing major.
"Now I need to fit all the parts onto this."
Time to set the frame aside and work on the other components.
The trickiest one first: the transmission.
It has to match the engine's output.
Otherwise, it'll overload and break, or shifting will lag.
And power delivery won't be smooth.
Fortunately, I have a test model for the transmission.
Specifically, one from the mining carts.
I asked Katiranya to get it while the frame was being built.
She's here watching now too.
"So, what are you planning to do with that lump?"
"Make a truck. But mining ore and hauling cargo are different, so it'll need modifications all around."
"Hmm. In other words, starting from scratch would take too long, so you're adapting an existing one to save time."
Spot on!
I clapped in approval and handed her a cookie.
Katiranya grumbled about this routine again but took it obediently and munched away.
I watched her for a bit, then turned back to the transmission.
First step: push it to its limits.
Which means we only have data from ore mining.
So, load up the engine, load up the transmission—but tailor the test to cargo hauling, not mining.
Whichever is harsher? The data will tell us.
"And for this, I'll need your help, Katiranya."
"Hmph, why should I?"
She whipped her head away and crossed her arms, pouting.
She used to be this majestic vampire...
Ahem, anyway, the reason was simple.
I hadn't been writing my new novel.
She'd stuck around originally for the stories.
Lately, though, I'd been buried in tech development, neglecting her.
I did provide food, shelter, and clothes, though.
She seemed a bit miffed.
We'd lived together for months now.
Uh, yeah, that sounds weird, but over six months, at least.
"Hmph."
Sigh, no helping it.
Honestly, it felt like she was just pretending to be upset.
But no need to call her out—I just went along with it.
"Katiranya, I'll write a chapter once this is done."
"...Really?"
"Yeah. Might take a few months, though."
"That's fine. Better than waiting endlessly."
Whoa, she caved easier than expected.
I'd braced myself to beg on my knees.
Guess she really was just play-acting.
Anyway, we both got what we wanted.
I brushed it off without dwelling.
And got her help for real.
"Grab it there!"
"Got it."
Using her shadows as makeshift brakes.
"Whoa, don't put that there!"
"Ah, sorry. I'll move it."
A few slip-ups here and there, but no major accidents.
Thanks to her, it wrapped up faster than planned.
I figured it'd take over a week—ended in four days.
"Done. Truck transmission complete. What do you think?"
"It was... an interesting experience. Still doubtful if it'll do the job, though."
We'll know once it's finished.
I treated her to tea and cookies for her efforts.
She took a bite, liked it, and settled in to enjoy.
I left her savoring her snack and moved to the next part.
Plenty of components left, but one big one still pending.
"Brakes. This guy's the real headache."
Materials are tricky, and so is the magic.
I have ideas for both, but it'll mean more experiments and tests.
A sigh escaped me, but without trucks, cargo hauling would cost a fortune and take forever.
"Let's make a prototype first and go from there."
I contacted the smithy I'd used before.
Said I'd visit and wanted to talk to the boss.
Good thing I'd been there recently—talks went smoothly.
We hashed out details and got the green light that day.
Left them the blueprints and materials, then headed out.
The smithy would build it to spec now.
Katiranya, who'd shown up, looked around and said,
"You sure it's okay handing over the blueprints like that?"
"Yeah, no worries. If they want to do business here—or anywhere in the Empire—they won't pull anything shady."
"True, but don't trust too easily."
She's got a lot of worries.
I assured her it'd be fine and suggested having fun until it's done.
She resisted at first but folded when I offered tasty treats.
Hah, too easy.
All those gourmet meals paid off.
Thanks to the family chefs, mostly.
Anyway, we had a date that day.
While half my brain mulled over brake designs and other parts.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Back at the smithy where Edn had dropped off the blueprints and materials, voices were rising in heated argument.
"Hey! That's not how you do it!"
"What do you mean? This is the way!"
It was a spat over processing methods.
Both sides insisting they were right, voices getting louder.
Edn had specified the methods to some extent, but...
"No, that's wrong!"
"I'm telling you, mine's right!"
The smiths' pride wouldn't bend easily.
Then one smith came up with a clever idea.
"Why not do both?"
"Both?"
"Yeah! We've got plenty of materials—might as well try it now."
In the end, they split into two camps, each using their method.
Growling that they wouldn't back down.
"Hey! Hold this!"
"Like this?"
But within each group, they supported one another and kept forging ahead.
The clang of hammers on metal and sweltering heat dragged on until it finally started to die down.
"Yes! Done!"
"Argh! Damn it, failed!"
They'd both started cocky.
But midway, the tide turned.
One side hammered away purely by hand; the other used magic.
There was a setup for it in the corner—they'd agreed one side would use magic.
Usually everyone used it, but pride turned it into a no-magic zone for one group.
The no-magic side lost out.
"Curse that magic!"
And so fortunes diverged.