Facilitating the Loading and Unloading of Gas-meters.
Page 49
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TI-U1 problems associated with the transport of gas stoveS, gas-meters and similar appliances may not, at first sight, appear difficult to solve, but in actual fact such articles often create considerable trouble in loading and un
loading. They are heavy, unwieldy, and, by reason of their construction, must not be handled carelessly.
A particular problem which has faced Thomas Glover and Co., Ltd., of Edmonton, the well-known manufacturers of gas-meters and other gas appliances, is that of dealing with what is known as a 1,000-light gas-meter of the dry type. It is to meet the special oonditions connected with the transport of meters of this description that the company has recently purchased the A.D.C. vehicle, equipped with an unusual boarded tilt body, shown in illustrations on this page. This machine is one of three Model 506 A.D.C.s which the company has added to a fleet of vehicles of this make it already has in service.
T h c 1,000-light meter is a very bulky appliance, so much so that only two of its kind can be accommodated in the special body, of which we now propose to give brief details. It is essential that the load should be kept perfectly dry in all weathers, and it is equally desirable that
easy access should be obtained to the meters so as to enable them to be readily handled.
The boarded tilt-type of body was considered best suited to meet these requirements, but that of the ordinary type possesses features which hamper loading and unloading operations when they arc concerned with awkward articles. It was, therefore, decided to make the upper part of the body above the fixed sides in two portions, the rear half being so built that it slides over the front half, thus leaving the rear of the body clear of any superstructure. This movable section is provided with three rollers on each side, which move in runners fixed it the top of the boarded portion of the side.
It will be realized how advantageous this arrangement is for dealing with loads at the docks, as cases, etc., can be lifted direct from the body platform by a crane, without the risk of the roof of the vehicle being damaged. This avoids the need for lowering the cases to the ground level and then lifting them by crane.
The vehicle is fitted with a comfortable cab of A.D.C. pattern, and a 1-in. space separates this from the body. The length of the body is 14 ft., its overall width 7 ft. 6 ins, and the minimum headroom inside 7 ft. "
Outstanding features of the Associated Daimler Model 506 chassis, which serves as the basis of this vehicle, are a fonr-cylintiered engine of 120 mm. bore and 150 mm. stroke, which develops 45 h.p. at 1,000 r.p.m., an inverted cone clutch, a four-speedand-reverse gearbox and a worm-driven rear axle in which the worm is carried overhead. It is a model which has proved popular in many spheres of transport.