Roads and Pavements
Page 42
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PRINCIPAL features of a small vacuum-mechanical sweeper known as the Litterlifter are its compactness and manceuvrability. Produced by the Yorkshire Patent Steam Wagon Co., Pepper Road, Hunslet, Leeds, 10, the machine has been on demonstration this week at the premises of Ray Powell. Ltd., Eastern Avenue. Ilford, who are distributors. A cabless version of the machine was shown at the Public Cleanling Conference at Torquay last June.
The sweeper can be operated in restricted areas and on pavements, besides dealing with both sides of one-way streets. The vacuum system is effective in picking up bus tickets, leaves and so on. The appliance can be used on grass, and no water is required.
Unladen wei ght is approximately 17 cwt., the overall length being 11 ft., width 4 ft. 6 in. (3 ft. 7 in. over body) and height 6 ft. If in. The driver is seated centrally at the front and is protected by a curved Perspex windscreen extending from floor to roof.
A tricycle undercarriage is employed, the two rear wheels being driven by a single-cylindered petrol engine, which is governed. A special gearbox gives independent drives to the road wheels and road brushes. Three forward speeds and one reverse are available. There are two clutches, one for gear changing and the other for "inching" in confined spaces.
Hopper capacity is 1 Cu. yd„ and the vacuum system consists of an exhaust fan driven directly from the engine and provided with filters. The sweeping brushes are adjustable to allow for 6 in. of wear. No lifting gear is required. The side brushes can be lifted manually.
Although the relationship in speed between the side brushes and main sweeping brushes is fixed, three different rates of scouring are available.
At present a 3i h.p, engine is employed and has a fuel consumption of 1-2 gal. per day. With this engine a gradient of 1 in 7 can be tackled. Later, the engine is to be increased to 5 h.p. The price is likely to be about £1,750.
It was noticed after a demonstration on Tuesday that dirt and litter had been thrown well to• the rear of the hopper, which can be lifted by hand-operated hydraulic rams to discharge the contents.
BEDFORDS MONOPOLIZE LORD MAYOR'S SHOW
C'OR the second year running, Bedford
vehicles virtually monopolized the Lord Mayor's Show in London last Saturday. Every float was carried on a Bedford oil-engined articulated lorry, and the only other vehicle on parade was an Automobile Association Land-Rover.
Six of the Bedford tractors came from J. Spurling, Ltd., three from the Trinity Wharf Co., Ltd., three from 1. Leftley. Ltd., and one from the Ham Wharfage Co., Ltd.
It is believed this was the first time all the float-carrying vehicles had been oil-engined.