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Low down in tight spots
Page 20
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Access Equipment of Ipswich needs to deliver cranes and the like into busy shopping streets. Raven Trailers has built a low-loader with more manoeuvrability.
by Bryan Jarvis • Trailer chassis innovator Raven Trailers has used some of the operating principles of its Conqueror sliding skeletal trailer to help Access Equipment of Ipswich deliver equipment into the heart of awkward shopping precincts.
Pulled by a Mercedes Benz Actros Low Line 4x2 arctic, the new tandem Meritor-axled lowloader offers exceptional manoeuvrability. It represents a further development of Raven's Drop & Go building block can-ier which has a rear deck section that slides under the main deck when part loads have been delivered.
The adjustable low loader, designated the Load and Go, has an extendable rear end and conventional hydraulic ramps over which tracked and some wheeled machines can climb as normal. It couples to the Actros at 1.0m and has a standard deck height of 1.14m.
Some hydraulically driven wheeled access platforms such as small narrow-track alleyplatform scissor lifts cannot climb angles greater than 80 so the loading ramp angle is critical. To overcome this problem
Raven has fitted novel pneumatic levellers under the ramp's toe ends to reduce the angle.
Before loading such awkward machines the brakes are applied as usual and the suspension is lowered to its stops.
Platform
With both rear ramps lowered the wheeled platform is driven onto the tail and the air levellers are inflated. This raises the aerial platform enough for it to be driven to the front of the trailer and into its transit position.
When carrying a full load of machines the ramps are raised, the suspension is re-inflated, the brakes released and the vehicle is driven away as normal. But with only a single access-platform vehicle on board the decks retract for transit.
To do this the driver activates Raven's patented sliding-chassis system with its Double-C airoperated locking system. With the trailer brakes still locked the tractive unit reverses the neck section until the lock pins grab the rear frame automatically. Raven's Load and Go has a useable deck length of 10.26m within its overall 11.68m extended length so it can handle combinations of small machines, but it retracts to 7.13m at 8.55m overall for short loads.
In the event of a platform losing drive power a remotely operated 13-tonne electric winch mounted in the neck section will help drag it aboard. Raven Trailers has won an order worth more than Lim for 70 of its sliding skeletal trailers for Collease; all have the patented Lock & Go 123 cab-operated chassis locking system.
Raven's new factory on the Whitehouse Industrial Estate, Ipswich is tooled up and jigged out for fast deliveries: the first three will be delivered within a week.