Self-contained Mobile Units for Electricity-supply Tasks
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Well-equipped faxlge Outfits Carry Personnel and Equipment for Erecting Poles for Overhead Cables
NEW mobile units that are believed to 'be the first Of their kind to be employed by electricity authorities in the United States have recently been supplied to the Florida Power Corporation, St. Petersburg, Florida. Each outfit forms a self-contained working
• unit carrying all the necessary personnel and materials for various tasks, inchiding the erection of tall poles.
In each case the prime-mover comprises a Dodge ii-ton tractor, which has a power take-off to operate winch gear. The setting up of poles for overhead cables is a substantial joti if performed manually, but the Dodge tractor with an auxiliary crane fitting makes light of the work. The crane is erected ,pnly on arrival at the scene of .operations, its members being housed in the semi-trailer van body during the course of a journey. During its . journeys the Dodge is coupled to a , large semi-trailer, the forward end comprising an enclosed compartment in which the w‘orking crew can travel in comfort.
Inside the van section of the semitrailer there is roomy accommodation for all classes of material and equipment. In addition, there are internal waIl racks for carrying smaller supplies, also external-opening storage spaces for tools and other essentials. Couplings , at the rear of Vie. semi-trailer are specially designed for the quick attachment of pole-carrying units.
Requests from members of the working crews for some such combination vehicle were, at one time, •regarded as impossible to meet, but Mr. John Auer, superintendent of transportation, finally evolved the present solution. The semi-trailer outfit has proved of parlicular value in congested areas, where it can be detached so as to secure maximum manoeuvrability. Before being put into service the machines were subjected to tests under a variety of conditions. Records shciw that operating costs are gratifyingly low as compared with other methods.