Improved Loading Devices.
Page 5
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It is interesting to note that many users of commercial motors are at length realizing that greatly improved loading and unloading facilities are necessary. Mr. F. M. Smith. managing director of Associated Coal Consumers, Ltd., a well-known coal merchant, informs us that he has installed at the company's loading wharf a system of interchangeable bodies fitted with rollers, which can be quickly placed in position on the wagons. This company found that, with a five-ton steam wagon, it was only possible to take three ten-ton loads per day. The average time taken in loading both wagon and trailer exceeded two hours. With the introduction of this improved loading and unloading system, this time has been cut down to ten minutes. An experimental track has been laid down at the Brompton and Fulham Coal Wharf, on which a demonstration of the system was made last week. The loaded wagon runs to the wharf and the loaded body is removed and run clear of the wagon on its rollers. The second body is then rolled into position on the wagon, which is then ready to start right away on its next delivery. It should be remembered that. for the supply of coal to private consumers, it is necessary to pack it in bags, each of which is required to be of 2-cwt. capacity. It is this fact which makes it impossible to dump coal in bulk from the wharf on to the wagon bodies. When supplying public institutions, factories, and such like, coal can be supplied in bulk without necessitating separate sacking.
At a test which was held on Thursday. 13th inst., to which members of the Press and the general public were invited, an empty body was displaced and a 5-ton load run into position on the wagon in 41, in in lit es.
At present a train, on which the wagon body can be placed, conveys the unloaded body on to a sidetrack, while the new load is being run into position. It is proposed by the Associated Coal Consumers, Ltd., however, to build loading platforms of a corresponding height to the steam-wagon platform. This method will dispense with the necessity of using the trams, a specimen of which can be seen in the illustration herewith. The working of this system will, no doubt, be watched with the greatest of interest by users who are troubled with delays when loading.