Steel Hopper Trailers for 13-ton Loads
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POSSIBLY the largest outfits of their type ever made in Britain, three hopper-type four-wheeled trailers for the transport of burnt limestone or hydrated lime have been built by Mick'cover Transport, Ltd., Whitby Avenue, London, N.W.10, for the Alkali Division of Imperial Chemical Industries, Ltd., Northwich. Cheshire. Payloads of over
13 tons can be carried.
The vehicles are mounted Ltd., built this weldedon four Crane oscillating two-wheeled bogies, those at the front being arranged to steer in Ackerman fashion. Michelin Metallic D20 tyres inflated to 105 p.s.i. are fitted and rubber wings are provided.
The hoppers are of +-in, welded-steel plate, except for the domed roof. which is of *-in. plate. For a depth of 2 ft. 8 in., the sides of the hopper are straight, but the lower portions slope inwards, whilst the ends slope for their full length.
Laid on the top of the bogies is a quadrilateral framework of triangular cross-section, which serves as a chassis in the sense that it bears the weight of the hopper. The inward hypotenuse faces of the framework are at complementary angles to those of the ends and lower sides of the hopper. The front and rear components of the framework are reinforced with webs, and have detachable inspection covers.
The bottom of the body is formed into four ports to which are attached special manually controlled outlets made and supplied to the bodybuilders by the customers. Downward actuation of a lever on each outlet causes a curved plate to slide upwards, and the rate atwhich_ material can be dropped is variable.
The unloading apertures are 1 ft. high from the ground. To the side of each port is a pad to which a Riley Stoker Syntron vibrator may be attached to assist discharging of the load.
Mick'cover's method of fabrication was to weld the parts of the hopper body on the factory floor in its erect position, and then to turn it upside down, by means of overhead lifting tackle, to facilitate welding of the box framework to the body sides, With this done, the body was turned upright for the attachment of the bogies.
Loading is through two long apertures in the roof between which there is a smaller hole in the centre. These have rubber-sealed covers clamped down by eccentric-cam and lever systems. On each side of the roof is a walkway.
Foden-Gardner 5LW tractors are used in conjunction with these outfits, which are 22 ft. long (excluding towbar), 8 ft. wide and 12 ft. 4+ in. high overall. The bodies themselves are 19 ft. 2 in. long, 7 ft. 6 in, wide and 10 ft. 6 in. deep.
PANEL TO DISCUSS DECLINE OF BUS TRAFFIC
APANEL of five members will discuss the future of short stage services in the face of dwindling traffic, resulting from competition from personal transport and increasing costs, at the annual conference of the Institute of Traffic Administration at Blackpool from May 16-18.
Mr. H. Backhouse, Mr. H. 13ottomley, general manager of Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., Mr. R. Cox, general manager of Rochdale Transport Department, Mr. J. C. Franklin, general manager of Blackpool Transport Department, and Mr. F. Douglas Walker will comprise the panel.