Versatile bulk body
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• A new type of bulk body adaptable to carry grain or potatoes has been developed by the Cranford Engineering Co. Ltd., Mere Platt, Knutsford, Cheshire. Based on a previous bulk body, it has a deeper well made in one piece and an endless-belt conveyor of rubber running on nylon castors.
When carrying potatoes the well is covered by small boards, which are removed manually one by one to feed the potatoes onto the moving belt for rear-end discharge. For bulk grain the discharge system can be converted in a matter of minutes and then provides completely automatic self-discharge. A grain seal, formed of pierced metal panels, replaces the boards and the grain falls through the apertures onto the discharge belt.
Since food processing plants insist upon electric drive for discharge, while grain stores demand hydraulics because of the danger of grain dust exploding, the vehicle has an electric and/or petrol engine at one side and a hydraulic motor at the other: either can be used to drive the belt.
New preservative treatment is now applied to the wooden body, while there have been improvements in the return rollers and front roller _ assembly compared with previous Cranford models, The bodies are suitable for rigids or semi-trailers and can be made in lengths to suit customer requirements.