A ROBUST TRAILER FOR 30-TON LOADS.
Page 60
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Details of an Eagle Engineering Co. 's Product for Very Heavy Haulage,
ALMOST every day one sees further development in road transport. A few years 'ago the idea of a trailer that would carry a load of 30 tons would have been considered, if not exactly preposterous, at any rate verging upon extravagance. Yet ,to-day the announcement of such a vehicle being built to suit the special requirements of a heavy haulage contractor does not create the stir that would have been imagined. ,The fact is that we have all become accustomed to heavy loads being transported by road on suitable vehicles.
The particular trailer in question has been built to the order of Norman E. Box, the heavy haulage specialist, and will be used for transporting heavy electrical machinery and general mechanical appliances. )is will be seen from the illustrations, everything about the vehicle is of a robust nature—as well it might be—and obviously strong enough to carry even more than its normal rated load.
It would seem advisable to commence a description by first taking into consideration the construction of the platform. With the exception of the wheel arches, the floor is built of a framing of steel channels with solid oak fillings, the assembly being no less than 6 ins. thick. Immense strength is therefore imparted to the structure, which is obviously quite capable of taking a load unevenly distributed.
The front axle, of roughly similar design, is mounted beneath a turntable. The construction of the wheel mounting in articulating members is au almost exact replica of the rear arrangement, but there are only two trunnions instead of four for the axle. A normal type of turntable is used, the outside diameter of the circular part being sufficiently wide to give adequate location for the platform on to the chassis. The trunnions carrying the axle are fitted to the under-side of a box girder formation, an extension of which terminates in the drawbar fittings.
Each of the four rear wheels is fitted with internal-expand
big brakes in drums of 18 ins. diameter. The brakes are -j operated in pairs by hand wheels mounted at the rear of the vehicle.
A few particulars regarding the general dimensions of the vehicle may not be out of place. The platform has an area of 135 square ft., being 18 ft. long by 7 ft. 6 ins. wide. The loading height is approximately 3 ft. 3 ins. As no springs are included in the layout, this dimension should remain quite constant no matter whether the vehicle is fully laden or empty. In order to provide adequate clearance for the turntable, the front set of wheels are smaller than those at the rear. These (the front wheels) are equipped with twin 26-in. by 6-in, solid tyres, whilst the rear tyres are twin 160 mm. for 670 min, solids, all being mounted on cast-steel wheels. The weight of the trailer itself is Si tonS. •
From axle to axle (the virtual wheelbase) measures 10 ft. 4 ins., the rear pair of wheels being situated 22-i ins, on each side,of the virtual centre line of this axle, whilst the front wheels have a pitch of 16 ins. on each side of the centre of the articulating member.