Development of a
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Moving Floor for Lorries
TN our issue dated June 3rd, 1930, we .1published a description. of a patent
moving floor for goods vehicles. The idea was an excellent one and it is now being actively developed by the Princi pality Wagon Co., Ltd., Portfield House, Adelaide Street,Cardiff, which com-1 pany has works at Terry Road, Cardiff, and at Port Talbot.
The principle of the floor remains unchanged, this conransatiwesm, sisting of an endless belt of , rubber composition, the width of the lorry floor, supported on rollers and kept entirely under geared control. The foremost and the rearmost rollers can be controlled by a handle at either side of the vehicle, the handle being, of course, detachable.
. Some improvements have been made, particularly in respect of the operating gears. These are now totally enclosed in a gearbox and are of a completely foolproof design.
We are informed that orders from both the home and the export markets are steadily increasing, and it would appear that the advantages of this promising invention are being established in actual experience. One concern that has used lorries equipped with this type of floor is a prominent London coal factor, and the conditions of service with this company's fleet are such that coal is dropped from a height of 10-12 ft. straight on to the lorry floors. It has been found that the rubber composition of which this floor is made is not damaged by such severe treatment The flooring is now guaranteed for two years, and, because friction is eliminated, it should wear well. Its resiliency has the effect of reducing the noise in transit of such things as milk churns.
The saving in labour charges is, of course, considerable, and an asset is that part loads can -be discharged at will, a feature which is of value to road authorities and other municipal and contracting bodies, as material can be spread on the' roads instead of being dumped at intervals along the roadsides. Loose material is discharged in a compact heap without the lorry hay
ing to be moved. It can be discharged inside a building where the ceiling is too low for the operation of ordinary tipping gears, and even if the rear of the lorry be higher than the front, as when on an incline.
The floor is also valuable for the loading and discharging of goods packed in sacks and cases, also such articles as faced bricks, slates, tiles, boxes, etc., the need for having one or two men inside the lorry, body for stacking purposes or for bringing the load within reach of the men on the ground when discharging, being entirely eliminated. The vehicle can be loaded or discharged without a single person climbing into it.
The device can, of course, be equally well applied to trailers. • • A factor which is of great importance in connection with a device of this kind and which appears to have had full attention in ,this invention, is that of the friction in the rollers. In the picture reproduced above it will be noticed that a man is able to shift a heavy load, 'using one hand.