A New Body for Live-stock Transport.
Page 29
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TBE motor vehicle, in one form or another, has won its way into much favour for a variety of duties associated with the work of the farmer, and in one direction in which it is making appreciable headway is in connection with the transport of sheep and cattle. For such work it is found that the specially equipped motor vehicle offers several distinct advantages. It provides more convenience and quicker transport than the railway, but what, perhaps, is of greater importance is that it avoids the
need for droves of animals being driven along the highway, not only to the detriment of the physical condition of the beasts, but to the annoyance of other road users.
It is not surprising, therefore, that many minds have been turned to the question of designing a special type of body for conveying farm stock, and one of the latest contributions to the subject is credited to Charles Roberts and Co., Ltd., Rorbury Junction, near Wakefield, which has recently designed the interesting type of body shown in accompanying illustrations.
In this case the body is mounted on Karrier C12 2-ton chassis, and some idea of its size can be gauged from the fact that it internal dimensions are as
follow :—Length, 11 ft. ins.; width, 6 ft. 81 ins.; depth, 7 ft. 4 ins. The last-named dimension will clearly indicate that it is possible to divide the body into two tiers when comparatively small animals are being transported.
The top deck is actually divided into sections which can easily be lifted out and stored at the front end of the bottom compartment, or they can be placed in guides which are provided at suitable points, and thus divide the vehicle into three separate stalls. The capacity of the body is approximately 20 sheep on each platform. To prevent the possibility of rolling, particularly when part of the load is being carried on the upper platform, the rear of the chassis is provided with auxiliary quarter-elliptic springs, in addition to the normal form of suspension.
The rear door is divided into three sections, and folding lattice gates are provided at the rear which are normally employed for closing each of the corn
Partments separately, but these can also be used as side pieces for the lower ramp, thus serving as guides for the animals when they are being loaded or unloaded and avoiding the risk of accident to the beasts through falling off at the sides.
For reaching the lower deck, the sections enclosing the rear are used as a ramp, but a special form of ramp is employed for loading and unloading animals from the upper deck. This consists of a narrow gangway with deep sides, held rigid by suitable hoops disposed at intervals along its length. This ramp is made in two pieces and, when not in use, can be stored below the rear of the vehicle.
It is essential from the sanitary point of view that on all classes of vehicle used for the conveyance of sheep and cattle adequate provision should be made for draining, and, in the ease of the Roberts body, both decksare drained to the rear of the vehicle.
In our group of pictures, one of the illustrations shows the decks in position when sheep or pigs are to be carried, whilst in another the upper deck floor is removed, the sections being used for partitioning the body when cattle are to be transported.