An Improved Range of
Page 35
Page 36
Page 37
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
MUNICIPAL APPLIANCES
First Details oj the Latest Dennis Vehicles for Refuse Collecting, Gully and Cesspool Emptying
AN• enviable reputation for the quality of its vehicles and appliances designed for municipal work has been earned by Dennis Bros., Ltd., Guildford, since its first specialized model for this class of work was supplied to Chipping Wycombe in 1921. This machine was a vacuum-type cesspool emptier designed to operate hygienically and thus obviate offensive effluvia, Three years later, appeared the first Dennis gully emptier and a reIu.se collector witha special body. At about the same time, street watering and washing machines were produced. During the war which bias just Concluded, the company built a large number of cesspool emptiers for service on rapidly constructed aerodromes, It might have been thought' that the immediate post-war types had reached almost the limit of quality in operation and construction, but that this is not the case is proved by the latest range
of refuse collectors, gully and cesspool emptiers, all of which embody many well-thought-out improvements.
The refuse collectors are particularly
interesting, in • that the chassis
employed closely resembles that for the new Pax 5-toriner. It has, however,,, smaller wheels, to give a low loading height, whilst the forward control enables the provision of a large-capacity body on •a short-wheelbase chassis. ,affording excellent manceuvrabiliw. When necesSary, a double Cab can be provided. This detracts surprisingly little from the loading space. Four extra interior seats are hinged on the back of this, and there is one seat at the near side of the engine, so that the driver and five loaders can be carried in comfort and protected from inclement weather.
• Each engine in the range is the same as on the Pax; having a bore and stroke of 100 mm. and 120 mm., respectively, but it is equipped with renewable cylinder liners.
To afford strength and lightness in / the frame, this has manganese-steel side members al 50-ton tensile. Each cab ii of all-steel, welded construction, the square-section tube used for the main' members making it exceedingly strong for its weight, Welding is also largely
• eitployed for the steel bodywork, so that obstructions to refuse are avoided.
Accessibility is one of the most note.worthy features. During a recent visit we timed the removal of an engine from when the work commenced on the cab to the time the power unit touched the floor. The cab was lifted off in 8.5 mina., and the total time for the operation was 20.5 mins., with only two men engaged on the task. At one period, every overhaul meant that a vehicle might have been in the shops for six' to eight weeks; now, big users can keep a spare engine ready and make the complete change-over in two hours or less, and this, lemember, in a forward-control machine. Other operators can obtain an " exchange unit from the rn aker.
The cab is mounted on spring-loaded rubber cushions,the rear mountings being incorporated with the brackets for the hydraulic tipping.
All wiring is in loom form, and there is a junction box on the off-side member, so that only two connections have to be broken. There is a hatch in the cab roof, and tackle can be dropped through this for attaching to the hook of a special lifting beam.
Other points in accessibility are that the gearbox lid can be lifted without removing the cab, so as to gain access to the selector rods, whilst removal of the near-side engine cowling expos a all the auxiliaries. The exhaust pipe from the manifold is held by a hinged stirru with one locking screw. The Cab windows are bolted into position and can be replaced rapidly.
Various types :of body can be provided, and some are illustrated. A Fopular type is the 10-cubic-yd. (4-too) collector, with a loading level of 4 ft. 3i ins., for the shoulder-tipping of bins. This has galvanized steel shutters, *26 which are pulled down by a hooked rod, one of which is provided at each side of the vehicle, The body is 6 ins. wider at the rear than at the front, and this feature, with a /15-degree tipping angle, clealE. the load rapidly. The hydraulic tipping gear employed is the Edbro, mounted across the chassis behind the cab andhaving only two unions; the pump is on the gearbox.
Then there is the 12-cubicyd. side loader with sliding side panels hung on Coburn tracks. Two over-the-centre spring clips lock each panel.
We saw also a 12-cubic-yd. model with a Derby-type body. This has corrugated flexible push-up shutters, all of which could be opened together.
The largest machine is a 14-cubic-yd. barrier loader, the rear steps of which swing up to form part of the tipping floor. The barrier is suspended on rollers and swings out for tipping.
In the new gully emptiers, the suction pipe and balance arm are formed integrally, thus greatly economizing in rubber, and so arranged that gullies can be emptied at either side or behind the machine. A special floating siphon in the sludge compartment removes excess water and avoids frequent runs to the tip.
The chassis used is the same as for -the refuse collectors, except for normal control, and larger wheels which permit bigger brake drums. There is a forward compartment for clean water for resealing .gullies. The steel tank is galvanized.
To empty cesspools the compartments can be joined" by removing a " manhole " plate in the division.
The rear door. is centrally pivoted and closes on a rubber washer, on which it
is free to bed. The filling pipe on the inside of the door is carried nearly to the top. This enables obstructions to• be blown out, whilst liquid °cannot return. The vacuum pump, which is also used to provide pressure when required, is driven by four V belts, tightened by a jockey pulley and driven from a gearbox power take-off. It is of the vane type, with renewable liner, running at 1,450 r.p.m., and giving 15 lb. pressure or 30 ins. of vacuum. All the air passes through a filter. The life of the belts should be from two to three years, and replacement is simple.
The gate valves employed are particularly interesting. The seats, which are set up at a slight angle, are renewable, but -the bolt holes are so positioned that they cannot be wrongly replaced. The valve itself is in two sections, located together by a ball and socket joint, the ball 'being adjustable to allow for wear
The air pump is reversible, so,tliat sludge can be broken up, the pipe emptied before dismantling and the contents discharged to a higher level if required. Smell is reduced by intro
during sodium .hypochlorite, contained in a 10-gallon ebonite tank at the side The hypo-valve has three positions, to allow for slow or fast filling.
A closed 'container at the rear will take night soil, and, when full, the contents can he sucked rapidly into the main tank. The tank holds 800 gallons and boxes at the side contain 200 ft. of 3-in, suction hose with round-thread couplings. .