Advanced Features in New Works Trucks
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• Lansing-Bagnal:I Introduce Electric Pallet Truck and Fork Truck and 011-engined Tractor
THREE new models with advanced features—a pedestrian-controlled electric pallet truck, a pedestriancontrolled electric fork truck and an oil-engined works tractor—were demonstrated last week by Lansing-Bagnall, Ltd., when Gen. Sir Ouvry L. Roberts, Quartermaster-General to the Forces, opened an extension of the Basingstoka works. It was announced that another new appliance would be shown for the first time at the Mechanical Handling Exhibition in June, but no details of it were given.
The pallet truck (Model PP230) is notable for the short length of the power unit and battery compartment, which makes the appliance particularly suitable for rnanceuvring in narrow gangways and for loading and unloading railway wagons. The variable-speed shunt traction motor drives by chain to a countershaft mounted on balls and rollers and thence by triplex chain to the front driven wheel. Easy Access
The front guard plate can be readily removed to provide access to the charger, which has a Westinghouse selenium rectifier, and to the hydraulic and drive units. The Exide Ironclad 16v. 154-amp.-hr. battery is removed by elevating the load-carrying forks, placing built-in legs on each side of the battery container, lowering the forks and pulling the truck away from under the battery.
The regenerative and rheostatic braking system has a new and simple control unit. The power lift is controlled by a two-way lever which operates the pump-motor contacts to raise the forks and a sensitive hydraulic valve to lower them. Lifting force is applied through two heavy-duty jacks. A mechanical linkage automatically returns the motor lever to the neutral position at the end of the lift. The speed control is fitted in the handle head and consists Of two press buttons affording forward and reverse motion. Five speeds can be selected, according to the pressure exerted on the ill
buttons. The control handle can steer through an arc of 200°.
Dimensions are as follow:—Overall width, 2 ft. 4 in.; overall length, 4 ft. 51 in. with 3-ft. forks; forks, 3 ft. and 5 ft.; height of forks lowered, 31 in., raised 9/ in. Full lift is completed in 31 sec. The appliance weighs 1,036 lb. and can carry 3,000 lb.
Tire fork truck has a fixed mast and tilting carriage, an arrangement that makes for stability. The forward tilt is 3° and backwards 10°.
This new model generally follows the PF range, but power for lifting and tilting the carriage is provided by a pistontype high-pressure hydraulic pump driven by an electric motor. A solenoid switch operates the motor from contacts on the hydraulic control valve.
A single jack is used to elevate the mast and a chain linkage provides a free lift of 5 ft. 3 in. without increasing the overall height of 6 ft. II in. Twin hydraulic rams tilt the carriage, which is pivoted near its upper edge, so that when tilting with a load, the movement of the centre of gravity of the load is almost vertical. A simple tilt indicator is fitted as standard, but aload-capacity indicator, which takes into account weight and centre of lift, can be provided as an extra. The new model TD200 tractor is available in several variations. One of
them, with a maximum speed of 20 m.p.h., is designed primarily for use on airfields. Other models with lower speeds but greater towing capacity are suitable for use in industry and at railway terminals. "Flat Twin" Oil Engine
An Enfield twin-cylindered horizontally opposed air-cooled oil engine of 1,135 c.c. is mounted at the rear directly above the axle. It develops 16 b.h.p. at 2,250 r.p.m. and is governed to 2,500 r.p.m. It has a compression ratio of 19.5 to 1. Drive from the gearbox, which affords three forward speeds and a reverse, is by duplex chain. Two men can be carried comfortably.
The overall length is 5 ft. 10 in., overall width 3 ft. 4 in., overall height 4 ft:3 in., wheelbase 3 ft. 6 in., turning radius 4 ft. 101 in., and service weight 2,750 lb.
At the opening of the factory extension, Mr. J. R. Sharp, a director, said that it had become urgently necessary to increase output. With the help of the Ministry of Supply, licences which normally took about six months to obtain were granted in three weeks. Production was begun in the first bay within five months of turning the first sod. The company now produced more in a week than they made in the whole of the first year after the war.
Gen. Sir Ouvry Roberts said that at Chilwell the Army handled in one shed 240,-000 different items in continual receipt and dispatch. Next year the Army would be spending nearly £2m. on mechanical-handling devices.