New lift for heavy
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loads from Ratclif
• A completely new design of tail-lift, capable of lifting up to 8 tons, has been developed for Lansing Bagnall by John Rateliff (Tail Lifts) Ltd.
Until now Howard Tenens Ltd. which undertakes the delivery of all Lansing Bagnall fork-lift trucks, has been heavily dependent on the facilities provided by customers for the off-loading of trucks at its premises. With this new tail-lift, however, this dependence is no longer necessary.
Unlike most tail-lifts, which operate on a cantilever principle, the new unit is supported from its middle. As the accompanying diagrams show the lift's columns are swung clear of the vehicle by means of a parallelogram linkage. The lifting columns then rest on the floor a few feet from the back of the vehicle. All the lifting loads are, therefore, fed straight into the ground without straining the vehicle itself.
Despite the complicated movements involved, the entire operation is carried out by only two Robar manufactured hydraulic rams powered by a pto-driven pump. The only loads carried by the vehicle during the lifting operation will result from any imbalance about the platform centre and will therefore be relatively small. A cross pressure-balancing system ensures the platform is kept level, and selfadjusting feet allow the lift to be operated on ground with up to 6in. misalignment. Overall height when in the folded travelling position is I4ft 6in.I and the weight of the equipment is betweer 2 and 2+ tons.
Several fail-safe d vices are incorporated which prevent the lift being operated in the wrong sequence, or if ground conditions are not safe.
So far one 8-tontail-lift has been undergoing field trials fo the past nine weeks and as a result of these it is probable that six more units will be ordered for Tenens.
During a demonstration last week the company's chairman, Mr John Ratcliff, said that, as a result of the takeover of Anthony Carrimore Ratcliff would be embarking on an expansion programme particularly in the manufacture of tipper gear and hydraulic components. No changes to the management of either company was envisaged and production of Carrimore's trailers and car transporters would continue.