35-ton Dual-purpose Semi-trailer
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ASPECIAL drop-frame trailer for payloads of up to 35 tons has recently been completed by Carrimore Six-Wheelers, Ltd., North Finehley, for HadfleIds, Ltd., of Sheffield. The unit is intended for the transport of a
10-ft.-diameter steel ladle, inside Hadfield's East Hecla steel works, and also 35-ft. lengths of finished steel.
Overall length of the 8-ft.-wide trailer is 32 ft. 6 in., and the well is 20 ft. long. Two heavy full-width bolsters sup4ied with the trailer can be fitted at any of four positions in the well (at spacings of 5 ft.) to provide supports for the load when lengths of steel are tarried.
The main frame of the trailer is two 10-in. x 6-in. I-section steel joists, plated at the top and bottom flanges with 8-in.-wide strips of 1-in.-thick steel, whilst the outside frame sidemembers are of 10-in. x 4-in, steel channel. A i-in.-thick steel-plate floor is welded to the frame, both in the well and on the 5-ft. 0i-in. raised portion of the trailer.
Supporting the front of the trailer, through a heavy-duty ball-bearing turntable and sub-frame, is a full width front axle, which carries twin tyres at each side. A heavy towbar pivots on a plate at the front of the sub-frame and incorporates a support leg which can be let down when the trailer is detached from the towing vehicle.
Twin, removable rear axles carry pairs of wheels located in line, suspension being through leaf springs mounted in heavy cantilever arms. fitted to the rear of the drop platform. Specially fabricated jacking pads fit into sockets incorporated in the frame on both sides, immediately in front of the rear wheels. These are used when it is required to jack up the rear of the trailer to remove the axle units for loading purposes.
Brake application is through a twoline air-pressure system, with brake cylinders mounted on the rear-axlecarrying members, and a third in the centre of the front axle.