Extra-rigid tilt structure
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• Merriworth (Engineering) Ltd, has further improved its Openspan 11R tilt-covered superstructure by using a more rigid method of locking the top of the side pillar to the roof rail. Conventional pillar locations using pinned drop-in socket joints are replaced by two square bars pivoted from the roof rail to each side of the pillar.
When swung downwards the bars locate in channels welded to the pillars and are locked in position by spring loaded plungers. To remove the pillars the bars are swung up and locked under the roof rail.
The company has already incorporated wedge-action "shake-tight" sockets for bottom pillar locations and the further improvement to top structure fastness, it is claimed, will eliminate racking and lozenging of the superstructure and make the roof more rigid especially when side pillars are removed for side loading access.