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Demountable GOODS body systems ANNE RN
Page 61
Page 62
Page 63
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Speed turnround with tax savings
THE HIGH RATE of taxation on goods vehicles has been an important incentive to bodybuilders and operators to find simple and quick methods of removing bodies— particularly van bodies—from chassis in order to gain the advantage of reduced taxation weights. Another gain with the use of demountable bodies is that loading or unloading operations can be carried out while the vehicle and driver are employed on on their main function—transporting.
In this review, the products of 17 manufacturers in this field are briefly described, showing that the operator has a wide choice of systems and of size and body design from small box containers to high-capacity van bodies with Luton heads or dropwells. Auxiliary equipment such as refrigeration units. pneumatic discharge and hydraulic tail-lifts can be fitted to many of these bodies.
Abelson Motors Ltd,
Coventry Road, Sheldon, Birmingham 26.
THREE systems are offered by this manufacturer. The Abel dra ulic is for heavy-duty applications up to 30 tons. A choice of two orfour ram hydraulics, fitted to the vehicle chassis, is available depending on load requirement and body length. Power is provided by a gearboxmounted pto.
The Abeiair is a pneumatic lift system. The lifting equipment is fitted to the body so that it can be loaded on either skeletal framed or flat vehicles. Twin bellows actuated by compressed air from a vehicle brake line or an air bottle lift the body, one end at a time, allowing the support legs to be lowered.
The Abelmatic is a lighter weight pneumatic system. The lifting equipment is built into a sub-frame mounted into the vehicle chassis and the air supply is taken direct from the vehicle. A manual body-locking device is used on this model.
Arlington Bodybuilders Ltd,
High Road, Ponders End, Middx. •
THE Arlington system of detachable bodies will accept all kinds of bodywork including bodies with Luton heads. The under-frame is built from folded steel sections welded together to form a stiff platform on which the body structure is built; channel-section crossbearers are welded into side-members on which the desired body framing may be mounted. Cross-bearers at the two lifting points are of square hollow-section.
Transverse location is by means of two "skids" welded below the under-frame, which fit between two similarly shaped runners fitted above the vehicle chassis members; the sloping abutment faces of these members allow a tolerance during body mounting and help to correct misalignment, Fore-and-aft location is by means of a shaped trough fitted behind the cab, into which an angle member fits; four screw-operated locks complete the mounting operation.
The lifting jacks are operated in pairs from the offside; the operating handle can be fitted to a direct drive shaft or one with a 5:1 reduction gearing.
Bonallack and Sons Ltd,
Nevendon Works, Pay000ke Road, Basildon.
TWO RAMS, two cones and four legs are the basis of the Loadspeeder system manufactured by this company. Two hydraulic lifting rams, with power return, on the centre line of the chassis mate with two inverted steel cones to form a self-centring device allowing the driver an 11 in, all-round margin of error in locating the chassis correctly under the demounted body. Maximum lifting capacity is 11 tons including the body. Power for the hydraulic lifting system is from a motor driven by the vehicle battery.
The system is operated by two levers on a control box mounted on the chassis. By means of a simple modification a tail-hoist can also be operated from the control panel if required.
Loadspeeder accommodates bodies of all types to maximum legal length, and will accommodate a dropwell floor. The body is secured to the chassis by toggle fasteners and is fitted with retractable legs housed horizontally beneath the body floor. The legs are fitted with self-adjusting telescopic extensions with selflocking gear engaging automatically to the correct ground height. A small wheel at the lower end of the leg extension permits lateral movement and reduces side thrust on the rams.
Booker Motor Bodies Ltd,
Brunel Road, Newton Abbot, Devon.
THE BOOKER Easy Lift demountable body system comprises a PTO/4 piston hydraulic pump unit fitted to the vehicle gearbox, or alternatively an electric-powered pump unit, complete with an operating lever in the cab. A remote throttle control fitted at the rear of the cab gives additional control from ground level. Four double-acting, hydraulic lifting rams are positioned conveniently under the body, two on each side at the front and rear.
The rams are powered by an independent system fed from the hydraulic pump. Each system includes a control valve coupled to a flow divider and pressure relief valve set to a predetermined overload pressure, this ensures a positive synchronized lift and return to all rams. The control valves and pressure relief valves are grouped together on a control panel at the side of the vehicle.
The demountable body is provided with four support legs which also serve in the stowed position to lock the body on the chassis. In some cases additional securing clamps are provided.
I-I. Clarke and Sons (Carriers) Ltd,
10 Bitteswell Road, Lutterworth.
THE Translift Mk II system uses four 12in. lift hydraulic jacks on a chassis skeleton frame. Two van-type bodies are standard with the system. These are 17ft by 7ft ein. by 8ft high and weigh 18cwt. The support legs on the front of the body are detachable, the rears are in the form of a frame which slide up and down and are pegged in position. A cross brace acts as a step for the driver.
The body when in position is supported by three full-width square section bolsters and specially shaped beam ends avoid the need for precision reversing under the body and makes certain that it is correctly positioned.
Power for the hydraulics is taken from the vehicle's electric system.
Any body size within the chassis length can be utilized.
The price of chassis modifications and two standard bodies is £1490. James Cocker and Sons (Southport) Ltd,
Kew Works, Meols Cop Road, Southport.
FOUR main systems have been developed by this company but many variations can be made to cover individual customer problems. The first of the systems is the Kewtainer Mark I which comprises four independently operated hydraulic jacks onto which the container attachment points are fitted together with either pad feet or polyurethane covered wheels.
The containers have special all-steel welded bases which include the reclining pockets for the lift legs to slot in. Once in place the front two and then the rear two jacks are pumped up, allowing the chassis to draw away. The container can then be either left on its lift legs or dropped down on to built-in fold-down legs or on to tressels.
This equipment can handle containers up to 15 tons loaded and when used in multiple pairs take a container of any length.
The Kewtainer Mk 111 is similar to the Mk 1 except for the fact that the four hydraulic pedestals are hinged to the body sides. The front two legs have double socket tubes with the forward tube 12in. shorter than the rear; this allows the leg to hinge up to the body sides, when lowered and slid into the side sockets. There is then sufficient space between the legs to allow the rear wheels to pass through. The rear legs are hinged directly under the side rail and secured with a stay.
This particular equipment when fitted to a medium-capacity all-steel or aluminium base is suitable for high-volume low-weight vans and pantechnicons.
Another system—the Kewloader—is basically a standard demountable container complete with hinge-down legs, but fitted on the main runners are eight polyurethane covered wheels. These wheels run in channel tracks on the chassis or semi-trailer and with the aid of a mobile transfer trolley which can be altered in height by the use of the built-in hydraulic ram, can be winched off, towed around the loading area and placed anywhere. The trolleys have a height range of 2ft Oin. to 6ft Oin. with a safe working load of up to 6-1tons. Containers of up to 18ft can be handled easily but larger ones could be accommodated.
W. E. and F. Dobson Ltd, Co/wick, Nottingham.
THREE basic systems are offered by this manufacturer. Mobile hydraulic lifting legs have been developed for use in the handling of ISO containers or custom-built bodies fitted with suitable bottom corner castings. The system comprises four trolley-mounted hydraulic legs each embodying a suitable corner casting with a lock mechanism, quickrelease hose couplings and a corner-braced fitting to give additional stability.
The mobile hydraulic legs are positioned at each corner of the container and the hoses from the mobile power unit connected to each leg.
The Hydraulic System Type 20 comprises four hydraulic legs mounted on suitable crossmembers to which are attached two horizontally mounted hydraulic rams; these are for extending the legs outwards in order to clear the vehicle when attaching or detaching the body, and for automatically locking the body to chassis for travelling on the road. Hydraulic pressure is supplied via a pump driven from the gearbox mounted pto. A relief valve is incorporated in the system to protect the equipment from hydraulic overload. The hydraulic legs are independently operated by a special control valve and can be adjusted to suit the ground surface. During the opera tion of replacing the body on the chassis the hydraulic legs are closed and withdrawn into the body by means of the horizontal hydraulic rams which also automatically centralize and lock the body on to the chassis.
In the Type 41 system all the hydraulic lifting equipment is mounted on the vehicle chassis with the body or container supported on a sub-frame to which is attached four manually operated mechanical legs.
The equipment on the chassis comprises hydraulic rams, control valve, oil tank, relief valve and all necessary pipework. Hydraulic pressure is by means of a pump driven from a gearbox-mounted pto. The location of the sub-frame on the chassis is by means of conical spigots mounted on the chassis with corresponding mating pieces mounted on the sub-frame. The sub-frame is locked to the chassis with four mechanical locks having a 90 deg twist action and of a design which ensures no possibility of being accidentally unlocked during transit.
To unload the body the rams are extended by operating one control valve only, lifting the sub-frame clear of the chassis. The legs are then adjusted and the hydraulic rams are retracted and the sub-frame left standing free on the mechanical legs.
Duramin Engineering Co Ltd,
Harbour Road, Lydney, Glos.
THE Duramin detachable container system utilizes pairs of guide rails mounted on spaced pillars for demounting the container-type body. Roller wheels attached to the body engage on the rails, lifting the body as the vehicle is reversed between the rails. A locking device is incorporated in the rails to secure the demounted body.
A mounting frame is attached to the vehicle chassis and this also has locking devices which connect with the underframe of the container body.
Hazlemere Motor Co (Waltham Abbey) Ltd, Waltham Abbey, Essex.
THREE systems are offered by this manufacturer. The -D-Mounttype A is a simple low-cost system for furniture and high-volume traffic. The body is lifted by screw jacks and secured to the vehicle chassis by large, pivoted mounting bolts. Location of the body on to the chassis is by means of a Sureguide wheel and locating forks and when mounted it rests on high-tensile steel pins to prevent longitudinal and transverse movements.
The type 13 has hydraulic lifting rams built within the body structure making its operation independent of the chassis. A 12V electrohydraulic unit powers the rams for up and down movement. The system is protected against power or hydraulic failure. The body can be mounted on any chassis fitted with a suitable sub-frame or can be lowered to the ground.
The type C is a low-cost hydraulic system with four single-action lifting rams fitted to a sub-frame on the vehicle chassis. Power is taken from the vehicle battery to an electrohydraulic unit mounted on the chassis.
Marsden (Coachbuilders) Ltd,
Longshaw Street, Warrington, Lancs.
THE Marsden Transload system incorporates a rear-mounted Edbro double-acting hydraulic ram which operates two hinge-mounted rectangular-section runners that fold outwards and upwards to elevate the body. A Davies Magnet fifth-wheel is mounted at the front of the vehicle chassis and this engages a pin on the underside of the body to lock the body in place. The single ram is adequate for laden bodies of vehicles up to 16 tons gross and provision is made in the linkage for two rams if these are needed for heavier bodies.
The hydraulic lift is actuated by push button and the only manual operation is the positioning of the retractable support legs. The rear legs are fitted with wheels to enable the demounted body to be moved at will using any tractive unit fitted with a fifth-wheel coupling.
A safety device is incorporated in the hydraulic lift.
Northern Transport Engineering Ltd,
28 Finings Avenue, Langley Park, Co, Durham
A COMPLETELY NEW demountable body system consisting of a mobile lifting device and special body-locking pins, chassis and body cross-members and support legs is manufactured by this company. Bodies can be constructed to any size or specification, or the pins and cross-members supplied for use by other bodybuilders. The design is such that bodies can be locked to, or unlocked from the chassis in a matter of seconds.
The lifting device consists of two rams either pneumatically or hydraulically powered, mounted on a mobile trolley. One ram is in a vertical position and the other is horizontally mounted on a telescopic attachment on the trolley. The device is easily positioned manually beneath one end of the vehicle: the telescopic attachment is actuated positioning the lifting rams beneath each side of the vehicle. The hinged ram is then moved to the vertical position and the two rams are then actuated lifting the body clear of the chassis, and two support legs inserted in specially located positions. The operation is repeated at the other end of the vehicle and the chassis can then be withdrawn. A complete change of body can be made in less than 10 minutes. It is claimed that the advantages with this system are that there are 2ci moving parts nor maintenance required on the chassis, and the achievement of minimum taxation weight with maximum pay load.
One lifting device can be used for any number of vehicles and bodies can be demounted at any point where there is a firm surface. The device is easily transported and can be used in the event of a breakdown.
A. C. Penman Ltd,
Heathhall Works, Heathhall, Dumfries.
A CHOICE of four systems is available, one using independent legs, one with fitted legs and the other two using ground mounted equipment. The Jack Leg System uses four independent legs which are plugged into the body when it is to be removed, The body is raised by winding up the legs either manually or with an electric tool specially designed for the purpose.
The hydraulic system has the landing legs attached to the body. The hydraulics are manually powered.
A third system uses tapered ramps permanently fixed to the ground at the loading point. Roller tubes. which are fitted into the body when it is to be removed, roll up the ramp as the vehicle is reversed lifting the body clear of the chassis.
The fourth system makes use of manually operated parallel bars between which the vehicle is reversed. The bars are raised and lift the body by means of four projecting tubes slotted into the body.
THE Pengco Load-O-Matic system is available in two basic types: one is a chassis installation which comprises chassis guide rails, hydraulic lifting equipment, pto and pump assembly and the appropriate controls, the other a standard Load-O-Matc body frame which consists of the two main runners with guide rollers fitted at the front and four retractable support legs.
The equipment is suitable for all models of rigid chassis, ranging from 3-tonners up to and including eight-wheelers.
Two hydraulic rams are used for lifting and these are mounted over the back axle. A hydraulic cross-lock and hooks at the front end of the guide rails lock the body in position and this is indicated by a warning light on the dashboard. The support legs are held in place —either up or down—by quick-release safety catches.
Rolialong Ltd,
Southampton Road, Ringwood, Hants.
SWOP BODIES offered by Rollalong Ltd are available in various sizes suitable for use with chassis equipped with either skeletal frames or conventional flats. Bodies can also be supplied so that two or more may be carried on a large vehicle for trunking operations, and may then be mounted on smaller vehicles for local delivering.
Demounting can be carried out by any one of four method s:— CO Hydraulic lift-off, either hand or power operated, enabling the driver, by means of four hydraulic rams incorporated in the chassis with suitable cross-beams. to adjust and secure the standing legs and then, having retracted the rams, to drive the vehicle clear.
(2) The gantry method, using a four poster gantry which is suitable for linear positioning of the bodies, or a trolley gantry which enables movement of the body, after demounting, over suitable surfaces such as a warehouse or yard. The 22-ton Universal trolley gantry can be used in this way in conjunction with fully laden 20ft ISO freight containers.
(3) Employing fork-lift trucks where many bodies are in use.
(4) Using hand-operated jacking legs which are also available.
Ronway Engineering Co Ltd,
246 Western Road, Southall, Middx,
A SELF-CENTRING demountable body system manufactured by Ronway Engineering is completely self-aligning and can be mounted or removed without the need to ensure that the carrying vehicle is perfectly straight beneath the body.
A sub-frame is mounted on the vehicle chassis and this is ramped at both ends. At the front end are two locating and securing lugs and towards the rear of the frame, situated in the top flange, are two recesses designed to accept the treads of the body rollers. Guideflanges are built up on the insides of the tracks and at the rear end these are tapered to form leads for the rollers.
A pair of electro-hydraulic jacks are situated between the main frames at the rear: they provide for a total lift of 6in.
At the front of the body a pair of rollers is mounted in frames, these rollers being set to run on the top flange of the chassis sub-frame. When landed the body is supported by four swinging and extending legs. Provision is made for two height settings: the legs telescope and hinge up to park beneath the body while on the mad.
The main feature of the design is a plate of the fifth-wheel type mounted between the rear ends of the chassis sub-frame members and a swinging A-frame which carries .a kingpin that can be moved to the appropriate height. This allows the chassis to be placed under the body without the need for ultraaccurate positioning as the chassis plate has a tapered lead which provides for a lateral location of the body over a distance of 7in. either side of the centre-line.
The jacking system is powered both up and down, the operating lever being connected to the securing locks via a Bowden cable so that there is no chance of the body being raised without the locks being retracted.