Increasing the Pay Load
Page 39
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A METHOD by which the pay-load ..ticapacity of a Sentinel DG6 sixwheeled steam wagon can be increased to the extent of 21 tons has recently been devised by the Sentinel Waggon Works, Ltd., Shrewsbury. As all roadtransport operators will be aware, the maximum legal laden weight of a sixwheeled vehicle is 19 tons, whereas an eight-wheeler is permitted a maximum laden weight of 22 tons.
The Sentinel concern has designed a compensated four-wheeled front bogie to replace the ordinary two-wheeled front axle of a six-wheeler, thus converting the wagon into an eight-wheeler; the four wheeLs carry 36-in. by 7-in, pneumatic tyres. All four wheels of the new bogie can be steered, thus making for easy mtuateuvrability.
The conversion adds something like half a ton to the original unladen weight, so that an additional net pay-load of
21 tons can be carried within the laden weight limit allowed by law, for vehicles in the eight-wheeled class.
If, at the same time that the new front bogie be fitted, the opportunity is .taken for replacing the original boiler by a new, small Sentinel boiler, an additional saving of 4 met. in the -unladen weight can be secured. Not only does this result in an even greater pay-load capacity, but it introduces the added advantages of increased boiler efficiency, a useful reduction in the coal consumption, and increased mileage on a tank of water.
Although the supply and installation of the new-type boiler somewhat increases the cost of the conversion, the economies it effects are well worth the extra expenditure incurred. Furthermore, we understand that the complete conversion can be carried out at a reasonable cost.