INNOVATION
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JLI Hil -11 rj L.".■ __r Most trailer designs evolve along a variety of routes, usually at the behest of operators with problems to overcome.That was certainly the case when Transport Engineering Service faced trying avoid damaging coach chassis when loading them up for delivery.
It designed and built its own two-deck transporter with a low (7°) loading angle capable of carrying a pair of 11.5m coach chassis. The clever part was to fit rams at the rear that power the deck uprights apart, allowing the chassis to pass between them. A two-part rear door with powered lower section and chain-operated extension acts as a loading ramp and a safety frame when travelling laden.
It is based on a Tasker tri-axled chassis and features a Lister power pack.
Don-Bur's Palletmaster curtained brewery dray has a loading gantry system attached to the ceiling. It sits in a preformed track that protrudes 200mm on the inside and can lift upto 350kg lengthways or sideways by means of a winch rope and safety hook. Its arm extends outwards by 550mm so kegs can be eased down into cellars. Push-burton remote controls provide for easy one-man operation; Don-Bur is developing an automatic grab to widen its appeal. In its present form our judges thought it noisy but it's innovative with a number of commendable safety features.
The other finalist in this class, Nene Trailers, is perhaps better known for its unusual combine-carrying trailers with their simple, mechanical wind-out sides.
Nene is adding lifting platforms to the design, which will enable wheels to be removed when in position. The company Coach chassis two-deck trailer.
Easy loading of two coach chassis; Hydraulic widening for through loading; Powered doors/ramps protection; Fully hydraulic power.
thrives on this kind of design work: its ingenious bulk potato carrier typifies its approach. This demountable body design for skeletals found the most favour among our judges, largely because of a patented release mechanism that makes discharging spuds a much safer operation for the operator. Previously, such loads were either tipped off or carried in standard single-belted containers. With these the driver had to climb inside to remove boards from over the cleft floor to uncover the trough over the single discharge belt.
In the Nene design, a raised apex contains sets of trapdoors over twin belts. The traprelease mechanism is external, and any number of sets can be controlled allowing the carriage of a number of other crops with access for random sampling. Nene also builds standard type of skeletal chassis on which this demountable body with its ISO twistlocks can be mounted. An automatic body sheeting system goes with it. The design could do with a retractable ladder to reach the inside but it's a neat design that earned near top marks with the judges for innovation, and ease of maintenance and operation.