ANSWERING S.O.S. CALLS FROM THE ROAD.
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A=ROGGE the modern commercial motor vehicle has attained such a high degree of working efficiercy that it can, for all practical purposes, be considered immune from breakdown, providing, of course, that due attention is given to the maintenance of its mechaniial fitness, there are occasions when the *river may not be able to avert trouble which may result in damage being inflicted upon the machine.
In spite of the fact that the modern driver is highly skilled, he may be faced 'with a set of circumstances which are beyond his immediate control and Whichmay result in untoward occurrences. We have not so much the thought of colli sins passing through our minds at the moment as the use of roads flanked by ditches or of rural highways having unstable foundations. Many a man driving a heavy vehicle over a rural road in order to save time has found to his cost that the road is not fitted for heavy traffic, and the use of roads which are badly lighted at night or, perhaps, entirely unilluminated, may readily result in a vehicle becoming ditched. In cases of a simple breakdown of this description a vehicle is sometimes able to get out of its difficulties under its own power, but quite often outside aid has to be sought, and it is in such cases that the motor vehicle fitted with suitable salvage tackle is able to render in valuable assistance. • Such a machine is illustrated on this page, and it is in the service of the Rochdale Motor Garage, Station Road, Rochdale. In so far as it possesses certain unusual features of design, we propose giving our readers a short description of its construction. .
The crane consists of a square frame made up of 5-in. by 3-in, channel steel braced at the top corners. Two stretchers run along the top, and these carry a fish plate and two side members for the pulley through which the gob chain works, as well as the pin on which high. efficiency spur-gear blocks, capable of lifting a load of 3/ tons, are suspended. The attachment of the frame to the chassis is by means of two 5-in. by 3-in. cross-members, with a trunnion pin at each end, which is fixed through a bearing attached to the side members. This permits of the crane being lowered so that when a damaged vehicle is being gifted it clears the rear of the salvage vehicle. After lifting the vehicle or component which is damaged by means of the block *and tackle, it can then be carried forward and placed on the platform of the lorry. For the jib gear a high-efficiency spur gear winch bolted to the cross-members, which are again bolted to the chassis when the crane is in an upright position, is employed. It is retained in position by two bolts supported on stays attached to the side of the lorry.
In difficult eases of breakdown where the whole vehicle has to be lifted bodily, two extension planks are used, and these fix on the back members and are attached to the uprights of the crane by suitable tie-rods.
From our illustrations it will be noticed that at the rear of the vehicle there is a fender, which is swept down
wards to a distance of 12 inS, from The ground. It extends to the rear of the vehicle to the extent of 4 ft. 8 ins. and carries a channel iron mounted on a ball race so as to form a turntable. . This is extended for use in the case, say, of a stub-axle arm being broken or a wheel smashed, the damaged vehicle simply being lifted and the front axle dropped in the channel and held securely. No lashing is, therefore, required to secure the damaged machine; which can thus be readily towed by the aid of the salvage lorry. A box is provided on the vehicle for coarying tools and ropes, whilst two 2-ton jacks and snatch blocks for towing vehicles out of ditches form part, of the equipment. The lamps which are used for headlights have universal fittings, so that theit beams can be .directed to any de sired spot. These lamps can also be dismounted and used separately. The ma,ohine is also fitted with two fireextinguishers. The vehicle has been specially constructed and it is capable of lifting 3ton deadweight, so that it can readily be employed for giving assistance to most types of commercial vehicles as well as pleasure cars.