Demonstrating a 12-ton Tipper.
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ANT_TMBER of representatives -of the Press were invited last week to attend a demonstration and test which were carried out with the latest production from the Scammell works, the cornpany's 12-ton three-way-tipping tractorlorry. Before examining the vehicle the party was conducted round the Watford works of the company. These were much admired chiefly because of their novel layout. Use is made of a very large single building without partitions, 60 that anyone standing at one end of the works can see the far end. The 'various sections are, of course, grouped, and the stores, naturally, have to be enclosed to prevent access by unauthorized persons. The whole of the work is carried out on the ground floor, and this facilitate.s the transport of complete units and spares from one part to another. The machine shop is thoroughly well equipped with all the latest machine tools, and adequate light is afforded—a most important point which is sometimes overlooked.
• The bodybuilding section is at the extreme riglit of. the works, and the number of partiallY completed vehicles which were to be seen there showed that Scammell Lorries, Ltd., are obtaining at least a fair share of what orders are going.
Following the works inspection, the visitors were conveyed to Rickmansworth Hill. This was quite a severe test for a vehicle of the size of the &examen, but it climbed it in a most satisfactory manner, carrying its full load of 12 tons. After this climb the vehicle demonstrated its powers of tipping and manoeuvring, both of which aroused expressions of ad. miration.
Little need be said about the manceuvring powers of this vehicle, which are, of course, similar to those of the ordinary Scammell. It is sufficient to mention that end-tipping can be easily performed to the side of a road 12 ft. wide by letting the trailer turn almost at B34 right angles to the tractor. The 12-ton vehicle can actually be turned round in a narrow road more easily than a 5-ton lorry, and can be backed,into awitwsrd locations almost impossible of access to the ordinary vehicle. The twin hydraulic rams elevate the body to a side-tipping angle of 50 degrees in one minute, giving a clear discharge of the' load without shovelling. Detachable shelf-boards are provided to keep the material clear of the wheels. Endtipping takes 2 minutes for the same angle, i.e., 50 degrees. The rams are mounted on double trunnions for the lateral movement ; this feature eliminates all tendency to lateral instability. The machine is built with steel bodies
of various sizes to suit the nature of the loads, thus for contractors handling road stones, gravel, and sand a laody of 9 cubic yards is provided. The capacity of this can be increased by extension sides up to about 12 cubic yards. For materials, such as coal, a body 15 ft. 6 ins. long, with a bow front and sides, 4 ft. high, gives a" capacity of 16 cubic yards, and thus enables the full 12 tons to be carried. An even larger 'body is made for handling coke, and this body (which tips to the end only) has a capacity of 30 cubic yards.
When the carrier is detached, special screw jacks support it, and it can be left. at the loading point while the motive unit is hauling another carrier,