New Container Cuts Handling Costs
Page 33
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I N the transport of certain types of load the use of containers materially reduces the time taken in general handling, particularly in unloading at the destination point. A demonstration was given last week by Bromilow and Edwards, Lto., Foundry Street, Bolton, Lanes, of a new development in containers of the type suitable for bulky. hut light, loads, such as is represented by wood logs, coke, sugar-beet, etc.
The development of this new container came about as a result of the need for something of the kind in the haulage of sugar-beet, which forms a considerable part of the activities of Mr. I. Stent, a well-known operator in Midhurst, Sussex.
For the past two years, Mr. Stent has been using what represents the prototype of the present steel container, his appliance being made up
entirely of'wood. So successful has it been that Mr. Stent made arrangements with Bromilow and Edwards. Ltd., for the construction of a similar type of container made of steel, and with properly designed means for operation.
The basic principle of this new container is that the floor is made in halves, each being hinged at the sides. This divided floor is suspended on chains, which pass over a shaft running longitudinally along the container, being mounted so as to stand about 6 ins, above the top edge of the container. At one end there is a compound train of gears giving a reduction of 14 to 1, and arranged in this gearbox is a ratchet pawl, which, when the bottom is being manually wound back into position, prevents the base from taking control. The floor is, therefore, held in position by the pawl; there is also a hand-brake of generous area with wheel control.
The method of unloading is simple.
The container, which is brought to the unloading site on a lorry having a platform-type body, is lifted by a crane, swung over the dumping site, and the load dumped in a few seconds by releasing the retaining pawl. The container which we saw in Operation represents the first of its type, and for that reason it may be subject to certain small modifications.
In its present form it is built up of
in. steel plate, with all joints electrically welded. It is 12 ft. 6 ins. long, 6 ft. 6 ins, wide, and 2 ft. deep, dimensions which give a capacity of about 6 cubic yds. The unladen weight is approximately 1 ton and the gross weight may be about 4 tons.
The demonstration was witnessed by representatives of the four railway groups, the Gas, Light and Coke Co., Ltd., S.P.D., Ltd., and the British Sugar Corporation. The new container was well received, and although suggestions were made for certain minor modifications, the basic principle was considered by those who attended the demonstration as being entirely satisfactory.