love! Recovery Vehicles for Dartford Tunnel
Page 11
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
'E novel recovery vehicles of three !ifferent types are to be used to clear m-down vehicles in the Dartfordeet tunnel under the Thames, now ng completion. They have been aped by manufacturers in conjuncwith the mechanical engineering m of the Ministry of Transport.
I' heavy lifts, two Leyland-powered id outfits have been evolved. Each sts basically of a Euclid two-wheeled ive unit, designed for earthmoving )ment, coupled to a specialty ried semi-trailer with Cranes twin;led twin-oscillating-axle running this trailer carries a Mann Egerton in crane with hydraulic Mewing, ing and jib extension. This is capable lcwing through 360°, but limiters ict this to 600 with suspended load. dementing the crane is a hydraulic h with a 7-ton pull.
Le Leyland UE600 6-cylinder diesel -Le gives 147 b.h.p. at 2,100 r.p.m.; steering angle of the power-steered Id tractive unit is 100°, giving a turncircle between walls of 21 ft. 3 in. semi-trailer axles are carried on rung suspension beams.
) deal with cars and medium-sized mercial vehicles, two Scamrnell ab 3-wheeled mechanical horses I with twin rear wheels have been adapted as lifting and towing vehicles.
their exceptional manceuvrability enabling them to turn in the 21-ft.-wide tunnel without reversing. Stationed at each end of the tunnel, the Scarabs will be used for vehicles of up to about seven tons and each is equipped with a Harvey Frost 3-ton rigid-jib crane fitted with three independently operated H.F. Universal gear units, two for lifting and one for towing. Swivelling heads are fitted to enable the cranes to lift offcentre and guide wheels are provided for the hauling cables.
In addition to the crane, each Scarab carries a towing ambulance and a towbar. The units, which have two-man crews. can provide suspended tow, recovery by ambulance or straightforward pull and. with the rear support legs lowered, the crane can lift three tons.
To handle cars and light commercial vehicles, an Eezion. 4-wheeled closecoupled transporter trailer built by the Ibbett Engineering Co. Ltd. will be used, towed by any of the five Land-Rovers available for the tunnel police patrols. Built to handle loads up to two tons, the trailer has hydraulically operated retractable' sprung suspension SO that cars can be loaded at ground level and then raised.
The vehicles were demonstrated in action on Tuesday.
Bans Worry Banks
SOME of the country's leading banks arc among the objectors to the loading bans which Glasgow Corporation proposes to introduce in October or November. An official of the Scottish division of the. Traders Road Transport Association has told The COMMerCild Motor' that the banks are particularly troubled about security aspects, especially the delivery of bullion, since vans would need to he loaded and unloaded some distance from their premises.
Following last week's decis:on by ilie Scottish division of T.R.T.A, to maintain its objection to the bans, it is now arranging a meeting at which other organizations will have the opportunity of discussing the Corporation's proposals that would ban loading and unloading from city-centre streets during morning and evening rush hours. Several commercial concerns have lodged objections and associations representing traders are being asked to give their support, Continental Delivery DllE to arrive in Naples yesterday was a consignment of 12 tons of oxygengenerating equipment which left Wrexham last Friday. It was conveyed on a service recently established in Liverpool by Translode Units Ltd. 'which covers road, sea and rail transport for heavy industrial goods. The containerized coniSigrirnent; sent by Air Products Ltd., was taken to Liverpool docks by a Translode flat, was shipped to Rotterdam and there met by another road vehicle for the journey, to Italy.