larrow Dennis gets rubber
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• Tadchurch has developed a new rubber rear suspension specifically for Dennis narrow chassis refuse vehicles.
The special low-deflection design offers extra roll stiffness with high refuse bodies, and also has no parts projecting beyond the back of the tyres, enabling a loading hopper to be fitted closer to the rear axle.
The system uses a rocker beam either side of the chassis with one end pinned to the axle, while the other is linked to Metalastik sandwich-rubber springs bolted to the side rails. A high roll centre is maintained by an A-frame which provides the upper location of the axle.
Two narrow-chassis Dennis refuse vehicles have already been fitted with the new suspension and are currently running in trials with Peterborough City Council.
According to the council's services manager Cliff Barton. they not only have better stability than conventionally steel-sprung vehicles, but are also quieter laden and unladen.
Although the two Peterborough vehicles were converted by Tadchurch at Corby, it is negotiating with Dennis Eagle to offer its suspension as an on-line option. Price for the rubber suspension is available from Dennis Eagle on application. Two Tadchurch-equipped narrow-chassis Dennis refuse vehicles are currently undergoing evaluation trials with Peterborough City Council. Fitting rubber suspension adds no extra weight to the chassis.
Tadchurch rubber suspension, has entered service with the Yorkshire Water Authority.
It has a Soma front drive axle and Michelin double X 1822.5 fat single tyres to reduce the vehicle's ground pressure.