Light Body for 15-ton Bulk Malt Carrier
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Dual-purpose Vehicle by Duramin Built to Overcome Special Difficulties Encountered in the Transport of Highly Absorbent Material
ANEW bulk transporter, built to the requirements of Associated British Maltsters, Ltd., London, E.C.3, has joined the fleet of the Ipswich Malting Co., Ltd. The 15-ton body, based on a Foden FG6/24 eight-wheeled chassis, has been constructed in light alloy by the Duramin Engineering Co., Ltd,, Stonefield Way, Ruislip, Middx.
The movement of malt in bulk presents certain difficulties. The grain readily absorbs moisture that is unwanted by its main users, brewers, distillers and manufacturers of malted drinks. Proofing the body against the entry of moisture is important.
On the operating side there arc other difficulties connected with loading and unloading: not all breweries or maltings are equipped to handle large quantities other than in sacks.
The new vehicle is now running regularly between East Anglia and several of the larger London breweries, including those of the Courage, Whitbread and Mann, Crossman and Paulin companies. Both the suppliers of the malt at Ipswich and the brewers have found the outfit , satisfactory, and it is likely that the prototype will be joined by others.
Roofed Tipper
The body allows 100 qr. of bagged malt to be carried when facilities do not exist for handling bulk quantities. It may be described as a roofed tipper, 22 ft. long, 8 ft. wide and 11 ft. 6 in. high from ground level.
Its weight is only 1 ton 1} cwt. The fixed roof contains three sealed loading hatches surrounded by a catwalk. Access to the hatches is by a ladder carried at the front.
Although roof-loading is the normal method adopted, provision is also made for loading through a hatch in the front bulkhead. With the body in the fully elevated position, a loading point 25 ft. high. can be reached.
The forward bulkhead also contains a weatherproofed air vent. The underfloor twin-ram tipping gear is by Pilot Works, Ltd., Manchester Road, Bolton, Lancs.
A load of 15 tons, or 100 qr. of malt, in the fully tipped position exerts great pressure on the rear panels. These corn When required, the vehicle can be employed to carry a load of bagged malt, for which purpose rear doors are provided. The vehicle is seen here leaving the works of the Ipswich Malting Co., Ltd.. whose .fleet it has joined.
prise a pair of stout double doors, hinged at the quarters to fold flat against the body exterior, and a tailboard. A simple and effective cam locking-gear is made to withstand the pressure, and the doors are rubber-sealed to prevent the entry of moisture and spillage of grain.
Walls and flooring are completely smooth, and ledges and cross-ties have been avoided to facilitate the rapid and complete discharge of the malt without the necessity for sweeping out.
The floor is of *-in.-thick duralumin plate. At the rear, a grille is recessed into the floor above the large discharge hopper, from which the grain flows under gravity through a nylon sleeve to underground bins. Alternatively, a suction hose can be coupled to the hopper on the near side of the vehicle.
Loading and unloading timesdepend upon facilities at maltings and breweries. In practice, when the roof hatches are used, 100 qr. are normally loaded in 15 minutes. Using only the aperture in the front of the body, loading occupies about 25 minutes.
The 15-ton load can be emptied by suction equipment in 60 minutes and gravity discharged in 22 minutes. Loading and discharge of a bagged load of similar capacity by hoist employing four men would occupy 2 hours and • 90 minutes respectively.