New Three-stage Moving Floor
Page 53
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BY providing the floor of a van body with four sections, three of which can slide one over the other, it is possible to load 8 tons of goods in about 8 minutes. This was demonstrated in London this week when a PalletJekta body, made by Walkers and County Cars Ltd., 76 Grove Park Road, London, W.4, was introduced.
Although the body was devised with a view to the use of palleted loads, it has proved to be a big time-saver with practically any type of load.
The principle is simple. Each section is of the same area, and whilst the rear one is fixed, the remaining three are built so that they are free to move independently of each other on rollers running in channel-section guides mounted on each side of the body.
Through the agency of a crank handle and chain and sprocket gear, it is possible to bring the three moving sections to the rear so that they and the fixed section become superimposed one above the other.
By using a fork-lift truck in conjunction with palleted loads, it was shown that an 8-ton van could be loaded or unloaded in about 8 minutes. After a section has received its load, it is wound back into the body to expose the next section, the process being continued until the fixed section is exposed.
In the body demonstrated, each section had been designed to take a load of 2 tons, either bearing on the whole surface or through " point " contact, as with a stillage. Little effort is required to move a loaded section, as the crank handle is geared down to the cross-shaft, but if extra speed is required. as when moving unloaded sections, the crank handle can he used directly on the cross-shaft.
One of the obvious advantages of such a body is that it can be loaded or unloaded without need for entering it. Other claims made for it are concerned with the elimination of loading bays. quicker turn-rounds and the avoidance of damage to goods.