Manceuvrability in Trailer Design
Page 64
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PICTURES which are published on _C this page show one of a fleet of six H.B. 6-ton patent self-tipping trailers which have been built by Sheffield Steel Products, Ltd., to the order of the English Steel Corporation, Ltd., River Don Works, Sheffield. This type of trailer is of all-steel construction, the frame members being rigidly braced and
riveted at all points. The body is constructed of mild-steel plates, the platform being j in. in thickness, whilst the sides and ends are in. thick, Built to give a loading height of 3 ft. 5 ins., the bodies are 9 ft. 3 ins, long and 6 ft. wide, with sides and ends 1 ft. in height. Pressed-steel disc wheels fitted with twin solid-rubber tyres are mounted on taper roller bearings, the body being supported upon the axle by means of semi-elliptic laminated springs.
Specially designed and constructed for the purpose of yard or road service in connection with the heavy steel industry, the trailers are to be used primarily for the transport of heavy forging s straight from the presses and for the innumerable duties in connection with the manufacture of similar articles.
The facility with which this type of trailer can be manoeuvred makes it well suited to the peculiar class of terminal duty demanded in works, yards and sidings, whilst the braking arrangements render it suitable for road-transport duties, as the' brakesare directly coupled to the control in the cab of the prime mover.
In use the trailer arm is coupled to the tractor by means of a special ball coupling of patent design, thus enabling attachment or release to be made in a few seconds. When a tipping position is desired the release of a locking clip permits the operation of a telescopic drawbar. A donhie arrangereent of steel arms tilts the body to an angle of 45 degrees when the tractor is reversed. This action is entirely automatic, and the full load is discharged in five seconds by this method, there being no necessity for the driver to vacate his seat Immediately the tractor makes a forward movement the trailer resumes its horizontal position. Small wheels are mounted at the rear of the trailer to allow movement to be made when in the tipped position. .
Eor the trailers not actually in, motion a small adjustable stand leg on a screw-jack principle is provided to maintain a horizontal position when under full load, whilst a rear safety leg is employed to prevent backward tilting owing to unbalanced loading of -the uncoupled trailtr.