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Special Bracing for Mobile Library

17th August 1956, Page 49
17th August 1956
Page 49
Page 49, 17th August 1956 — Special Bracing for Mobile Library
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THE concentration of the load out board of two chassis members in a mobile library with shelves arranged along the sides presents a particularly difficult problem to the bodybuilder. This has been overcome by Alfred Miles, Ltd., Tewkesbury Road, Cheltenham, by employing a special form of end-bracing for the cross-bearers of the body frame.

Based on a Bedford 2-3-ton chassis, the library carries 2,000 books weighing approximately 1,400 lb. The type of construction used enables the load to be evenly distributed, and the weight to be reduced.

The rigidity of the body frame is increased at the sides by using 3-in. light-alloy channel cross-bearers, at the ends of which there are triangular aluminium bracing members secured to the outside of the chassis side members. These have the effect of loading tfie ross-bearers in tension, resistance to

loading being augmented by the chassis cross-members.

Apart from the floor and interior fittings, the entire structure is of light alloy, the pillar members being 14gauge top-hat section, the effective strength of which is increased by the interior shelf supports. These are.of Obeche, a South African wood with favourable strength-weight characteristics, and are made to fit into the top-hat sections, to which they are secured by brackets and screws. At their lower ends they are attached to the floor.

The pillar sections are extended to form roof sticks, which meet on the

body centre line. Back-to-back tophat pillar sections are employed between the two rows of shelves to provide extra rigidity.

All the shelves are identical and fit into slots in the vertical members, to which they are attached by a cover

strip. This form of shelving has the advantage that it can be assembled after completion of the body, and separate parts can be easily replaced. • The interior of the roof is lined with insulating material covered with plastics sheet. A Smith's heater unit of the combustion type is housed under the floor at the off-side rear corner and has a maximum output of 12,000 B.Th.U.s per hr., at a consumption of 0.8 pt. per hr. The hot air is ducted through channels at the foot of the bookcases, and is supplied to the library area and to the lower side of the attendant's

desk by means of louvres. In hot weather the unit may be used for supplying cool air.

Forward control enables the optimum use to be made of the available platform area. and a full-size library to be built on a medium-size chassis. The unladen weight of the vehicle is approximately 2 tons 14 cwt.

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