AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

Three-deck Dysons for Hoover's new

17th May 1968, Page 38
17th May 1968
Page 38
Page 38, 17th May 1968 — Three-deck Dysons for Hoover's new
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

'loading pit' system by John Darker

• A new system of pit loading is being installed at six new distribution centres of Hoover Ltd. to facilitate the bulk transport of washing machines and similar-sized products. To cater for Hoover's somewhat specialized normal requirements, and for the novel pit loading method, a special type of semi-trailer has been developed by Dyson and 22 have been put into service with a further 22 now under construction.

The pit-loading concept is basically very simple. The pit, large enough to accommodate a complete vehicle or semi-trailer, is provided with an elevating platform. The vehicle can be lowered into the pit until its loading deck is level with the surrounding floor. The new Dyson semi-trailers, which have three loading decks, can be raised or lowered in three stages so that each deck in turn can be brought to the correct position.

All loading and unloading operations can take place from the floor of the depot, using simple hand-trucks, while wheeled units such as washing-machines can be pushed aboard. Apart from cutting handling charges and reducing turn-round time there is no loss of space in the depot, for the platform is brought up to floor level.

Once the decision to employ pit-loading had been taken, close co-operation ensued between Mr. L. N. Benthall, associate director—Distribution, Mr. J. E. R. Rapley, Hoover's distribution technical manager, and Dyson, to establish the general design of the semi-trailer. There followed detailed consideration of bodywork features with Bowyer Bros. (Congleton) Ltd., to which Dyson sub-contracted the body construction on the first 22 chassis.

The pit loading necessitates a body roof opening, but the normal type of high-sided open-top van was not thought sufficiently robust in view of thetwo removable intermediate floors, each of which might carry a 5-ton load. The body, as finally evolved, consists of a box-van with a 6ft opening on the top extending from the extreme rear to within 2ft from the front. The "solid" front 2ft of the body thus forms a rigid bulk-head, and the 12in. side-sections contribute considerably to the strength of the structure.

At the rear a one-piece full-width, fullheight door, shaped to fit into the roof opening and provided with substantial locking arrangements, closes to form a rear bulkhead which ties together and strengthens the whole structure. Added strength comes from the hinged swing-back cross struts which bridge the roof opening and serve the dual purpose of supporting the roof sheet and "tying together" the opposite sides of the van.

The roof opening is provided with a quickrelease waterproof sheet which rolls forward to the fixed part of the roof. Detachable ridge-pole sections let in between the cross struts support the sheet longitudinally along its centre line, ensuring proper drainage. The main body side panels are of satin-finish ribbed aluminium alloy, with horizontal ribbing; side skirting panels of self-coloured glassfibre are detachable. The wings and lower fixed body panel at the rear, with inset lighting and number plate recesses, are also of glassfibre.

Apart from the main hardwood floor, which has a plywood underlay, the two detachable intermediate decks are built up from light alloy planks. The intermediate deck heights can be adjusted to cater for different types of load which have to be carried now, or are foreseen. The floors are positively locked.

Slotted cargo control rails are fitted between each floor along each side of the body and Quick-fix locating straps can be attached to these, stretching across the body and securely fixing the loads. The second batch of bodies is being built by Bonahack and Sons Ltd., of Basildon.

A full technical description of the loading pit equipment was not available this week but I can reveal that the manufacturer is the Italian firm of C. Menon, of Treviso-Roncard. The loading platform is 12 x 3 metres (approximately 40ft x 10ft). Its capacity is 30 metric tons (29.4 tons). Rate of descent is 4-metre (18in.) per minute, and maximum descent about 10ft.

I gather that the cost, including import duty, of a pit loading device of this size is between £4,000 and 0,000. If this seems a lot of money, the rapid vehicle turn-round it makes possible would justify it in many warehousing applications, particularly when the products handled are of appropriate dimensions. Large distributive organizations will watch the progress of this Hoover enterprise closely. What a pity no suitable British equipment was available or was converted from existing garage equipment!


comments powered by Disqus