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'Man-sized' vans in miniature

17th November 1967
Page 55
Page 55, 17th November 1967 — 'Man-sized' vans in miniature
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FWE PROTOTYPES of a lightweight van semi-trailer with aluminium bodywork have been produced by Peebles Engineering and Marine Ltd., of 39a/47a Southcote Road, Bournemouth. These vans have capacities up to 1,800 Cu. ft. The main prototype is the 30/750 17ft artic, which can carry a payload of 30cwt and has a capacity of 750 cu.ft.

Officially approved by Leyland-StandardTriumph for use with a Leyland 20 chassis/ cab equipped with a fifth-wheel coupling and having a modified braking system, the trailers are suitable for coupling to all types of chassis/cab rated to carry a payload of 20cwt or over, followirig conversion by the company.

Catering for operators whip require a "man-sized articulated van in miniature", Leyland/PEM outfits will for example be used by Contact Ltd., display specialists of Bournemouth, as mobile exhibition units.

The body of the prototype 30/750 trailer is equipped with a 5ft hinged tailboard, doors or roller shutter at the rear and a second roller shutter with a width of 3ft on the 6ft side at the front. But vans can be supplied with side openings between the rear of the cranked section at the front and the wheel arches, which measures about 7ft.

On the largest vehicle produced—which has a length of 24ft—an opening of 1 lft could be provided. The 30/750 artic has a height and width of 7ft and the Luton section is 61t long.

Mr. M. R. Partridge, managing director of Contact, points out that the availability of Peebles trailers will in some cases enable an outfit costing £1,400 (the cost of a 30/750 artic coupled to a Leyland 20) to be suitably employed in place of a larger vehicle costing twice as much. Based on 6in. by 3M. lOg pressed-steel channel members, the frame has an integral axle beam. To it are attached Flexitor suspension units for mounting the single rear wheels, which are of the same size as the wheels of the tractive unit and are of the five-stud type. In the case of the 30/750 artic there are three welded-in crossmembers. The fin. brake master cylinder of the Leyland 20 is replaced by a cylinder of On. diameter, and a Girling vacuum servo is incorporated in the hydraulic system, together with two reaction valves.

The vacuum tank of the tractor is also employed to operate three Feeny and Johnson trailer-brake actuators, one of which is linked to the master cylinder of the service-brake hydraulic system and one to a lever in the secondary mechanical system, which is also operable by a hand lever located at the front of the trailer.

When energized the third actuator compresses a coil spring actuating a pushrod in the secondary system that engages the centrally-pivoted lever, the opposite end of which is linked to the second actuator. In the event of a breakaway or of vacuum failure, the spring automatically applies the brakes and, it is claimed, produces a retardation rate of 0.6g.

Based on 19in. modules, the sides and roof are constructed of 18g interlocked aluminium panels, the interlocking sections of which form top-hat vertical members.

Noralock interlocking aluminium planking is used for the flooring, the box-members formed by the interlocking sections being attached to the chassis frame. The rear corners are reinforced with steel boxsection frames.

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People: M. R. Partridge

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