New Methods in Cable-drum Haulage
Page 47
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THEtransport of cable drums presents several problems, particularly in connection with handling, for which purpose at least two men are required. The fixing of the drums on the vehicle and their removal on an inclined road are operations calling for extreme care, especially in view of their weight, and an effort has been made by a German concern to overcome the difficulties.
Loading and unloading have been simplified by reducing the ,floor -height to about 28 cm., and an accompanying illustration shows the method employed in obtain this result. It is true that this trailer greatly facilitates loading and unloading, but, on the other hand, the problem of securing the drums during transport is only partly solved.
A step forward in this direction has been made with another vehicle, in which the drum is effectively carried on two supports by an axle passing through it This trailer can be used for the transport of cable drums and for laying the cables. In this latter case, the support is raised to a convenient height, so that the drum is free to revolve.
Despite these advantages, this trailer involves the same loading and unloading operations as the former, the drum having to be rolled on to the carrier. Why not invert this process, so that the vehicle backs up to the drum, which can safely be picked up by one man? Such a vehicle is now in 11FC in Germany..
The trailer in question has a main and an auxiliary frame. The latter is secured at the rear of the former and can be tipped around the point of fix_ lug. By this tipping three series of axle supports, at the rear of the machine, where this takes the form of a fork, are allowed to assume different heights as compared with the ground level.
This principle is used in picking up and transporting the drum. The aide is passed through the drum and the vehicle is backed so that the ends of the axle engage in two of the supports referred to above. As there are three pairs of cradles at different heights, drums of a wide variety of diarrieters can be handled. The driver can perform all the operations without help.
The tSra front wheels work on roller bearings, so that, the trailer. can be moved by baud without undue :effort. The rear springs are mounted on the auxiliary frame, and there is no transverse rear axle, as the dram must pass between the frame members. The hand-tipping mechanism incorporates a self-locking, telescopic spindle. In order to avoid rattle during transit, the two frame members on each side are kept together by means of latches.