• A Useful Wagon for Electric Supply Departments.
Page 24
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
TN our issue dated November 10th we 1intimated in our regular feature of municipal items entitled " Local Proceedings" that the Sheffield Corporation had just taken delivery of a special 6-ton Yorkshire steam wagon fitted with a mechanically operated crane and rope bollard. We are now in a position to amplify this bare statement by a few details of the design of the machine, the general construction of which can be gathered from the illustrations published on this page.
This is the third machine of this class sfippiled to the electricity department of Sheffield by the Yorkshire Patent Steam Wagon Co., .Hunslet, Leeds; but the most recent delivery differs from its predecessors in many features and contains improvements not to be found in the earlier types of the company's crane wagon, although these differences are mainly concerned with the lifting tackle. The chassis itself carries a standard platform body, at the forward end of
which and immediately behind the driver's cab is a special type of crane, having a hinged jib, which enables a maximum lift to be obtained, and, when not raised, permits the passage of the vehicle under comparatively low doorways; an opening 11 ft. high gives sufficient clearance. The crane, which is of very strong construction and adequately braced to withstand the stresses imposed within its weight-lifting capacity of 2 tins 5 cwt., can be employed to deal with goods up to 7 ft. 6 ins, from the body space to the crane jib.
Apart from its value as a crane wagon the machine also possesses further uses, for the engine-driven winding bollard incorporated in its design is arranged for pulling cables through electric lighting conduits, and is, therefore, of considerable benefit to electric supply departments.
In designing the crane particular attention was given to the pulleys, care being taken to ensure that they were of ample size, and thus make for long evity of the rope. The drive to the crane winding drum is taken through intermediate gearing, with the windingdrum bollard, and thence through a clutch and chain to a shaft disposed across the frame. On this is located an irreversible worm, which drives the drum situated below the crane. The operation of the clutch is controlled from the driver's footplate. This form of drive is most simple and powerful, and, we are informed, has proved very effective under service conditions.