FACILITATING /AN LOADING
Page 46
Page 47
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by the h( of shelves
THE utility of a van is increased if it has one or more shelves, so that all the goods do not have to be placed on the floor or piled on each other. When many of the packages are bulky and of various shapes, such as the load of a general carrier, a fixed shelf may be an obstruction, rather than of value for. the better arrangement of the goods.
In this instance the height of the shelf should be adjustable, and it should consist of separate boards, so that also the width of the shelf may be varied, and if necessary it may be dismantled. Unless the van is frequently loaded close to the roof level, there should be room for a high and narrow shelf for light parcels at the sides and behind the driver's seat partition.
The planning of the interior equipment of the van of the provision merchant, oilman, baker, caterer, draper or laundry proprietor offers wide scope for the ingenuity of the bodybuilder, in order that the best use shall be made of the space available and any item of the load quickly reached.
Shelves for the Small Van.
For a small van—that is, one which is not high or wide enough for a gangway inside the van to be practicable—there is usually space for one crosswise shelf. If it extends for the full length of the loading portion, it should be above the waist level, otherwise parcels under it and close to the partition are apt to be concealed. For this reason, a crosswise shelf at or below the waist should be from half to two-thirds the length of the body. With plenty of headroom above the shelf, sliding trays may be mounted under the roof.
Full-width trays are usually preferred for a small van, because no central supports are required which may obstruct the space below. Runners for a pair of trays, however, may be supported by cross-bars fastened to the sides of the body. B32 Although such an arrangement appeals to the baker who wishes to carry a selection of pastry or packet goods, it is also suitable for a grocer.
If the baker or grocer has in mind a somewhat larger van, the number of sliding trays may be increased, with plenty of accommodation left for bread or bulky articles. The equipment may be similar to that oE a large van, the loading portion being divided by a crosswise partition and half of it provided with trays ; the other half is left clear for piling up goods on the floor, or it has a shelf.
Instead of this somewhat convert tional arrangement, the van has a full-length shelf at the waist level. Any part of this shelf is easily accessible, because there is a central door on each side and a roller shutter at the rear. Moreover, these central doors are glazed, therefore the shelf is well lighted.
The lower half of this van accommodates 12 sliding trays in three compartments, each with a hinged flap on both sides of the vehicle. Any
tray may be reached directly. The hinged flaps, when open, may be used as temporary resting places for the trays. A pair of back windows helps to light this lower compartment.
T he wholesale confectioner's van, which carries only trays, varies according to the size of the trays.., and the method of arranging them. The tray may be long enough to occupy the full width of the van. In other instances, the width of the tray is such that two, three or four tiers are accommodated, or one tier is placed lengthwise and the othef crosswise.
If the van be accessible only from the rear, it must be loaded so that the first set of trays to be delivered is placed in last to save time. Moreover, the trays towards the front are more conveniently reached by means of a pole hook. With only back doors, empty trays, if put in the racks, are apt to interfere with the rotation of deliveries, unless there is space available under the bottom slides.
The accessibility is much improved if the van has side as well as back
openings, then any tray may be removed without disturbing the others.
If the length of a standard-sized tray be twice its width, six trays may be placed at each level of the tiers in the following manner :—At the back there are three tiers, and the trays pull out in the direction of their length. On the near side there are two tiers, and the trays are arranged with their length at right angles to the rear trays. On the off side there is a single tier, with the length of the trays facing the opening.
The caterer's van may be similar to the one just described, or it is specially equipped for carrying all the accessories necessary for the laying of tables and serving the courses of a. banquet.
Arranging the Caterer's Vehicle.
Some of the food may be carried in a refrigerator. This is placed centrally behind the driving-scat partition. On each side of the refrigerator there is a locker with sliding trays, which is accessible from the outside. The remainder of the Van consists of side lockers and shelves for other items of food, cutlery, table linen, plates and dishes. These are on each side of a central gangway, with a door at the back.
The central-gangway type of van is suitable for the laundry proprietor when the transport of hampers is not entailed, or for any delivery work which embraces packages of moderate size and regular shape. By means of shelves and partitions, each side of the van is divided into a number of pigeon holes.
A clerestory roof is necessary if the interior is to be naturally lighted. The van is entered from the back. If exit from the front of the gangway be desired, the shelving on the near side is shortened in order to leave space for the gangway to continue to that side and thus into the driving compartment. The headroom is maintained by making the clerestory the full width of the van above the partition.