Wheel-arches Drop When Tipping
Page 40
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
AREFUSE-COLLECTION body possessing unusual features has been produced by Liverpool Corporation's city engineer and the surveyor's department and will be exhibited at the Institute of Public Cleansing's conference at Scarborough next month. The most notable development is the employment of a patent wheel-arch that automatically retracts to floor level when tipping takes place. The vehicle is a bairier-loader, but the arrangement in question would appear to be suitable for application to
ordinary tippers, as well as to refuse side-loaders. • The vehicle, which has given satisfactory operational service for several months, is based on a reconditioned A.E.C. double-decker chassis, obtained from Liverpool Passenger Transport Department, and has 36-in, by 8-in. 12-ply tyres on the back wheels. The wheelboxes arc of triangulated form, with flush gun-metal hinges at the rear. In the normal position the valanced box of the arch res:s on the frame, being kept in contact with a static rubber seal.
When tipping begins, the wheelbox remains on its base, but when movement has been sufficient to bring the top of the box level with the body floor, check chains come into action and keep the box in that position. There are no rubbing parts, 4in. clearance being provided all the way round. Although some leakage of dust may occur, it will do so only when over the tip, so that the escape is of no importance.
The body, the floor of which is as low as technically possible, has an all-welded steel underframe and an allaluminium superstructure, except for the wheelboxes, which are steel fabrications. To facilitate quick discharge. the interior has a slight outward taper towards the rear.
Fall-width Steps Assist Loaders
A further feature of interest is the design of the rear steps, which, being full-width, can be approached by bin carriers from an oblique angle. There are two intermediate steps, so that a carrier needs to make only three steps from ground level in order to reach the floor of the body. The step unit is split transversely and hinged, the lower part folding over to form an extension of the floor. In this way, a clean tipping action is promoted. 'As counterbalancing devices are provided in the double-skin panels at the rear of the body. only a light pressure is required to close the steps.
The wheel-arches are, of course, in position when the barrier is moved backwards as loading progresses. In order that the barrier shall pass over them small hinged doors are provided in the plate. When loading is complete, the barrier plate keeps the load in position, the rear aperture being closed by an alloy roller shutter which rolls outward at the top so that the canopy forms a roof extension, giving additional weather protection to the team. Stabilizers formed from fabricated hydraulic tubing are employed and mounted exactly over a cross-member.
The vehicle has a capacity of 21 cu. yd., or a 6-7-ton load. Overall length is 25 ft., height I I ft. and width 7 ft 6 in.
The unit may be described as being in the nature of a research project. It represents the corporation's prototype , and will form the basis for future development in this class of refuse-collection vehicle.
At the same time, the department's experimental work is made available to those authorities who may seek to introduce something of the same nature into their cleansing services. A point is made by the corporation that the low floor height and high load capacity have not been obtained by using small-diameter wheelss