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Load Transfer Devices for Semi-trailers

20th October 1961
Page 52
Page 52, 20th October 1961 — Load Transfer Devices for Semi-trailers
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AA MEANS of temporarily increasing the proportion of the load carried by the driving axle of a vehicle with a thirdaxle conversion is given by a new device announced this week by the York Trailer Co., Ltd., of Corby, Northants. Known as the Air Load Transfer, it is operated by air valve from the driving cab and operates in conjunction with the existing York third-axle conversion system. This was described and its application to a Bedford chassis road tested in The Commercial Motor of April 29, 1960.

The trailing wheels of the standard York third-axle system are not, in fact, mounted on a continuous axle, but on two stub axles mounted on the rearmost ends of rocking beams. These rocking beams are pivoted at approximately their mid-points on trunnion brackets attached to the frame.

At their front ends they are connected to the rear ends of the springs of the driving axle by means of shackles. The normal shackles connecting the rear ends of these springs to the frame are omitted, so that as the trailing wheels rise over a bump, the rocking beams tend to push the driving axle downwards, using the springs as levers.

This fact is exploited in the new device, as two air chambers are fitted so that each can exert a downward thrust on the forward side of one of the rocking beams when air is admitted, thus increasing the loading on the driving axle. A hand-control valve is mounted in the cab, together with two finger-operated valves marked N.S. and 0.S., so arranged that air can he directed into either air chamber, or to both simultaneously.

Since the trailing wheels are independently sprung, it is possible to increase the load on one side of the driving axle where this is desirable if an uneven road surface or when a local patch of slippery B18 surface causes one wheel to spin round.

The Air Load Transfer is normally arranged so that a maximum of two tons can be transferred to the driving axle, which means that, generally speaking, the legal nine-ton axle limit is not exceeded on the type of vehicle to which it is most likely to be fitted. A greater load transfer can be arranged when desirable for special conditions, however.

The list price is £60, plus £25 net for fitting. As an air supply is required the device can only be fitted to a chassis with air/hydraulic or full air brakes.

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Locations: York

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