De Luxe Street Trader
Page 69
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TO meet the requirements of a local trader, D. H. Morgan (Engineers), Ltd„ Wraeclesham, Farnham, ,Surrey, have developed a novel trailer with wheel's which retract. to lower the frame to ground level.. The trailer, Which alsii has semi
integr a 1 construction, is employed as a de luxe market stall on a site in the centre of Farnham and is towed to and from this pitch every Morning and evening. The undercarriage design would be suitable also for mobile display and exhibition units or for mobile library trailers.
The singlerear axle of the trailer is carried on 'semi-elliptic springs, which have conventional eyes and pins at their
• trailing ends. Theflat front ends of the -springs locate in slides and are attached to wire cables connected in turn to 'a hydraulic ram. A hand Pump powers the ram and this, when presSurized,'pulls on The cables to depress the leading ends of the springs and thus raise the body with respectto the axle.
The springs are held in the travelling position by a hydraUlic lock, which is • released by a control valve to permit the
• body to sink to ground level under gravity. The small steerable front bogie ..equipped with tWo hydraulic jacks powered from the same Pump. The wheels are mounted eccentrically on stub axles and can pivot around the axle centre. Thus, when the weight of the
trailer is taken on the jacks, the wheels can be turned into an upper position to allow the front of the trailer to be lowered On the jacks. The stub axles, are secured in either position by locking pins.
Steel framing' is employed for the van body which has a full-length shutter on one side which opens upwards to form a' canopy above the very low counter 'permitted by the 'retractable wheels. The body is entered through a wide door 'at the rear: The side framing and roof cant rail's act as, reinforcihg member for the frame Whichis made up of channel
section members in material. Body Oanelling is in light alloy and the roof incorporates a translucent plastics centre panel. Other lighting is given, by fluorescent units., Heaters are fitted below the counter, for the benefit of the staff, and just below the canopy to warm customers.