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Accent on Semi-trailers

TRAILER exhibits at the Commercial Motor Show reflect the growing popularity of the articulated vehicle. Below, the ex h i bits are reviewed stand by stand.

B.T.C. Stand 130 British Trailer Co., Ltd., Richmond Road, Manchester, 17.

TWO semi-trailers with four rear wheels in line are shown by B.T.C. This arrangement is claimed substantially to increase tyre life. One outfit is a 15-tonner and the other a 12-tonner, and both are 24 ft. long.

An 8-tort independent trailer with airpressure-operated Girling brakes is also displayed. The company exhibit their 1527 automatic equipment, which is stated to be the only spring-loaded coupling made. Its maximum capacity is 45 tons.

A four-in-line bogie for 10-20-ton semitrailers and a ball-bearing turntable complete the B.T.C. exhibits.

BROCKHOUSE Stand 129 I. Brockhouse and Co., Ltd., 25 Hanover Square, London, W.1.

A 10-ton semi-trailer with flat-platform bodywork and a boxvan semi-trailer connected to a Thames 4D tractor are the largest Brockhouse exhibits. The company's 10-cwt, and 15-cwt. types are also on display.

A Guy Otter with Brockhouse automatic coupling gear may be examined. This equipment is interchangeable with Scammell and Karrier I-type gears, and can be fitted to any standard tractor built to accommodate automatic couplings.

CA R !WHORE Stand t13

Carrimore Six Wheelers, Ltd., High Road, London, N.12. r•ONNECIED to a Foden FG 6/25 track-, tor, a 15-16-ton semi-trailer is displayed by Carrimore. Intended for use on shuttle 1( 14 services, the outfit has a quickcoupling turntable. The twin rear-axle assembly has universally mounted radius rods to control axle movement and brake torque. The platform is 26 ft. 5 in. long by 8 ft. wide, with a headboard 1 ft. 6 in. high.

A semi-cranked-frame semitrailer for 5-6-ton loads may be inspected. It has an enclosed body with hardwood framing and light-alloy panelling and a rear roller shutter. Length is 22 ft..

Of special interest is the Carrimore car transporter designed to carry four cars. The upper deck earobe lowered to groundlevel by patented parallel-link gear actuated by hydraulic rams. These are powered by a pump connected to a power take-off on the Seddon tractor. A retractor turntable is incorporated.

CRANES Stand 106

Cranes (Dereham), Ltd., South Green Works, Dereham, Norfolk. ESIGNED for the transport of indivisible loads. the Cranes 30-ton crankframed semi-trailer with detachable rear wheels is shown. The upper fifth wheel with 41.-in. king-pin is for operation with a Crane heavy automatic coupling. Trunnion suspension is employed.

A 16-tan semi-trailer constructed for the transport of steel billets is based on a standard chassis designed for maximum payloads in this country and to withstand severe conditions overseas. The suspension arrangement is such that the springs are relieved of all forces except direct loadcarrying.

Built to the requirements of British Road Services is a 10-12-ton semi-trailer with pressed high-tensile-steel frame members. A set of components for a semi-trailer of this capacity is displayed to show how it cart be shipped completely knocked-down and easily assembled at its destination.

A four-wheeled 8-ton trailer incorporating patented turntable and progressive springs

has Michelin Metallic D.20 tyres.

DAVIES Stand 430M Davies Magnet Works, Ltd., London Road, Ware, Herts.

A PPEARING at Earls Court for the first 1-1 time, this company occupy a stand in the accessory and component section of the Show. Three rubber-mounted fifth-wheel couplings and an oscillating rubbermounted coupling are shown, together with an extra heavy-duty oscillating model.

Types of vertical landing gear exhibited comprise a version with steering axles, another with high-tensile light-alloy components, and an extra heavy-duty model.

DIXON-BATE Stand 133 B. Dixon-Bate, Ltd., Chester.

A TOOLCART semi-trailer of 18-cwt. capacity and another of 8-cwt. are seen here. The larger unit has a steel body measuring 7 ft long by 1 ft. 6 in, deep,

whilst the body of the smaller is of timber with a length of 5 ft. 7 in., width 3 ft. and depth 1 ft. 4 in. . • Steel bodywork is fitted to a 1-ton semitrailer intended for general purposes. Special models exhibited are a low-loading cable-drum carrier, a 220-gal, tanker semitrailer, and a semi-trailer for carrying drums. The cable-drum carrier has a winch, whilst the tanker has a galvanized elliptical tank with manhole and draw-off valve.

A four-wheeled mobile office with a low floor level may be examined. It is "7 ft. long, 5 ft, wide and 6 ft. 6 in. high.

DYSON Stand 90 R. A. Dyson and Co., Ltd., Grafton Street, Liverpool, 8. MHE honour of exhibiting the heaviest articulated vehicle at the Show—a 45-60-ton detachable-rear-axle machinery transporter—goes to Dyson. The loading space is 25 ft. long and 9 ft. wide. A fullwidth winching roller is fitted to the front of the top deck, and a fairlead and roller unit at the rear. A 7-ton winch is provided.

A 25-30-ton outfit 30 ft. long and 8 ft. 3 in. wide also has detachable rear wheels. A tractor load-reaction plate is built into the rear and is arranged to hinge to facilitate wheel removal.

Tubeless tyres are fitted to a Dyson 8-ton four-wheeled trailer 16 ft. . long and 7 ft. 6 in. wide. Its chassis is made from die-pressed high-tensile steel mainly secured by cold-squeeze riveting.

Components on this company's stand comprise patented rubber-mounted springing and hydraulically operated landing gear. EAGLE Stand 126 Eagle Engineering Co., Ltd., Warwick. L'OR machinery transport, there is the Eagle 25-ton drop-framed semi-trailer with detachable rear axles. The well is 20 ft. long by 8 ft. wide and a 4-ton winch is fitted on the upper deck.

Shown connected to a Crossley tractor is a -10-I2-ton semi-trailer with a pressedsteel chassis of ladder-frame construction. The body is 25 ft. long and 8 ft. wide.

An 8-ton semi-trailer chassis forms the basis of a composite body built for the transport of wholesale groceries. It is divided into sections by adjustable rubber screens, so that the load may be arranged for ease of unloading at retailers' premises.

An 8-ton four-wheeled trailer has a platform body measuring 15 ft. long by 7 ft. wide. Of bodywork interest is a section of a refuse collector, the sliding covers of which are of plastics.

HANDS Stand 121 Hands (Letchworth), Ltd., New Icknield Way, Letchworth, Herts.

HAVING a well 17 ft. long, a Hands ISLI\4.10 10-ton semi-trailer with detachable rear axle may be examined. The company, introduce their G.1-type coupling, which allows tractors and semi-trailers to be interchangeable with any make of articulated unit having automatic connecting gear.

A 12-ton straight-framed semi-trailer is shown with a 27-ft.-long body. The retractable support legs have a wide track to afford stability. Exhibited with a Karrier Bantam tractor, a 4-5-ton semi-trailer has a 15-ft. body and wheels interchangeable with those of the prime mover.

Designed for the mounting of oilfield drilling rig, an independent 5-ton trailer incorporates standard units. A special cable-drum trailer has a capacity of 4 tons.

MULTIWHEELERS • Stand 55 Multiwheelers (Commercial Vehicles), Ltd.,

Roxeth Green Avenue, South Harrow. A 10-TON flat-platform semi-trailer 24 ft.

long and 7 ft. 6 in. wide may be inspected on this stand. Springs arc of the type with slippers at both ends, and the axle is positioned by rubberbushed radius rods anchored to the forward bracket, which is adjustable for alignment. Gear and screw of the landing mechanism are enclosed.

The company also show a 5-ton four-wheeled low-loading trailer 12 ft. long by 7 ft. 6 in. wide, the floor height when laden being 1 ft, 7 in. The rear end is swept down for easy loading, and a ramp-support rail and two folding support props are provided. Distance between the rear mudguards is 5 ft. 11 in. and the front mudguards 4 ft. 5 _in. The front axle has an Ackerman steering arrangement and the rear wheels . have vacuum-operated Girling brakes.

scorroR$1 Stand 135

Scottorn, Ltd., Kingston Road, New Malden, Surrey.

THESE exhibitors have concentrated upon the construction of light outfits with special applications for the export markets. Their 250 tanker semi-trailer has a D-shaped galvanized tank with two integrated tubular transverse bearers to carry the road springs and axle. Provision is made for the attachment of members to carry pumps, filters and hoses.

Chassis of the other two Scottom products shown are similar, but one has a 120-gal, tank and the other a normal steel body. These units have been designed for use with the Land-Royer and Austin Champ.

TASKE1RS Stand 118 Tasters of Andover (1932), Ltd., Andover, Hants. 'THREE new outfits arc shown by this .1company—a 15-ton and a 10-ton straight-framed semi-trailer, and a 10-ton drop-framed semi-trailer with detachable rear axle. The largest vehicle has rear wheels mounted in line on separately oscillating axles. Body length is 26 ft. and width 7 ft. 8 in.

Light alloy is used for the body crossmembers and headboard of the 10-ton platform vehicle, whilst the machinery outfit has a well 16 ft. long by 7 ft. 6 in. wide.

A further exhibit is a 10-ton straight framed semi-trailer with a platform 20 ft. long and 7 ft. 6 in. wide. Body sides are 2 ft. deep and the headboard is 3 ft. 6 in. high. A four-wheeled 3-ton trailer has over-run brakes.

Taskers components which may be examined separately are fifth-wheel and ramp-type couplings and an axle assembly. K 17