The Scammell Mechanical Horse as a Refuse Collector
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THE Mechanical Horse, made by Scarnmell Lorries, Ltd., High Holborn House, 52-54, High Holborn, London, W.C.1, with a Scammell 13cubic yard refuse collecting body mounted on the trailing unit, and having a movable floor made by the same concern, was introductd at the exhibition of cleansing vehicles held at Edinburgh last week and reviewed elsewhere in this issue.
The container, which is entirely of steel construction, with the exception of the floor, is of distinctly unusual shape, the rear end of the bottom being lower than the front. . The trailing wheels are smaller than those of the tractive unit andimve solid tyres. Pneumatics, however, can be fitted, we understand, -without alteration of height, but their use involves a reduction in the width of the floor, which is now 5 ft. 9 ins.
Doors in the sloping portion of the back, which are opened by foot and spring balanced, afford entry for refuse. For ejection, the major portion of the end can be raised, about a hinge near the top, the contents being forced down towards the back by the floor and a movable partition fixed to it. The oPeration of raising the discharge door is carried out by hand through a system of cables, whilst a neat locking device holds it securely shut. The loading apertures are 4 ft. 9 ins, above the ground.
Above the hinge a double. van-type doer gives access to an upper compartment, in which large or uncompressible articles may be stowed clear of the moving partition, for the last-named can be used to consolidate the refuse, in addition to its function as a means for discharging the contents of the body.
The floor is a composition of rubber and fabric and is supported throughout its length on a series of transverse rollers about 5 ins. apart.
It cannot correctly be described as endless, but when considered with the chains which join the two ends of the floor proper, the term " endless" applies.
At the rear the rubber runs around a tensioning roller and extends nearly to the front when the partition is forward. Here are attached chains which pass over sprockets at the extreme front and back again, below the floor and supporting rollers, to the other end of the rubber near the tensioning roller. Thus, by rotating the sprockets the floor and partition can be moved from the front of the container to the rear, and vice versa.
The mechanism is operated by hand, two gear ratios beng provided for the transmission of power to the sprockets; one enables considerable pressure to be exerted and the other allows the partition and floor, to be drawn in either direction quickly, under light load. Adjustment for tensioning the floor is provided at the rear, provision being made for moving the roller horizontally.
The Scammell Mechanical Horse was fully described on its inception in the 'issue of The Commercial Motor dated Tune 2 last. Its remarkable manteuvrability is one of its main features, and the ease and rapidity with which it can be coupled and uncoupled attracted much approval during a demonstration which was given in the course of the exhibition of cleansing appliances at Edinburgh. Another point which merits note is that the tractor can be used for towing other vehicles besides the refuse collector ; for example, a general-purpose body, and this is a feature which should make a strong appeal to municipalities on the ground of economy.