A LARGE-CAPACITY TIPPING TRACTOR-LORRY.
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A Vehicle which is Suitable for Dealing with Loose Loads in Large Quantities.
(INF OF the chief aims of the ‘../majority of users of motor vehicles, and particularly those who have to deal with loose materials in quantities, is to effect the transport of maximum loads in the shortest possible time, due attentioo, of course, being given to thefac tors of safety and efficiency. It is a truism that a. vehicle gives of its best -when loaded to its rated capacity and, therefore, it is a wise policy to reduce empty running time to the minimum and avoid journeys with small loads, for, quite apart from the consideration of cost, the mechanical fitness of the vehicle is thereby best maintained.
Where large loads have to be dealt -with continuously the tractor-lorry possesses unrivalled advantages in so far as it enables one journey to be made where two or more would have to be undertaken by an ordinary petrol vehicle and, moreover, its use reduces the cost 1.,er ton of material transnorted. But It is of little avail to be in a position to deal with loose materials on a• big scale unless ready facilities exist for the load', ing and unloading of the vehicle, for the advantages of large-carrying capacity are quickly negatived if considerable time is taken up by such operations.
It is for this reason that it has been found desirable in certain spheres of service to employ semi-trailing vehicles fitted with capacious tipping bodies, and a machine of this description is illustrated on this page. The prime-mover comprises a 6-ton Karrier chassis geared don_ to adapt it to this special form of service, for which it is particularly suitable by reason of its robust build and its powerful engine, rated at 50 li.p, It is with the trailer portion, and especially the unusually large hcidy with which we are, however, for the moment concerned. The design and construction of this part of the vehicle stand to the credit of Carrithore sixWimeArs, Ltd., who have hacVample experience in constructing them units.
The body of this tractor-lorry is the largest yet built by the company, its dimensions being 18 ft 4 ins. long, 7 ft, 2 ins wide and 4 ft. 8 ins, deep, giving a total loading area of 20 cubic yards. The sides and floorboards are constructed of 1i-i0. oak and the whole interior is lined with sections of sheet steel of two different gauges. It was deemed essential to arrange for the body to be tipped, in view of the class of loads which are likely to be dealt with by a vehicle of this type. Theangle to which it can be elevated is 45 degrees and the maximum degree of tip can be reached in the space of
2;. mins., the length of time also taken for the lowering of the body to its normal position. It is designed for endtipping only, but if it be desired to discharge a portion of the load or the goods are such that tipping cannot be undertaken, then the side doors can be used. There are two of —
these on each side of the body, and they are hinged at three points from the bottom so that h en the safety catches at the top are released they drop outwards and uncover wide openings. The doors are 6 ft. wide and open up for one half of the depth of the sides. Any one of these doors ran, of course, be opened independently of the others.
The rigidity and strength of the body superstructure are not appreciably affected by these sections, for it is adequately braced by angle brackets and a cross-stay amidships at its top assists to maintain lateral stability.
So far as the tipping mechanism is Concerned this consists of the well-known type of Bromilow and Edwards hydraulic gear, in which twin telescopic rams are employed. The pumping plant is disposed on the near side and to the rear of the driver's cab is the pressure-release valve. Some idea of the impressive height to which the body can be tipped can be seen from one of our illustrations, in which a lamp-post is dwarfed by comparison.
The frame of the trailer portion is of ample strength, and at that part where the tipping rams are mounted in crossgirders it is of exceptionally deep section. The rearmost spring assemblies consist of 12 leaves, six being yt-in, deep and the
others deep, and each has a camber of 141 ins. The length of the springs is 4 ft. 5 ins, and the plates are 3 ins, wide. Some of the chief dimensions of the vehicle are as follow :—Tractor wheelbase, 12 ft.; trailer wheelbase, 10 ft. 9 ins.; overall length, 29 ft. 7& ins.; overall height, 10 ft. 1 in. (approximate); overhang, 4 ft. 4 ins.
From a demonstration of the machine which we witnessed personally we are able to vouch for its stability when unloaded, and we are informed that it reveals an equal degree of steadiness when tipped to the maximum angle with a full 10-ton load.