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A Trailer Specialist's Pro( 3 in Many Fields of Use
Page 92
Page 93
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In Numerous Spheres of Road Transport the Trailer is the Most Satisfactory Form of Vehicle. We Outline a Number fof Representative Applications to which Vehicles Built by Cranes (Dereham), Ltd., Have
Been Put
FOLLOWING the improvements that have been effected to roads and vehicles during the period of development of road transport, trailers of all types have been brought to a degree of efficiency comparable with
that of their tractive units. It is, indeed, no exaggeration to state that the roads are now the limiting factor.
There seems a likelihood that when this country follows the lead of other nations and does more to encourage the construction of motor roads, trailers will progress yet farther, and will be operated at speeds far higher than are at present permissible.
Suitable for High Speed.
Machines of present design are generally acknowledged to be suitable for travel at 40 m.p.h. and more, to such a hign pitch of excellence have their road-holding, steering and braking characteristics been brought.
Whilst one of the trailer's main fields of employment is the carrying of general goods, when coupled to the rear of a lorry, perhaps its most valuable use is for the class of work commonly termed heavy haulage.
In both spheres, and in others, pro
ducts of Cranes ( Dereham), Ltd., Dereham, Norfolk, are widely operated, and we illustrate on these pages a number of machines of this make engaged on a variety of jobs.
As examples of developments to the four-wheeled general-purpose trailer, mention may be made of the ballbearing turntable which ensures accu
rate tracking at high speeds, and of the weight reductions effected—rendered possible by the use of high-grade materials and more scientific design— which have resulted in machines, with sided bodies and capable of carrying 8-ton loads, that weigh, unladen, no more than 2 tons.
Furthermore. improvements to braking may be quoted as of major importance. Not only has safety been ensured by the installation of vacuum and pressure systems, expressly developed for trailer work, but also mechanical systems have been devised which compare in respect of efficiency with those of the towing lorries.
Unrivalled for Exceptional Loads.
Turning now to the matter of heavy haulage, the trailer or semi-trailer is practically unrivalled for the transport by land of such loads as boilers, heavy electrical machinery such as stators, and transformers, excavators, tanks and other weighty and/or bulky articles, For these, the multi-wheeled unit is commonly employed, and the motive power is supplied by petrol, by oil or—only occasionally nowadays— by steam. A type that has gained considerable popularity, recently, is the semi trailer with cranked frame and detachable rear axles. These features greatly simplify loading and unloading, whilst the former also, of course, enhances stability while in motion. In the case of excavators, for instance, when the axles have been demounted and the end of the platform lowered by hydraulic jacks, the machine being transported can be run-off without difficulty, the semi-trailer itself forming the ramp. It is probable that this form of vehicle could be advantageously used by the military authorities for handling heavy guns or parts.
The Brake Maker's Contribution.
For such types of trailer as these, as well as for those built for high speeds, power brakes are essential, and full credit must be given to the specialists in vacuum and pressure equipment for their achievements in this field. Only by the installation of really effective systems can the risk be avoided with certainty of the trailer overrunning the towing vehicle—a happening that may well have disastrous consequences. Reverting to the employment of trailers by the War Office, in this connection it is interesting to note that this department is a big user of numerous types. Trailers are utilized in considerable number as mountings for anti-aircraft guns, whilst the Cranes company recently built a " tank " transporter, designed for negotiation of really rough cOuritry. An important application of this machine would be the recovery of broken-down tanks and the transport of them to the rear of the lines for repair. Another W.D. vehicle was made for carrying 9.2-in.
guns for coastal defence. It has a capacity of 30 tons.
In connection with home supplies. a design of trailer expressly evolved for transporting grain is of interest. A number of such vehicles was recently built, having bodies largely composed of duralumin, and six and eightwheeled chassis. They are loaded from overhead chutes and discharge through a sliding door in the floor.
In another sphere, a large number of Crane semi-trailers is operated in conjunction with the mechanical-horse type of three-wheeled tractive unit. They are mainly of 3 tons and 6 tons capacity, .and by reason of their economy, speed and rnanceuvrability enjoy great popularity for small-radius work. For timber work the trailer is virtually indispensable, and both at home and abroad is widely used for logging. Modern machines with low-pressure tyres have even proved successful where formerly only track-laying vehicles had been employed. Certain Crane models of this type are built with detachable front wheels,' so that two can be coupled together for carrying exceptionally long logs.
One of our pictures shows a Crane drug carrying a 350-cubic-ft. tree trunk.
Fully appreciative of trailers, tl.e oil companies employ them widely in connection with road making and in the laying down and maintenance of pipe line. The Anglo Iranian concern uses Crane products, fitted LID as workshops. for carrying pipes and for numerous other purposes, from transporting food supplies to conveying earth and boulders removed prior to building operations. Tankers have also been supplied to this concern.
Trailer Employment by Brewers.
Trailers of this type, with gIassdined tanks, are freely employed by brewers, for transporting beer, whilst one brewing organization operates a fleet of Crane eight-wheeled vehicles for delivering cased beer to its public houses. This form of vehicle was selected largely in order to avoid loss of standing charges during loading.
In yet Another branch of transport the trailer excels. The whole of the equipment, exhibits and personnel of Bertram Mills's circus is transported on Crane vehicles. The lion and sea-lion cages, the Big Top, the restaurant cars, caravans, sleeping vans and offices are all built on trailer chassis. Time and manceuvrability are perhaps of even greater moment in circus work than they are in other spheres of road transport.
In view of the foregoing, which touches but the surface of the matter, there seems good reason for anticipating no falling off in the growth of this important movement.