Silent nights at Watneys
Page 34
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A BATTERY electric tractive unit has recently been purchased by Watney Mann for silent night-time shunting duties at the company's Mortlake brewery in south west London.
The unit has been built by Ross Auto Engineering Ltd of Southport Lanes and is capable of operating one complete shift on one charge.
Power is provided by two banks of Exide Ironclad lead acid batteries, carried on each side of the chassis which supply energy at 72 volts to the traction motor mounted in tandem with a reduction gearbox. The drive then passes to the rear wheels through a short propeller shaft and a spiral bevel final drive assembly. Maximum speed ranges from 1 2.8 km/h to 17.7 km/ h (8 to 11 mph). The unit is used to shunt loaded and empty tank semi trailers an operation which the company required to be carried out without the driver leaving his cab. For this reason a separate electrical circuit powers a hydraulic pump for raising and lowering a York fifthwheel coupling and for securing and releasing the king-pin lock. Another circuit provides power for the air/ hydraulic braking system.
Norde rubber suspension is fitted to both axles while the cab is equipped with Bost rom suspension seat and Calor gas heater.