An S.D. Freighter for 4-ton Loads.
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AS most of our readers will be aware the standard S.D. Freighter, manufactured by Shelvoke and, Drewry, Ltd., of Letchworth, is built to entry a load of 2 tons, but they may also know that the company produces certain special models which can deal with loads in excess of that weight. The chassis, -which forms the basis of the vehicle shown in the accompanying illustration, can be cited as an example. This is, built to transport 4-ton loads, including the weight of the body which, in this case, is not a body in the real sense of the term, for it consists of three pairs of rails arranged to accommodate casks of beer.
The rails are so disposed that the pair ,in the centre supports the large sizes of cask, whilst smaller casks are carried by the other sets of rails at the sides. Bach rail is equipped with a sliding clamp, which can be edit-Eked to the size of any barrel. By the turn of a lever, the clamp can be locked to the rail at any point throughout its length.
A tail skid is provided, and this is built so that it is always in correct relation to the rails, thus facilitating the work of unloading the barrels.
A point of interest in connection with this vehicle, which has been built for Guinness and Co., Ltd., the well-known brewers of Dublin, is that it is equipped with anti-splash guards, both on the insides and outsides of the wheele, in order to conform with the requirements of the authorities in Dublin. It has been found a difficult matter to find a really efficient guard for preventing mud splashing, but we are told that the type adopted appears to meet the somewhat stringent conditions imposed in this Irish city.
This type of vehicle is well suited for dealing with various classes of barrelled goods, oil, paint and so on, in addition to beer.