New demountable system by Cocker
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• Four small chassis-mounted rams are used to raise the container of the latest demountable-body system just announced by James Cocker and Sons (Southport) Ltd., Kew Works, Meols Cop Road, Southport. The bodywork is produced by the Cocker company and the hydraulics by Servisales Ltd., A rgall Avenue, Leyton, London, E10. The system can be applied to containers with lengths up to 25/26ft.
Attached to the main chassis members the four rams are interconnected and the system incorporates a displacer unit which provides for equal ram lift irrespective of the load. The only modification to the chassis comprises the addition of two channelsection steel cradles and a stop at the back of the cab. Four quick-release containersecuring attachments are fitted to the cradles.
The container is based on a rectangular hollow-section frame which obviates distortion when it is standing on its four support struts. These are of the swing-down retractable-leg type which are housed in recesses in the container sub-frame when not in use. Detachable legs are also available.
In the standard system the rams are sup plied by a pto-driven high-pressure hydraulic pump. If required a manually-operated pumr can be fitted.
Container unloading and loading follow: the normal procedure. After the container has been elevated by the four rams, the struts are moved to the vertical position, where they are automatically locked; the rams are then released and the vehicle is driven forward clear of the container. A reverse procedure is employed for loading.
The weight penalty in the case of an 18ft container, as shown in the photographs, is about .54-cwt. A similar ram gear is used for 16ft containers and for larger containers up to 26ft. The penalty is somewhat greater if larger containers are carried because of the additional weight of the sub-frame.
The new system is supplementary to a detachable-leg type that has been produced by the Cocker company for some years. Manually-operated, the four hydraulic legs of this system fit into corner slots of the container; they may be carried on the vehicle or held at the depot. In the latter case the weight penalty is negligible.