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Hipope's new tail-lift
• What is believed to be the first successful hydraulic tail-lift operated by two direct-acting rams—eliminating arty need for cables, levers or other intermediate mechanical links—has been developed and introduced by Hipope Ltd, Ross Road, Northampton.
Hipope has tackled the problem by employing two matched rams piped in series, so that oil displaced by one ram during its upward stroke enters the base of the other ram to force' the second piston up at the same speed.
The new tail-lift, designated 2FiV Mark II, is simple in design, light in weight, and easy to maintain. Each 52in.-stroke ram is enclosed inside a 3in.-square-section steel column, of which the lower third forms a guide for the platform support slide bolted to the piston rod. Front and rear wear faces of the Slide are covered with strips of semi-porous Deva metal, which retains a certain amount of the graphite grease that has to be applied occasionally to the slides. This is the tail-lift's sole maintenance requirement.
Only the top of each ram is secured to its column, by means of a single bolt through a rubber-bonded bush. Removal of a ram for occasional seal replacement is a simple operation, said to take no longer than 20min.
Two other features in the design of this tail-lift are power-actuated opening and closing of the platform, and a simple means for securing the platform in its closed position.
Weighing, it is claimed, less than 4cwt, the tail-lift is rated for uniformly distributed loads up to 1 ton. It is available for either power take-off or battery-electric operation. In the latter case, the control valve is again of manual type—unless solenoid actuation is particularly required--and an isolating switch is fitted in the, cab. The manual control lever has an extension so that it can be operated from within the body.
The list price of the pto model (excluding ptc4 is £255, while the battery-electric is listed at £305. In each case the fitting charge is £47 10s.
Numerous optional extras are available, such as a hinged rear ramp that can be locked • level with or at right angles to the platform, detachable side ramps, detachable safety rails, and so on. The standard platform, 3ft long and of any required width, is floored with exterior-grade 12-ply timber.