A Dyson Machinery Carrier of Advanced Design
Page 37
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BUILT expressly for handling excavators and similar machines of up to 10 tons "in weight, the semitrailer shown in the accompanying illustration is a recent product of R. A. Dyson and Co., Ltd., 76-80, Grafton Street, Liverpool, 8, and embodies a number of interesting features.
01 the dropped-frame type, the trailer has an overall length of 21 ft., whilst the length of the platform in the well is 9 ft. 3 ins, and the width 7 ft. 6 ins. Above the rear wheels, there is a 5-ft. 11-in. platform, 3 ft. 31 ins, above ground level, and, over the turntable, a further platform CI ft. 7 in5, long and 4 ft. high. The most striking dimension, however, is the loading height of the main portion, which is no more than 1 ft. 6 ins.
The vehicle has twin 34 by 7 tyres on its two wheels, and is equipped with F. and J. vacuum-servo brakes.
By reason of its originality, the frame construction merits a brief de scription. A little over 12 ft. in length, the two main longitudinals are each composed of two 8-in. by 31-in. channels, placed back to back. Between these channels, at their ends, are used the lower portions of, four cheek plates, one of which can be discerned in the picture. The upper parts of these are fixed between the 6-in, channels which form the side members of the higher parts of the frame and are similarly made to the main members.
At the extreme ends •and at the centre of the well frame, are 6-in. chan nel-section cross-members. Those at the ends lie upon the longitudinals, run through the clrek plates and are extended to the full width of the vehicle, whilst that in the middle is formed in three parts, is butted to the main channels and at its joints strongly gusseted. This also is a fullwidth member.
Two lengths of 5-in. by 21-in, chan-nel are attached to the extended ends of the cross-channels, and complete the lower flame, which is oak-floored. Two channels cross-brace each upper frame and welding is freely used throughout. There are also two steel plates which
• join the facing edges of the cheek plates and form, as it were, the walls of the well.
An interesting detail is the method of carrying the forward ends of the springs. One end of the spring pin is supported in a hole in the cheek plate, whilst the other is mounted in an angle bracket bolted to the underside of one of the rear platform channels.
It will he noted that the crossmembers of the upper platform frames are not extended to the full width of the trailer. Instead, there is a 3-in. by 3-in. angle-section framing which completely surrounds the flooring. The semi-trailer is equipped for quick-action coupling gear so that the tractive unit, used in conjunction with it, can also be employed for other purposes.