Portable load-banks cut fork-lift need
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RATCLIFF TAIL Lifts have reduced their range of mobile loading banks to three. The lifting platforms are electrohydraulically operated and are fitted with castors for easy movement.
Two of the banks lift 1.5 tonnes to a maximum height of 1.525 metres (5ft), one on a 1.22 metre (4ft) deep platform and the other on a platform 1.83 metre (Oft) deep. The third model lifts two tonnes to a maximum height of 1.83 metres (Oft), and has a platform 1.22 metres (4ft deep). All the platforms are 2.13 metres (7ft) wide. Cost of the 1½tonne model is about £2250.
A 440V three-phase electric motor drives the hydraulic pump but the voltage is stepped down to 12 at the controls to eliminate risk of electric shock. To raise or lower the lift the operator simply has to press one of two buttons. The hydraulic valves controlled by the buttons are solenoidoperated.
The transverse hydraulic ram is fully enclosed within the back-plate and lifts the loading platform through roller chains enclosed in the side columns. It takes about 12 seconds to lift to 11/2 metres.
The lifting platform is steel chequerplate and has a split lead-on ramp. Once the loading bank is in position it may be held firm by its two quick-wind screw jacks.
There is a self-adjusting bridge plate to form a continuous surface between the lift platform and a truck's floor. This bridge plate is carried on brackets which roll up and down the front face of the side columns.
As the platform rises, it pushes up the bridge plate which then rests on the tail edge of the truck's floor for the rest of the loading or unloading operation.
A comparable fork-lift truck would cost around £9,000 compared with Ratcliff's £2250, says the company.