Single-ram Lift for Double-deckers
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TO watch a full-size double-saloon bus being raised on a single-ram hydraulic lift is quite impressive, but there are more material advantages to be considered, for the centre-post carriage serves as a turntable as well as allowing a high degree of accessibility to the tinderside of the vehicle, The Skyhi 9-ton single-ram lift made by Henry Miller and Co., Standard Road, London, N.W.10, is quite capable of raising a double-decker 4 ft. in a few seconds.
For the hydraulic operation, a high-pressure pump, designed and made by the Miller concern, is used, this being of the awash-plate pattern, and having six cylinders ; this is directly coupled to a 3 h.p. electric motor. A single valve controls the lift. When it is closed the lift Commences to rise, and, with power at 2d. per electric unit, it is reckoned that 0.2d. is the cost of raising a full-sized vehicle.
The lift ram, 12 ins. in diameter, is made from hightensile steel, the lift head fitted to it being of east steel. The tracks are 24 ft. long, their inner width being 3 ft. 4 ins., and their outer width 7 ft. 6 ins., so that even vehicles with twin tyres can be accommodated.
Devices are incorporated which prevent overloading, overlifting or bursting. At maximum lift the effective bearing is 2 ft. 9 ins, long, ensuring great stability. Skyhi singlepost lifts can be obtained for capacities of 5 tons, 7 tons and 9 tons, whilst two-ram and four-ram lifts are available for 12 tons, 16 tons and 20 tons.
The accompanying illustration was obtained at the recent Scottish Show, at which Messrs. F. W. Murray, of 34, Bath Street, Glasgow, demonstrated the 9-ton lift raising a Leyland Titan bus.