Mechanical Operation for Body1 Sides
Page 41
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A TRAILER, incorporating a novel ti.idea, has lust been built by R. A. Dyson and Co., Ltd., 76-80, Grafton
Street, Liverpool, S. Designed for carrying 6-ton loads of coke, it has high, hinged sides, which are so heavy that it would be impracticable to release them by hand in the customary manner, more especially in view of the height of the vehicle.
Accordingly, they are equipped with rack and pinion mechanism, operated through shaft and bevel gearing by handles situated under the trailer at the front. This scheme appears to mark a progressive step in the design of bodies of this type.
The trailer is equipped with threeway twin-ram triple-telescopic hydraulic tipping gear, made by the Parkside Engineering Co. (Liverpool), Ltd., 2,
Park Street, Liverpool, 8. For use when end tipping, stabilizing stays are provided to steady the bases of the rams. The need for these arises because of the high ,angle of the tip, which reaches a maximum of 50 degrees. They are quickly detachable to enable the body to be side tipped.
A hand-operated two-ram plunger pump operates the tipping gear, and it is claimed that, with a'normal expenditure of energy, the _body can be fully raised in from three to five minutes.
Following the usual Dyson construction, the chassis is designed to withstand the concentrated loading caused when tipping, whilst affording the lowest possible door height. The wheels are shod with B.T.R. 36 by S straightsided high-pressure tyres.
Measuring 17 ft. in length and 7 ft. 2 ins, in width, the body has 5-ft. sides. The front is, of course, fixed, whilst the sides hinge from the bottom and the end swings open from above, being secured by an easily controlled crossbar which pivots on a horizontal axis at its centre.
By reference to the accompanying drawing the working. of the gear for lowering and raising the sides can easily be understood. Highly ingenious, the mechanism comprises two long shafts, running along the tops of the hinged portions -of th'esides inside the body. Each is rotated-through a worm and wheel by the appropriate handle under the front end. The shafts carry, at each end, asmall spur .gear which engages with. a curved rack, one end of which is fixed to the body side.
. At the front, each rack is attached to the curved edge of a steel plate, itself fixed to 'the side but assuming a position outside the front end when the side is raised. When the side is lowered, the plate encloses the gap that would otherwise be formed between. the side and the end and.. thus prevents coke from falling.
No such -arrangement being practic.abIe. at the rear, because of the opening end, the racks are housed in 'curved channels, from which they gradually emerge when the sides are lowered.
When end tipping, to minimize the interference of the rack channels with the discharge of coke, they are pro. vided with streamlining pieces on the inner sides.
Among the advantages of the design may be mentioned that the sides can easily be operated by one man, the use of securing pins is eliminated, the sides being positively held up with no possibility of leakage and without danger of their accidentally falling, and that the operator is standing clear of the falling load when lowering the sides.