The lowdown on Airswop
Page 29
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
A NEW swop-body system has been announced today by York Trailer Co Ltd, after two years on operational trial. The system, known as Airswop, has been developed in conjunction with Spire Transport of Chesterfield.
The raising/lowering equipment, which consists of twin air-operated hydraulic rams which lift the calipers and the load, fits within the vehicle's normal chassis height in most cases thus keeping the overall height similar to a normal, permanently-mounted van.
York claims that the system offers the added benefit of not requiring the engine to be running during operation. Separate air reservoirs are used which hold sufficient air for raising and lowering the body up.to four times or it can also be operated with a yard air line.
The legs on the body are widespread for easy reversing and angled guide ramps guide the body into position on the locating cones and the York twistlocks on the chassis. The air-operated hydraulic rams can . also be stopped at any point giving total operator control and minimising the risk of accident. A vertical lift of 381mm (15in) with 10.2 tonnes (10 tons) and 305mm (121n) with 14.2 tonnes (14 tons) payload allows interchange between vehicles with different load heights.
York has also introduced a 12.2m (40ft) skeletal semitrailer which enables two or more containers or body units to be carried. These trailers feature powered landing legs, a retractable "A" frame and a raise/lower air suspension, all of which enable the trailer to be lowered and withdrawn from under the bodies. , The Airswop units •can also be fitted to drawbar trailers, and because of the separate air tank system can operate without an external power source. In many cases existing bodies used with other systems can be easily mixed with Airswop or alternatively York can offer a special .body-base platform unit which enables a customer's existing bodies to be adapted.