From Arrow tilt-platform trailers
Page 46
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
BY JOHN CULLEN
NEW name was added to the list of trailer-makers last week when Arrow Construction Equipment Ltd., of Blyth, Northumberland, introduced and demonstrated two designs specifically intended for the transport of earthmoving machinery and plant.
The models are a 10-ton drawbar trailer and a 16-ton semi-trailer which have common features including running gear and suspension and platforms which can be tilted to facilitate the loading of equipment from the rear, with the tandem-axle bogies located close to the centreline of the platform area.
Designation of the drawbar trailer is TS 10 and of the semi-trailer TSA 16. Both carry the name Target, and the platform area of the TS 10 measures 18 ft. by 8 ft., while the TSA 16 is a semi-drop frame design with a loading area measuring 22 ft. by 8 ft., the rear 18 ft. of which can be tilted making both platforms interchangeable.
A walking beam suspension is fitted to both trailers. The hubs are mounted on boxsection members which locate in trunnions under the chassis side-members. On the top of the side-members there is a transverse boxsection member at the centre of the bogie and this carries chevron-type Metalastik rubberand-steel sandwiched units which connect the walking beams and provide the suspension. The chassis frames are of steel channel sections and they are of all-welded construction.
A principle similar to the operation of a multi-plate clutch is employed for the braking arrangements on both trailers. In these metallic-faced discs are interleaved with steel plates.
Three-line braking systems are employed with spring-brake actuators providing for the secondary and parking brake functions. The kingpin on the TSA 16 plus the seven-pin electrical connections on the trailers comply with SMMT and SAE standards. Tyres fitted on both trailers are 8.25-16 and the unladen weight of the TSA 16 is 4 tons 11 cwt., with the TS 10 weighing 3 tons.
Speedy turnround of all types of plant is achieved by virtue of the platforms which tilt at an angle of 14°, permitting mobile plant to be driven on and off without difficulty. Small loading ramps are used to assist equipment to be driven on to the trailers and these can be permanently hinged to the platform.
Tilting of the platform is performed by a manually operated hydraulic pump which is fitted slightly ahead of the forward axle. The operating handles are fitted in the gooseneck of the TSA 16 and immediately behind the towing eye on the TS 10. The towing eye can be detached on the drawbar trailer and fitted in any one of 10 positions to suit various sizes of towing vehicles.
For the demonstrations, both trailers were loaded with contractors' plant, the TS 10 with a 6-ton bulldozer on board which took four minutes to load. The TSA 16 was loaded with a 16-ton digger in five minutes. A further four minutes was spent securing the machines to the trailers after which both trailers were taken on an M4 test run. Both behaved very well and gave no indication of possible problems from a driving angle.
Starting Soon: Work starts soon on construction of the Edenfield-Rawtenstall level crossing 3+mile by-pass on the Manchester-Burnley trunk road (A56) in Lancashire. The Minister of Transport has accepted the £3,340,029 tender of the Sir Alfred McAlpine and Son Ltd.-Leonard Fairclough Ltd. Consortium. RUNNING REPAIRS
THREE trailer-mounted workshops have been built by Arrow Construction Equipment Ltd. of Blyth, Northumberland, for Seaton Valley Urban Council. They are fitted with full bench facilities to provide on the spot maintenance services for housing estates. Of ribbed aluminium, they are 30 ft. long, and 8 ft. wide. Arrow has received inquiries from other local authorities, too.
NEW PRESERVATION WAY
A NEW timber preservation treatment was demonstrated this week by Hickson's Timber Impregnation Co. Ltd. at its works in Dudley, Worcestershire. Known as "Drilon", this treatment makes use of the vacuum/pressure impregnation process but differs from similar treatments in that the preservative (tri-butyl tin oxide) is dissolved in liquified petroleum gas. This process leaves the timber dry after preservation and no shrinkage occurs.