Lightweight 8-tonner Added to Crane Range
Page 26
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
AN accompanying illustration shows one of the latest four-wheeled trailers made by Cranes (Dereham), Ltd., South Green Works, Derehasn,
Norfolk. This vehicle incorporates a number of interesting features, some of which are new. Among these may be mentioned buffer-type springing, selfcentring internal-expanding brakes and ball-bearing turntable.
With regard to the first of these, the springing system incorporates plain springs without eyes, the ends being held in slots in cast-steel spring shoes, having rubber buffer blocks faced with steel to take the spring movement. By eliminating both eyes and shackles, wear and spring breakage are claimed by the maker to be much reduced.
In the self-centring braking system B14
the shoes are free to float and each is almost a complete half circle. Thus the facings make contact with the brake drums over about 90 per cent. of the available area, and a high braking efficiency results.
This latest trailer has a tapered pressed-steel channel frame, and it has been designed with a view to reducing weight to the minimum. With a platform body the trailer weighs only 2 tons, whilst the chassis alone scales no more than 34 cwt. In view of the fact that the vehicle can carry 8 tons of pay-load, these figures are undoubtedly creditable. The greatest departure from the concern's former standard design is tha use of a ball-bearing turntable, This component has materially assisted in weight saving. It comprises two cast-steel rings, of which the upper is bolted to the frame and the lower to the forecarriage. The design ensures that when moving the vehicle in either a backward or a forward direction, the force is distributed through the balls all round. The arrangement reveals considerable ingenuity and, of course, gives easyturning. This trailer certainly constitutes a fine example of modern practice in this sphere.