QUICK-CHANGE SYSTEM FOR DEMOUNTABLE BODIES
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Peterborough Engineering demonstrates lightweight design guiLT under licence from the Ackermann Fahrzeugbau, of West Germany, a demountable body system was demonstrated in London on Wednesday by the unit's UK manufacturers, Peterborough Engineering Co. Ltd., of Peterborough. This is known as the Pengco Load-o-matic and provides for body lengths of 14 ft. to 24 ft. at an average weight penalty of not more than 6 cwt. While the system has been available for private inspection since the time of the Commercial Motor Show, this was its first official demonstration to the Press, and ft is notable that sales promotion is being arranged in conjunction with York Trailer Co., of Corby, who supply the bodywork for van applications.
A number of operators in this country are employing the system and its use has been progressively expanding over the past year in Germany, where, in addition to conventional applications, rail wagons have been adapted to enable easy transfer of the bodies by one man from a road vehicle to rail.
The low weight penalty has been achieved by employing a vehicle-chassis guide frame ramp at each end in conjunction with hydraulically operated rear-mounted rams that elevate the chassis frame; the body is equipped with rollers at the front and let-down legs at each corner. A van or platform body can be loaded or unloaded by the driver in about two minutes.
After raising the rear of the chassis a few inches the driver lowers the rear legs, which are adjustable for height, drops the chassis to its normal position by releasing the hydraulic pressure in the ram el/tuft (the rams are of the spring-return type), moves the vehicle forward to a point convenient for dropping the front legs and, after this has been done, drives it clear of the demountable body. As the rollers travel down the front ramp the legs come to rest on the ground.
During the final stage of vehicle movement rearwards. for loading, the body rollers are lowered by the guide rail ramp so that in the running position the body rests on the rail frame members. When the chassis is backed under the body the rollers engage the ramp at the rear of the guide rail and raise the body clear of the frame section. The body is locked at the front by hooks integral with the sub-frame and at the rear by a transversely located, hydraulically operated plunger mechanism. Adaptable to any type of standard rigid chassis, the system will later be offered fitted with rear rollers which will enable the body to be transferred from the vehicle chassis to a loading deck.
More Albions for BRS: British Road Services has placed a repeat order with Albion Motors Ltd. for 40 Super Clydesdale truck chassis and 40 Super Chieftain tractive units. The Super Clydesdales will be long-wheelbase models with Ergomatic cabs and the Super Chieftains will have Scammell automatic coupling gear, Albion five-speed gearboxes with sixth-speed overdrive and Leyland 0.400 engines.
Commonweal Export Success: An intensive European sales campaign has brought Commonweal Traders Ltd., of Strood. Kent, an order from Philip Holzmann of Frankfurt for 50 Bedford diesel trucks worth over £80,000. The chassis/cabs are model KGTC 5, with bodywork by Telehoist Ltd., of Cheltenham.
Insurance Firm Wound Up: The Irish American Insurance Company has been wound up, all motor policies issued by the company are now ineffective and claims by policy holders arising out of accidents will not be recoverable from the company. New Bridge: The new Scotswood Bridge over the Tyne at Newcastle has been officially opened, and the old bridge built 100 years ago is to be demolished. The Newcastle and Gateshead joint bridge committee is to replace the existing Redheugh Bridge over the Tyne with a new structure 99 ft. wide.