Unique Features in New Snow Clearer
Page 19
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Lewin Equipment for Enabling a Vehicle to Clear a Way for Itself and a Further Attachment for Performing the General Function of Snow Shifting
TWO types of snow-clearance attachment were recently demonstrated to a representative of this paper by Lewin Road Sweepers, Ltd., Shake
speare Street, Southport. One is a device designed to enable any vehicle to clear its own way through snow, whilst the other is an attachment for use in conjunction with the first and is a full-width sweep secured to the rear of the vehicle.
With regard to the former, the essential parts of the attachment weigh only 2 cwt., and the dimensions can be arranged so that the appliance shall be suitable for any chassis. An important feature is that the plough does not tend to pull over to one side the vehicle driving it, the steering being quite unaffected by the fitting and use of the sweeps.
Although work on the device was commenced only a few weeks ago, development has been hurried forward, so that supplies can be ready in time for use during the coming winter. Owing to the not-unexpected absence of snow at the present season the demonstration was actually of sand clearance. This rendered the test more exacting, as we are informed that it can be reckoned in round figures that sand represents a 10 times greater load than snow.
With the two front sweeps in position a convincing performance was obtained. These sweeps clear wide tracks for the vehicle wheels and, should drifted snow be encountered, a V-type plough nose can be attached in order to clear the centre of the track.
The vehicle, with front sweeps in use, was also demonstrated with the inclined plough trailing behind the rear wheels. This clearer weighs
cwt, and enables the machine to clean the full width of the track after the preliminary work has been done by the front sweeps. Thus it would be particularly valuable for authorities who are actually responsible for road clearanceas distinct from operators who would probably find their needs met in most circumstances by the device that clears the road just in front of thefrwheels.
Although light, the construction is quite adequate for the job. The front cross-beams are mounted on two brackets. Each bracket is attached by means of plates fixed at each side of the corresponding vehicle spring and bolted together; projections on the plates engage with the dumb-irons in order to take the thrust. The main tubular steel cross-beam is carried in a 1)-clip.
At each end of the cross-beam is a square channel in which slides a steel bar and at the lower end of this member is hinged the sweep—a reinforcedsteel plate set at an angle of 45 degrees to the track. The plate is supported by a quarter-elliptic spring. Serrated on one side, the slidi4 member can be set at any suitable height by means of a tommy bar and screw. When not in use the plates ate turned upwards and held in position by chains and clips.
The rear snow plough, which can be made in any desired weight, is fitted by means of a pin to the towing ring at the rear of the chassis; castor wheels trailing behind prevent there being a scarifying action on the road surface.
Tests have proved that the principles of the new device are sound and it may well open up a new era in snow clearance.