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BREAKDOWN AND RECOVERY EQUIPMENT

6th March 1970, Page 66
6th March 1970
Page 66
Page 67
Page 68
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Page 66, 6th March 1970 — BREAKDOWN AND RECOVERY EQUIPMENT
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VEHICLES operate in one of the most precarious environments of the present day. Accident rates continue to rise and with the improvement in roads leading to higher speeds, crashes are becoming more and more complex. As vehicles get larger and heavier, so the equipment to recover disabled units must get more sophisticated. The days of the oldest vehicle in a fleet being used as the wrecker are numbered, and more and more crane units are being mounted on new chassis.

DIAL-HOLMES (ENGLAND) LTD

Caxton Hill, Ware Road, Hartford, Herts.

THE HOLMES recovery equipment designs marketed by this company have been in use in the United States for 54 years. They represent a different approach from that of the conventional types of recovery unit common in this country. Instead of passing the main hauling or lifting stresses through the vehicle chassis during recovery operations, the Holmes Wrecker by virtue of its design becomes a free-standing crane unit.

Six models are offered by the company. The smallest type—known as the 220—is designed for mounting on small vehicles such as LandRovers or the heavier types of pick-up, and will lift up to 4 tons; it can be supplied with an extensible boom and is powered by an electric motor. The next model—the 440—is also of 4-ton capacity but is driven from the pto of the vehicle.

The four remaining models—the 500, 600, 750 and 850—range in capacity from 10 to 40 tons and all have twin booms, a feature that makes them universal in recovery application. The booms develop the same lifting power whether swung out over the side of the vehicle or over the tail. The unique winch was specially conceived for recovery work. It has double winding-drums, one serving each boom, geared through substantial reduction gearing which terminates at the input shaft with a 30 to 1 worm drive.This being non-reversible will, with small assistance from a small band-brake on the shaft, hold maximum loads without running back. A constant-mesh gear train embodying a sliding-dog reversing mechanism can be engaged or disengaged under full load. Control of the winches is by a single lever for each one and the operator can stand on the ground at the rear of the vehicle while controlling the winchesThere is no need to use the vehicle clutch when engaging or disengaging the gears.

Dial-Holmes undertakes the boilding of recovery gear on new or second-hand chassis. It manufactures all the bodywork and the auxiliary drive components from the pto onwards.

In addition to cranes, the company produces other recovery units including the Speed King Dolly, a unit which is extensible in width and has four close-coupled wheels. The unit has wheel-wells between its two axles into which the wheels of the vehicle being towed are placed and when the vehicle's front end is suspended it can be towed without any of its own wheels being in contact with the ground.

Also produced are the Holmes universal towing sling, which is particularly useful for car and light van recovery, and the heavy duty truck sling designed to prevent damage to heavy vehicles when on suspended tow,

B. DIXON-BATE LTD

Chester CH3 6NA.

THE TRAILBAC recovery unit manufactured by this concern is a conversion unit for use with tractive units; it is designed to be imposed on to a standard fifth-wheel when its capacity, dependent on the type of tractive unit, is up to 4.5 tons.

The main frame of the Trailbac is a single backbone on which are mounted a pair of adjustable feet, making it suitable for use with any width of chassis. The unit is secured to the vehicle by a standard SIVIMT king-pin carried on a sliding shoe on the underside of the backbone; this is located in a number of positions by a hardened-steel pin. The crane is fitted to the chassis by placing the backbone member on the surface of the fifth-wheel and sliding the king-pin into the fifth-wheel jaws until they lock. Then the leading end of the backbone is further secured by being chained to the chassis members.

The unit is supplied complete with an overrun A-frame used to prevent vehicles under suspended tow from running on to the crane and damaging themselves. Mounting the unit on a tractor takes about five minutes and in practice vehicles fitted with the crane can recover vehicles of similar size and weight.

HARVEY FROST AND CO LTD

Dunmow Road, Bishop's Stortford, Herts.

A WIDE RANGE of recovery cranes, trailers tow-poles, ambulances and winches is produced by this film.

Cranes with 30cwt to 8 tonscapacities are available. At the lower end of the range is a tubular constructed unit designed for mounting on Land-Rover type vehicles and called the Pick-Up. This unit features a

totally enclosed winch gear. It has a 9ft. runout of cable when it is doubled round the single sheave block or 18ft. when the block is removed and the cable used on a straight lift. The full capacity of the unit, 30cwt, can only be achieved if the vehicle to which it is fitted is capable of supporting it. The crane has a maximum overhang from the rear of the vehicle of 30in. and it weighs 3231b.

At the same capacity but designed for use on larger commercial vehicle chassis is the Model B featuring a fabricated construction and a screw-operated luffing jib which provides for clear height adjustment of between 4ft. 2in. and Oft. 2in. The maximum overhang at these settings are 3ft. Bin. and 4ft. 6in. respectively. This unit employs a single-sheave swivelheaded lifting-block and has a cable outrun of 12ft.; it weighs 5cwt.

The 3-ton model follows much the same design as the last mentioned unit. It is more robustly constructed and has two separate winch reduction-gears and drums identical to the single unit used on the 30cwt crane. A similar but somewhat heavier screw-operated luffing gear is provided which permits overhangs of 3ft. 7in. raised and 4fit. 7in. with the jib lowered. The overall heights of the jib in these two positions are 6ft. 2in. and 4fit. Bin. respectively. The two winches permit the lifting cables to be raised or lowered separately as required. This facilitates the lifting of an uneven !clad such as a twisted chassis. Snatch blocks and head-sheaves are of the totally enclosed type, effectively preventing lifting cables from jumping the pulleys. Each winch is equipped with a built-in friction brake, and they are so designed as to be easily replaceable in the event of damage. There is a cable outrun of 12ft. on each hook and the crane weighs 7cwt.

Three models, all following the same basic design but with heavier scantlingsfor the bigger units, are available having capacities of 5, 6, and 8 tons. These employ double-reduction gearing giving speedy operation when the hoists are unladen or lightly laden, and easy operation when heavily laden. The lifting winches ate placed side by side in the framework of the cranes and provision is made for the low-ratio winding gears to be operated from both sides at the same time. A third winch is fitted to the units and this is described as an anchoring winch. It is designed to anchor the rear of the crane when this is swivelled to lift over the side of the vehicle, but it can also be used for hauling. The cranes are of the nonluffing variety and the lifting wires are passed through double-sheave and pulley blocks, serving swivelling lifting hooks on each lift. A fourth winch is solely a hauling unit and this is situated in the base of the crane.

All the models in this range can feature a slewing base as an option. Optional on them also is the provision of cable guide-pulleys at the rear of the unit around which the cable from the hauling winch can be passed to facilitate rotation of the crane on its base; this is done by leading the cable round the traversing ring and anchoring to an eye provided.

A considerable amount of auxiliary equipment is made by the firm including stabilizing legs, towing attachments, tow bars and ambulances.

One useful attachment is called the TowBoy. This comprises a triangulated tubular crane assembly which is mounted on wheels.

It can suspend-tow up to 20cwt at which weight with the tyres inflated to 90 psi. it can travel at 10 mph. There are two models of the Tow-Boy designated Mks 1 and 2; the Mk 1 has no brakes while the Mk 2 is equipped with overrun brakes.

There are four different capacity ambulance units produced. These range from 20cwt up to 5 tons. The smallest model has pneumatic tyred wheels, while all the heavier types are mounted on solid rubber tyres. Taper-roller bearings are used throughout the range and each model is equipped with laterally adjustable axle-support brackets. Crutches which locate in the support brackets can be swung sideways to accommodate main chassis members in the event of the front or rear axles not being in situ or not in sufficiently sound condition to support the vehicle.

On the lighter types the towing pole can be raised or lowered to take account of various towing-pin heights. Weights of the ambulances vary from lcwt 3qr for the smallest unit up to 9cwt 3qr for the heaviest model.

Towing poles featuring twin rectangular box-section members are produced for towing vehicles from 10 to 30 tons gvw. All these units are fitted with a single wheel at the axle attachment end to facilitate handling. Universal axle clamps make it possible to use these on almost any type of vehicle. In the light-duty range, towing poles with capacities of from 3 tons upwards are available.

One of the latest developments in the Harvey Frost recovery equipment range is the Pickaback trailer; this has a capacity of up to 1.5 tons and can be used to recover light vehicles. A second trailer of the type is produced for loads up to 2.5 tons. This vehicle has close-coupled tandem axles and like the smaller unit is fitted with overrun brakes. Both trailers are equipped with a handpowered winch to facilitate loading. The smaller of the two, however, features a tiltback body which dispenses with the need for loading ramps. The body is tilted by means of a screw mechanism at the front end of the trailer. The towing vehicle remains coupled to the trailer during the loading operation.

REYNOLDS BOUGHTON ENGINEERING SERVICES LTD

Bell Lane, Amersham, Bucks.

SEVERAL TYPES of recovery crane are manufactured and mounted on chassis of customer's choice by Reynolds Boughton. A twin-boom unit with a 3 to 5 tons capacity features a pair of fabricated booms each served by a 15,000lb capacity independently controlled winch. The winches are powered from the vehicle pto via gear and chain transmission. The vehicle is supplied complete with a fabricated steel body.

In the heavier range is a single extendingboom unit with a capacity of 10 to 12 tons. This unit will slew through 180deg and luff from 45deg to 20deg from horizontal. The jib can be extended through a length of 4ft. and is provided with hole-and-pin locks at increments of 16in. ; the extension of the jib is effected by a hand-operated winch. It is normally supplied mounted on six-wheeled chassis such as the Scammell Constructor, AEC Militant and Foden. Hydraulic transmission is used, powered from the vehicle pto, and the crane is mounted on robustly constructed bodywork fabricated from rolledand pressed-steel channel and sheet steel.

A fixed, extending single-boom unit is built, this being of 6 tons capacity, employing mechanical transmission and suitable for mounting on the heavier types of four-wheeled chassis such as the AEC Matador.

A wide range of accessories is produced including all forms of lashing-chains, snatch blocks shackles, ground anchors, towing frames and poles. The company specializes in winches and winch gear and can supply models with a wide range of capacities. It also offers a mbu lance-units of various capacities.

One of the outstanding features of the RB 10-ton units is the huge spade mounted on the rear of the vehicle which is used to prevent the vehicle moving backwards when the salvage winch is operating. It is designed so that it also fulfills the purpose of a rigid support for the crane jib when suspended towing operations are made, when it absorbs both lateral and vertical stresses.

RM TRAILERS LTD

New Farm Road, Alresford, Hants.

A WIDE RANGE of recovery trailers specially designed for carrying light vehicles is made by this firm. These vary from simple, two-wheeled types with channel-section main members in which a vehicle's wheels will run when being loaded, to other types with three channels, specially designed for carrying three-wheelers, up to a highly sophisticated unit which has a tilt-back platform with a bogie mounted on it for use in the rapid recovery of crashed vehicles.

All the models feature independent torsionalrubber suspension and box-section tubularsteel frames. Almost any type of two-wheeled or close-coupled four-wheeled trailer equipment can be built to order by the company.

TRACEL FABRICATIONS LTD

Great Gransden, Sandy, Beds.

SPECIALIZING in one model of caliper-type hydraulic-powered recovery crane with a maximum capacity of 20 tons, this company will supply the unit to a customer for mounting on his own chassis, execute the mounting for him, or undertake to supply a complete breakdown vehicle to customer's specification.

The crane made by the firm is heavily constructed from steel fabrications. It comprises a base frame, carrying a pair of two-stage 6.5in. diameter hydraulic-rams, a pair of king-posts and a pivot-trunnion. A double, telescopicboom is hinged to the pivot trunnion through a nylon-bushed, 3in. diameter shaft; this with the heavily-gusseted king-posts at the outer ends of the booms provides a high degree of lateral stiffness and resistance to side thrusts

promoted by awkwardly situated winching jobs.

The telescopic booms are hydraulically extended and contracted by a double-acting ram situated between the two. This ram is 5in. diameter and provides for an extension of 6ft.

A five-cylinder swash-plate-type pump powers the hydraulic system, this being driven either from the vehicle pto or from an auxiliary power unit. The crane does not employ winches or wires to provide its lift, this being obtained solely through elevation of the booms. It is possible when the vehicle is fitted with a hauling winch, to run the cable from this over a block secured to the booms and use this as a lifting medium.

Maximum overhang with the booms closed is 21in. when the maximum lift is 20 tons; when extended the overhang is 93in., with lift being up to 8 tons. Dependent on the vehicle to which the crane is fitted, the height of lift which can be obtained varies slightly. A typical example would be, with the booms closed: from 6ft. 6in. to 10ft. 6in. and with them extended, 7ft. 3in. to 16ft. 10in.

Trace] can provide the auxiliary equipment needed on a recovery vehicle such as supporting jacks, winching spades and the like, and it also produces a unit known as the Towbogie. This is a device permitting safe handling of suspended-and-towed loads. It comprises a fabricated frame with shackle eyes at one end and a lipped flange at the other. The unit is mounted on two small-diameter cast-iron wheels and in operation it is wheeled beneath the front of the immobilized vehicle; the lipped flange is slipped over the top of the leading axle beam and with wood blocks imposed between the frame and the vehicle chassis a rigid lifting bracket is formed.

Towing poles of either the straight or swan neck variety are produced to order and chains are also supplied.

WESTINGHOUSE GARAGE EQUIPMENT LTD

Kiagswood, .Bristol. BS15 2NN EQU I PM ENT made by this company is restricted to one vehicle-mounted crane of 5 tons capacity, various rigid towing poles, three types of ambulance bogie and a steering lock.

The crane features an all-welded lattice construction and two 2.5-ton capacity winding-drums independently controlled. The dru ms are hand-wound through a 20 to 1 ratio geartrain and secured by a single-action ratchetand-pawl mechanism. Lifting cables pass through double-sheaves the lower of which carries swivelling hooks.

At extra cost the BD crane, as it is known, can be supplied with a luffing attachment. This is a simple device whereby the crane jib is pivoted on its mounting base and secured in either of two positions giving clear lifting heights under the hooks of from 5ft. 10in. to 7ft. When the jib mounting is solid the height under the hooks is 6ft. The crane provides for a fixed overhang of 4ft. 6in.: when the luffing device is fitted the length of overhang is 4ft. 2in. with the jib in the high position and 411. 8in. in the low position.

For a maximum permitted load of 20cwt, which covers most cars and light vans, the company produces its Hydraulic Retriever. This is an ambulance which incorporates an hydraulic-powered lifting-frame which enables vehicles to be lifted on to the ambulance without the use of a special vehicle.

The unit comprises a tubular carrying-frame, a pair of hydraulic jacking-frames and a twowheeled ambulance. In operation the carrying frame is laid on the ground and the disabled vehicle rolled on to the frame, its front (or rear) wheels nestling between the longitudinal and transverse members of the frame. The jacks are inserted at each end of the frame and raised enough to permit the ambulance to be rolled under. The frame is then lowered until the kingpin locates in the frame. Wheel-stirrups are supplied to prevent the vehicle jumping off the frame when in transit.

The unit can be dismantled to fit into the smallest car boot; complete it weighs 3.5cwt but no section of it is too heavy to be handled easily by one man. The unit will handle vehicles with wheel sizes of between 10in. and 16in. diameter and with track widths of between 41 in. and 61 in.; the maximum dimension from axle centre to towing eye is 73in. Other ambulances made by the firm with capacities of 1 ton and 2 tons can be provided with solid adjustable draw-bars providing for towing lengths between 8 and 10ft. The one ton model is mounted on twin formation 4in. x 8in, wheel and tyre equipment while the 2-ton model has single 16in. x 4in. wheels with special vanes to promote air circulation around the tyres. Lighter units are produced for use with vehicles having independent front suspension.

Towing poles are made for use with vehicles from car and light van types up to those of 12

tons gvs.'. cer-towing units have a universal ball-end and are spring-loaded to reduce the towing shocks. A 6-ton capacity unit is produced and this features a double-jointed attachment which is fully universal. The heavyduty pole has a quickly detachable coupling head and is spring loaded.

The steering clamp is designed to hold the steering wheel of a light vehicle being towed with its rear wheals off the ground. It comprises a telescopic cross bar with substantial pads at either end, lined with thick rubber. The unit is clamped between the sides of the vehicle and the steering wheel is locked in the straightahead position by a pair of rubber-lined clamping bars.

OTHER MAKES

LIGHT-VEHICLE recovery trailers are also produced by the following companies: Halson Trailers Ltd, Newhaven, Sussex. John Reid and Sons, Mill Lane Works, Mill Road, CI eistchurch, Hants.

Tollbridoe Trailers Ltd, Lymington. Hants.

S. Willets (Fabrications) Ltd, Stella Works, Phoenix Street, West Bromwich, Staffs.

Tags

People: Lane Works
Locations: Phoenix, Hartford, Bristol

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