Aircraft Loading Vehicle
Page 70
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PATEN T No. 888,123 shows a vehicle having a lifting platform for handling loads on and off aircraft. The platform is able to deal with goods at a height below that of the driver's cab, a useful feature when loading into the
underside of an aircraft. (Dennis Brothers, Ltd., Woodbridge Works, Guildford, Surrey.) As will be seen from the drawing, the platform is moved by a scissor-like linkage (1). The platform extends over the full length of the vehicle but its width is such that in the lowered position it can lie alongside the cab as shown at 2. To permit .this, the cab is narrow and is offset to one side.
The scissor links have fixed pivots (3) at the front but the rear pivots are mounted on blocks sliding in guideways (4). Similar slots are provided for the top links as shown at (5).
An important feature is that the scissors are operated by two pairs of hydraulic rams (6 and 7). By halving the beam forces in this way, a lighter construction can be used, with a consequent saving in weight.
The absence of a plan view in the patent leaves the shape of the top platform in some doubt, but it is presumed that it is as wide as the vehicle, but notched at the front to clear the cab.