Fold-away tanks convert to platform
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SASEK TANKER TRUCK TO BE MADE IN UK
By Paul Brockington
only takes a few minutes for the driver of a Sasek tanker truck to convert the vehicle from a multi-compartment flexible-bag tanker into a conventional dropsided lorry for a return run carrying general cargo. He simply lowers the partitions of the compartments to form a platform.
The Sasek will be produced under licence in this country by Always Welding Ltd., Ashe Works, Ash, near Aldershot, who have world manufacturing and marketing rights for the system outside Scandinavia, where it has been operating successfully for the past two and a half years. Mr. Sven A. Swallert of Switzerland is patentee of the system.
The British prototype will be based on a BMC FJK160 chassis and will be a fourcompartment type having a total capacity of 1,500 gal. and a single inlet/discharge manifold connected to all the tanks. In this case the cost of the tanker/truck will be £1,250, plus the cost of the chassis, while the unladen weight and payload will be 12,952 lb. and 15,000 lb. respectively.
Following the company's concept of service "cost and build", Always Welding will later be prepared to produce any variation of the system required by an individual operator with up to five compartments with a total capacity of 2,000 gal., which would
have a bodylength of 16 ft. and sides of 2 ft. 6 in. to 3 ft. A vehicle could be equipped with a reduced number of tank compartments, the remaining space being decked-in, and, if necessary, a separate manifold could be installed for each tank with outlets and valve controls located at any convenient place on the vehicle.
Each tank comprises a flexible bag of neoprene or similar material, that is resistant to oil, caustic soda, turpentine, liquid glue and a wide variety of chemicals, as well as oxidation by atmospheric pollutants. A valuable degree of insulation is provided by the trailer sides which, if required, can be lined with cork sheeting.
Of rectangular shape when filled, the bags are attached on one side to the hinged partitions and are so designed that, after emptying, they fold into a flat bundle when the partitions are lowered. Each compartment is dished at the bottom to accommodate a cable-operated disc valve and manifold connections, two longitudinal members being incorporated in the structure to provide support for, and protection of, the filling equipment. A removable steel strip is used to attach the upper side of each tank bag to the partition and enables the bag to be opened-up for cleaning. A quickrelease type of fastening is being developed.
The tanks are filled under pressure at a rate up to 330 gal./min., the valves being opened progressively from the rear in the case of a single manifold connected to all the tanks, the control valves being mounted on a single panel. Discharge is by gravity in the normal way.
Always Welding technical staff emphasize that division of the liquid load between a number of smaller tanks provides freedom from surge when the vehicle is travelling, that there is no chafing of the bags and that no liquid can drip on the platform surface.