A Variable-height Body
Page 90
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AGOODS vehicle having a body which can be raised or lowered for convenience in loading is shown in patent No. 860338. The chief• claim made for the layout is that the mechanism is compact and does not appreciably diminish the available body space. (Thompson Trailer Corp., Baltimore, Maryland. U.S.A.)
The drawing shows the outline of the proposed vehicle. It has front-wheel drive, so that the rear wheels can be mounted on stub axles; these can be joined if necessary by a low-level cranked axle.
The chassis frame is lowered behind the cab to provide a low-level floor for the body. Hydraulic rams are housed in the compartment (1) and these can be used to lift the front of the body.
The rear is lifted by rams (2) between the body and swinging arms (3) which carry the stub axles. The springs (4) are pivoted to the end of the swinging arms, so that before the body can rise. the pivot pins must be withdrawn. This operation is mechanized, a hydraulic ram (5) being linked to the pins to extract them inwardly when powered.
rich fuel-air mixture which, as it enters the piston cavity (4), is immediately evaporated by the heat.
On the succeeding downstroke, the air