London Boroughs Like Containers
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Pagefield Phcenix Combined Container and General-purpose Refuse Collectors Working Satisfactorily in Four Boroughs in London AT the demonstration of municipal motors, held in conjunction with the Cleansing Conference, at Portsmouth, in June, 1936, much interest was aroused by the new Page.' field Phoenix 1S-cubic-yd. refuse collector, a product of Walker Brothers (Wigan), Ltd., Wigan, that made its first public appearance on that occasion.
Since then, ample time has elapsed for this vehicle to have proved its capabilities. Evidence that it has successfully done so is afforded by the fact . that it is now giving good service in a number of towns where the conditions for which it is well suited obtain.
An Economic Proposition.
Among these are the important boroughs of Willesden, Twickenham, Deptford, and Woolwich. The illustrations on these pages were recently obtained by a staff photographer, in the first-named. Here, one Phoenix model has been in operation since February last and, we understand, is giving economical and efficient service, whilst its requirements in respect of maintenance have been almost negligible.
It was originally acquired to handle refuse deposited in containers installed in some new blocks of flats, built as a part of Willesden Corporation's housing scheme. There are some 40 of these ' receptacles, and each is fed from a chute having a receiving aperture for each flat above it. The containers are of 1 cubic yd. capacity and, when full, weigh, possibly, as much as 4 cwt.
'Unlike other container systems, the Phoenix scheme is to carry in the vehicle only the refuse, thus obviating the need for unnecessarily adding the weight of the receptacles to the load transported to and from the tip and, incidentally, for occupying useful loading space with only partly full containers. There is, moreover, the big
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advantage of being, able also to employ the vehicle for ordinarybin refuse and the collection of road sweepings.
This is obvioi•-sly an important point, for, whilst the attractions of the container system are great, they would hardly justify the purchase of a special machine, in a case where the flats, equipped with containers, occupied the refuse collector for less than two hours a week, as, we are informed, do those we inspected at Willesden.
In this borough, however, there are also other containers—we inspected one at the public swimming baths—whilst more are to he installed at schools. Those at the flats are of the open type to receive the discharge from the chutes, and are housed in cubby holes (sometimes described as dust chambers) in the walls, whilst the others, of more convenient shape for filling in the ordinary manner, are provided with lids.
Dust and Smell Imprisoned.
A loose light-metal cover is carried on the vehicle for closing the open-type receptacles while they are out of their dust chambers.
Standing, in both cases, on supports, the containers are raised a short distance 'above the ground and permit small, elevating trolleys, having rubber tyres, to be run under them. On these, the receptacles are wheeled to the van.
• Then quick-fixing trunnions are attached, by which they are lifted into the vehicle. There are no limitations (within reason) to the size and shape of containers, and a variety of trunnions can be carried.
For raising the receptacles from the trucks, a form of travelling crane is incorporated in the body. There are two runways extending for the length of the vehicle under the roof, which overhangs at the rear.
Easy Control System.
Each carries a pulley mechanism, the winch being operated through gearing by an electric motor mounted low on the off side of the chassis. The crane is controlled by a simple double-push switch at the rear, on the near side, automatic contact-breakers being provided to limit the travel.
Having been lifted by this crane, the container is then pushed forwards, inverted (about the trunnions) and drawn back again.
Fitting flush in the floor at the rear, and covered, when out of use, by two trap doors, is a large, gauze-covered. draining tray, with a water nozzle in the centre. Before being lowered back on to its trolley, the container, still Upside down, is lowered on to this tray, and washed out with a high-pressure jet of disinfectant solution. A small handle at the _rear gives directional control of the jet so that all parts of the receptacle .can be cleansed.
A tank below the draining tray contains the water, which is forced to the nozzle by an electric pump. Where it is thought desirable not to use the same water repeatedly, two larger tanks are provided. The Phrenix is also available with electric equipment for running the crane forwards and backwards and inverting the container, thus obviating the need for an operative to enter the van. Dust and odour, however, within the vehicle are. reduced to a minimum by an electric extractor fan at the top of the forward panel.
Compression of the refuse is not utilized, but a travelling barrier is provided to facilitate loading. Electric power for the crane motor, etc., is supplied by a 240-volt dynamo, which can be seen in the picture showing the near side of the cab. This is driven by Morse chain from one power take-off, whilst another actuates the hydraulic pump of the B. and E. 55degree three-section-ram tipping gear, which is stanciard equipment.
Lifting up to 10 cwt.
The hoisting tackle, which is of Herbert Morris make, is capable of lifting up to 10 cwt., and has in a municipality countless useful applications other than its main purpose. At one northern town, street-refuse receptacles are sunk into the roadways, and for emptying with the Phoenix system they are simply lifted straight out of their wells and emptied into the van.
Deptford, Twickenham and Woolwich all use these Pagefields for emptying their orderly barrows, some'
+ which have two and some single containers, and can be handled with equal ease by 'suitable slinging equipment.
The first-named of these three municipalities bought its first Phcenix in January last and, we believe, has taken delivery of another one this week. The second-named, owning one machine, has discovered that by this system house-to-house and shop-refuse collection can be very conveniently combined with orderly-barrow. emptying. Furthermore, the installation there of containers in flats is in its early stages.
Woolwich uses its Phcenix for containers, street sweepings and general work.