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A Tipper "Hold" Valve
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THE general use of tippers for gravel spreading on roads in undeveloped areas has created a big demand in a number of overseas countries for the type of tipping-gear control which gives a hold" position, so that body lifting can be accurately regulated when the vehicle is travelling.
According to information supplied by a technical representative of Weston Works (Birmingham), Ltd., Weston Lane, Greet, Birmingham, 11, such a control has become an essential fitting.
The company has, therefore, developed a type of control valve which can be fitted to any • tipping system possessing conven
tional features. It is claimed that high working pressures do not impair the efficiency of the valve, RAM
which operates on a simple ball-valve principle and occupies a small space. The cost of the valve, which measures 4 in. by 3 in. by 31 in., is highly competitive.
The flow through the valve is controlled by a spring-loaded ball-valve which is actuated by a cam and plunger mechanism.
The design of the production model, which is available as original equipment, is based on the same principle. The company's aim is to provide farmers with a complete transport service, which includes the handling of machinery and produce. Seventy-five per cent, of the work for hire or reward is, however, in livestock.
A speciality is the movement of pedigree stock to all the leading agricultural shows. Witchard's vehicles will be seen at the Royal Show at Nottingham next week. Last year they took
Except for about three slack weeks in May, the vehicles are busily engaged throughout the year, with a peak from June to September. During the past two or three years there has been a general increase in traffic, including livestock. Last year, 16,650 cattle and 7,000 pigs were carried. Moreover, every year from July to October—the sheep-fair season-15,000 to 20.000 sheep are handled, apart from small numbers every week throughout the 12 months.
asked what effect the decontrol of meat had had. Mr. Witchard replied that it had not made a great deal of difference to him, although private buying was less predictable than Government purchasing, there was a tendency for individual loads to be smaller, for delivery to be required to a larger number of destinations and for farmers to give shorter notice. The business had, however, been built up on quick service and was well able to deal with the situation.
Denationalization had been accompanied by a drop in rates in the area generally [it has been computed at about 20 per cent], but Mr. Witchard had been able to maintain his charges,
effect on hauliers of the fatstock marketing scheme, Mr. Witchard said that he was sure that it would be beneficial to them. The Fatstock Marketing Corporation were experiencing teething troubles, but these would be overcome. The corporation were not at present handling as much stock as he would wish, but the volume would undoubtedly increase.
He thought that the F.M.C. were willing to pay a reasonable price for good service and their existence would make for stability in the haulage industry. He added, however, that young men entering road transport had a hard fight ahead of them.
The company's policy is to keep the fleet always up to date. Vehicles are replaced after 70,000 to 100,000 miles. The livestock carriers, for instance, which cover about 25,000 miles a year, are disposed of after three years or so. The C-licensed vehicles average 24.000 miles a year and the special-A vehicles will, it is estimated, cover 17,000 miles a year.
Great importance is attached to the appearance of vehicles used to carry fine show cattle, and every lorry is repainted annually, the spray process being used for the chassis and wings, and the brush for the body and cab.
Drivers are responsible for greasing and attending to tyre pressures, oil levels and so on.
The fleet is housed in a recently built brick garage 120 ft. long and 45 ft. wide, with overhead gantries for slinging containers. Here are facilities for all normal repairs, including welding. Maintenance is based on drivers' reports and a full-time mechanic is employed.
A weekly (record of oil and fuel issues is compiled from drivers' log sheets, and a monthly cost statement for the whole fleet, in which the earnings of each vehicle are detailed, is prepared, on a loose-leaf form. The statement shows the cost per vehicle per mile and per day.
"To examine the earnings of a particular vehicle is often an eye-opener," Mr. Witchard said. For his business a medium-sized vehicle was the most suitable. Large cattle trucks were profitable only if traffic between specified destinations was regular and substantial.
The business is essentially a family concern and, apart from Mr. Witchard,