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BRITAIN
Municipal Vehicles and Lances Demonstrated at rorquay Cleansing Conice Were Notable for in Design, and Body , Simplicity
LTHOUGH more than one speaker at the Institute of Cle.ansing" Conference, held at •Torquay last .week, inferred' that municipal vehicle and appli' ance design was not making great progress, the general opinion of the delegates witnessing the demonstration was that it was one of the finest shows ever.
Over 750 delegates attended 'the Conference and a ,rough computation at the demonstration on Daddyholc Plain. showed there Were about 700 people present. -Attention was attracted to particular Makes, in some eases, by the number of models on view, and in others by the evolutions performed or, yet again, by outstanding features of design.
The display was well supportefl by 17 companies, which showed over 60 special vehicles for making Britain a healthier country in which to live. There were many new or redesigned vehicles on view, and although the Harbilt battery-electric formed an addition to the list, such names as Austin. Thornycroft, Shefflex. and Tuke and Bell were not on the programme as individual exhibitors. Austin and Thornycroft vehicles were, of course, shown by the appliance manufacturers with special bodies fitted.
It had been planned to show the Karrier Loadmaster refuse collector, which was described, together with the revised R.S.C. model, in-" The Commercial Motor" for' June 9, but unfortunately its trials were not completed in time for the conference.
Many favourable 'comments were passed as the Karrier-Yorkshire R.S.C. road-sweeper-collector was being shown.. , This is a redesigned 'and much-improved successor to.the pre-war model keeping all the well-tried and proved features Of it predecessor... It has a curved 'road brush to obviate trail;a7'patent elevator gear, and water sprinkler toprevent dust nuisanCe. Newdetails of the latest version include a. power-assisted brushlifting arrangement, bevel-gear-driven rotors and a body
• of 2 tons capacity which is end-tipped by-hydraulic
,means. The R.S.C. has specially designed chassis which incorporates a six-cylindered engine developing 80,.b.h.p., and a hydraulic brAing system. Five Karrier models were exhibited, including the R.S.C., the Bantam 8-ft.-wheelbase 7and 10-cubic-yd. refuse-collectors (which proved their manoeuvrability by turning in a 30-ft. circle), a C.K.3 refuse-collector with a crew-ca:), and a Karrier Yorkshire 750-gallon gullyemptier. This last vehicle was particularly neat in appearance, having a skirt to cover the frame and incorporating enclosed carriers for the suction hose and applia nces.
Two Karrier C.K.3 long-wheelbase chassis, and a Thornycroft I3-ft. 4-in.-wheelbase model were used by Glover. Webb and Liversidge, Ltd, to show its Transport moving-floor refuse-collection body. One of the,Karriers and the Thornycroft were standard vehicles, pa'rt of repeat orders. for Worthing and Willesden, the Thornycroft having a coachbuilt cab to accommodate
nine loaders
The third Transport exhibit was a '15-cubic-yd. dualpurpose refuse-collector. for mechanically . emptying large containers from flats, and for-manually discharging ordinal y dustbins.It incorporates a hydraulic gear for' lifting large containers to the ton of the body and for refuse to be discharged in a dust-shielded manner: a trolley is carried for bin-handling. It has a poweroperated floor. with lOad-:packing device and all the usual features of the transport year-loading .system.
Broekhouse sprang' a surprise by showing a batteryelectric sprinkler-sweeper-c011ector and a new •road sweeper, in addition to foirr other models of the Lewin range. The battery model is an electrified version of the existing pedestrian-controlled petrol-engined factory sprinkler-sweeper-collector with fully enclosed equipment. It is powered by a Neco h.p. V.D.C. geared motor • controlled by a double-acting contactor from the handlebar. Traction batteries are fitted of a capacity to provide three or four hours' average work before recharging. Adding to the simplicity of operation, it has a dead man's handle control, and a safety interlocking main switch and charging socket which prevents the vehicle being driven while it is on charge. The sweeping width of this machine, as demonstrated, was 3 ft. 3 ins.
The petrol counterpart to this -model,
which now has a twin-cylindered engine, was also shown, together with the road sweeper-sprinklercollector of the type used by many municipalities throughout the country. Two refuse collectors, the Lewin Oschner and C.R.C. model, were exhibited. The latter has a half-helix impeller for packing refuse and the load is discharged by rotating the cylindrical container.
A tremendous last-rninute effort was required to complete the new road sweeper in time for the conference. It is understood that this mechanical orderly, as it is termed, will be complementary to the existing models on Austin and Thornycroft chassis. The prototype mechanical orderly is a fullyenclosed model, having front-wheel drive and a " dead " rear axie. Features of the vehicle include independent hydraulically opera ted channel and main brushes with visible brush pressirre control, hopper contents directly visible from cab _ and automatic load discharge. It is within the 2-ton taxation class and has a capacity of 3 cubic yds.
No municipal vehicle demonstration would be cornplete without a showing of Dennis machines, and on this occasion Dennis Bros., Ltd., had six vehicles for inspection. Although no marked outward change was apparent in the range, the 16-cubic-yd. rear-loading barrier refuse collector was equipped with a sixcylindered oil engine. All other Dennis vehicles had the four-cylindered petrol engine.
The modified Paxit 18-cubic-yd. refuse collector has earned a high reputation in a short time. Cleansing officers commented on its ideal loading height, which lessened the work of the crew. Features of the Pakit include a long rear overhang which is beneficial when discharging into a barge or railway truck: it also reduces the tendency for the rear wheels to rikk when tipping on a soft surface.
The hopper at the rear of the body is floarless and pivoted at the front. As the hopner is operated independently.of the tipping of the load-carrying section, the rate of discharge can be 'maintained under full control. A stabilizer, fitted to the underside of the body, also acts as a safety strut to prevent over-tipping.
The Dennis 7-cubic-yd. refuse collector, with 7-ft. 6-in. wheelbase and 6-it width, forms the answer to refuse. collection in, narrow Streets. Other models exhibited by this company were 10and 12-cubicyd. side-loaders and an 800-galicin gully emptier on a normal-control Chassis.
A very smart exhibit was the Eagle COmpressmore refuse-collector body mounted on a -Tilling Stevens battery'-electric chassis: The outstanding feature of the maChine is thatthe body is loaded over a barrier-at the rear, and when the innnediate area is full, the barrier is caused to carry the refuse forward. Some 20 cubic. yds. of free refuse can be packed into the 12:-cUbic-yd. body:
The Eagle Engineering Co., Ltd:, demonstrated four other outfits, a 7-cubic-yd. refuse collector with nightsoil contaiper on a Bedford chassis equipped with a. Neville cab, a 750-gallon vacuum cesspit emptier, also
on a Bedford chassis, and an Eagle-Glotrac road. gritting and sanding attachment.This latter attachment was towed behind a 7-cubic-yd. dualpurpose refuse collector on an .Austin Loadstar : chassis and cab. The Austin, with transparent corner panels to the cab, looked attractive. The advantage of this type of body is that the -sliding steel ,covers may be quickly removed to leave an open tipping body when required for generalpurpose work.
Vauxhall Motors, Ltd., also exhibited a refuse Collector with a Neville cab, this being afullforward-control model with space for the loaders in the cab and equipped with a 10-cubic-yd.
side-loading and end-tipping body. Other Bedford vehicles displayed were the 7-cubic-yd. refuse collector and an. 800-gallon' gully and cesspit emptier.
Walkers anti County Cars, Ltd., in conjunction with Smiths Electric Vehicles, :Ltd.; produced a WalkerN.C.,13. 2-ton battery-electric chassis equipped with a 7-cubic-yd. sideloading end-tipping body. This is the 'N.C.B. standard chassis, which operates at a speed of 15-20 m.p.h. on level ground, and affords a range of 35-40 mils per charge.
A new Paragon Mark II, of Walker design,. could not be finished in time for
the .-dernonstration. This model has the lekta-type bOdy, as dethonstrated on the Paragon, btit without the salvage compartment which is incorporated in the load-carrying section of the body. The final Walker exhibit was the Paladin, which also has the Jekta body and, in addition, has a hydraulic gear at the rear for loading large containers such as those used by hoinitals and industrial undertakings.
The Jekta body was also demonstrated on a FordsonThames semi-forward-control chassis, which is arranged for seating -4-5 loaders and has a 9-cubic-yd.-capacity refuse container and a 3-cubic-yd. compartment for salvage. :The new type-of Ford chassis was also shown with .41-KI 10-cubic-yd. refuse-collection bodies, and as an 800-gallon combined gully and cesspool ern-ptier. At the _other end of the scale, • there was an Eagle 2-cubic-yd. pig „swill and salvage ,collection, body on a
Fordson 1.0-cwt. chassis. , . .
Two Scar:lir-11M Scarabs, Coupled in-turn tn a 12-cubicyd. moving-flooroollector and road-sweeper collector, afforded a convincing exhibition in rnanoeuvrabilitY and
B,34 interchangeability between units. An Essloo self-loading refuse-collector on a Bedford chassis was also shown by Scammell Lorries, Ltd.
Fore ,apd -.uft Tipper Shelvoke and DreweY,Ltd., produced three exhibits which made their debut at the conference. Based on the N-type chassis, which has a 6-ft. 6-in, wheelbase and turningradius of 13 ft. and a single cab, they exhibited a rear-ground-loading fore-and-aft tipping body of 7-cubic-yd. capacity. The principle of this body is that as loading proceeds, the body is tipped forward by meansof a centrally positioned ram and forward pivot, the refuse being tranSferred to the front of the body, so leaving a clear loading sPace at the.reai: When discharging the load, the pivOt point .i8' 'moved to the rear of the body, so that.wheri The hydranlic ram ls
operated, the load is tipped out at the rear in the usual manner. • A similar type of body was also shown on the W-type chassis, Whiell has a10-ft,. 9-in, wheelbase and a double cab and provides for• a .13-Ctibic-yd. body. The W-type fore-and-aft tipping body is operated by twin hydraulic rams, whereas a smalkr model has a single centrally positioned ram.
The third new S.D. exhibit was a detachable sideloading container hoist which is for emptying 16-cubic-ft. containers into a standard type of body. Containers of a size normally used by large establishments can be wheeled to the hoist, which has arrangements for lifting the container 'through a hand-winching process. The hoist may be attached or removed from the vehicle in a few minutes. Other S.D. exhibits included W-type chassis equipped with standard bodies and an 800-gal1on gully-emptier.
Laker Sweeper Modified A number of minor modifications has been made to the Laker three-wheeled sweeper-collector, which was introduced last year at the Edinburgh conference. These modifications have reduced the rate of wear on the brushes and moving parts. This machine has two brushes the main one, which is only 3 ft: wide, being arc-shaped. A secondary brush, revolving on a vertical axis, throws the sweepings into the path of the mainbrush.
The Low Loading Trailer Co., Ltd. demonstrated its 225-gallon tipping-hopper trailer, which is fitted with a self-closing foot-operated night-soil lid. This type of trailer is intended for collecting liquid and semi-solid refuse such as sewage sludge, night soil and slaughterhouse offal. The hopper can be rotated through 95 degrees for emptying. One of the speakers at the conference referred to experiments made with a 1-ton battery-electric as an orderly truck which, it was anticipated, would show a saving of £500 in the first year. The type of vehicle he referred to was the Harbilt pedestrian-control model, one of which was shown at Torquay. This exhibit had a 2-cubic-yd. body with hydraulic side-tipping gear, and a second model was shown with a shuttered. side-loading body. • The Allen self-propelled motor scythe was demonstrated across the arena and was also shown with a rotary broom attachment. Another exhibit was the snow plough, which can be attached to the machine in place of the rotary broom.
Hydraulic Bin Hoist A vehicle which was on the programme but did not appear in the parade was a Bedford with Eagle sideloading end-tipping body, fitted with the Peters hydraulic bin hoist.' The oustanding feature of this bin hdist is
its simplicity of application to existing body types. .
The hydraulic ram gear is mounted between the back of the cab and the front end of the body. The hoisting gear, which normally lies along the body, can be swung out on either side to pick up 1 cubic-yd. refuse bins.
These bins, which are carried in ,a special cradle, are raised above the level of the side of the body and
manually tipped into it. • The demonstration of vehicles and appliances, as a whole, showed that makers fully appreciate the problems with which cleansing officers are faced. Municipal vehicles are given little respite and, therefore, reliability and the need for the minimum of maintenance are essential. The vehicles demonstrated at Torquay showei that the makers fully realized these requirements.