"Go on Butler..get that bus aht of 'ere....." Word reaches me that vehicle development engineers have a wider choice of tilt table evaluations now that Millbrook has installed one of
"The data provided by this facility will complement many different vehicle dynamics and safety test programmes taking place across our extensive proving ground," Millbrook's engineering project manager Graham Clarke explains to Biglorryblog adding, "with the knowledge that we can supply from this system, vehicle engineers can optimise vehicle operations across challenging terrains, improve dynamics and ensure that vehicle-mounted systems operate safely and effectively on inclined surfaces."
Quite so..and for a quick Pie, name the members of the Butler family including the part played by Reg Varney.....and for a bit of extra gravy what was the name of his clippie side-kick wih the big teeth? And for extra pie crust what's that bus? Now click through here for more...
Apparently data from the new tilt table will include rollover thresholds, end limit performance, side slope operation (evaluating areas such as the ability of oil pick-ups and fluid systems to operate on side slopes), active suspension development, equipment stowage validation, payload stability and certification testing to various world automotive, commercial vehicle and military standards. It can also be used to determine the height of a vehicle's centre of gravity.
The table platform measures 9m x 3.2m and has a maximum tilt angle of 45°. Loads up to 42,000kg can be raised and lowered at from 0.08° per second to 0.25° per second, providing excellent resolution and repeatability.
Hmmm seems like Qinetiq has a bit of competition in the tilt-table stakes...I look forward to my first invite to Millbrook to watach a bit of tipper trailer tilt testing...!
Reg Varney played Stan Butler, his goofy sister was Olive and I think his brother-in-law was called Arthur. The clippie was called Jack, I seem to remember.
I don't know what the bus is, when I was driving buses in London they were called RT, RTW, RTL and other similar interesting names.
Worth a pie? I had to go and buy myself one for the Bismarck story today, as I got tired of waiting for your one to turn up!
Cheers, Vic
The bus looks to me like an ADL Enviro400. Possibly in TFL Livery...
Years ago when I were just a small boy, I went to an open day at London Transport's Aldenham depot. They had a Routemaster on one of those tilt tables and we were able to sit on the top deck as the tipped it over.
It was quite an experience.
The bus is the second generation of the Wright Gemini (front based on the Wright Streetcars bendy buses (known at FtR by First Bus) in York and Leeds.
Cheers
Andy