Hose runner saves time and effort
Rakaia-based equipment manufacturer Pluck’s Engineering will soon start production of a new machine designed to simplify the deployment and retrieval of temporary water troughs used in winter break feeding.
As well as offering ‘active’ protection, the system also uses positional sensors to deliver passive information to the rider, using visual and audible signals to alert that the machine is reaching a stage where stability is about to be compromised.
The protective structure is a triangular tubular structure mounted to the rear carrier and the towbar, that in normal use sits lower than the rider, so does not raise the machine’s centre of gravity. If activated, the structure telescopes vertically and laterally, locking out mechanically at full extension and creating a ‘safe zone’ under the machine.
The manufacturer claims that the device will stop the machine rolling beyond 90 degrees from vertical, preventing a full rollover, while at the same time reducing any consequential damage.
Built by Spanish manufacturer Air Rops, the system is said to be compatible with most ATVs with independent suspension and meets regulatory standards, being certified by SGS, CE-marked and type approved by external notified bodies.
The overall design also meets OECD standards for agricultural tractors and ISO 3471 for machines with a mass of 300 to 5,000kg.
