 
Laffly
Asnieres, France
Laffly Reyloader on Vetra battery-electric chassis
Founded in 1858, Laffly produced trucks and military vehicles, as well as heavy equipment for agriculture and public service. Production was taken over during the Nazi occupation in 1940, but the company returned briefly following liberation, and produced a licensed version of the Reyloader, the pioneering design of Fernand Rey from 1933.
The Laffly Reloader was similar in function to the original design, using the "inverted drawer" packer blade method which shoved each hopper load into the body, progressively filling the structure and compacting the land in the end stages. A follower plate was used over the packer, allowing for continuous operation, and was powered by a single double-acting hydraulic ram with an automatic reverser valve. Unique to these post-war models was a pendulum linkage, whereby the packer blade was suspended on vertical links, which greatly reduced friction on the hopper floor. Modern pendulum packers are based on this principle.
Laffly loaders could be mounted on any suitable truck chassis, including a Vetra battery-electric cabover. A 48-cell battery arrangement was carried on the sides of the frame, with a centrally mounted motor and worm-drive PTO. Extensive use of glass panels in the cab provided excellent visibility with this advanced electric vehicle. Unfortunately, Laffly was unable to survive, and went bankrupt in 1950.
Twin rams raise the body to dump, tailgate is drawn up by fixed cable arrangement
Laffly body on conventional petrol-engined truck chassis
LEFT: Packer in mid-cycle, suspended by "pendulum" arms
RIGHT: Packer cylinder, with reverser valve mounted below. Bottom of follower plate is visible above
Rey system pushes refuse into body continuously, compaction occurs once space inside is filled
9/18/16
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Photos from factory brochures/trade advertisements except as noted
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