Storing Fuel and Oil.
Page 47
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WITH the great increase in the employment of all classes of motor vehicle during the past few years, the old system of supplying fuel in cans has almost gone by the board, and even in the ease of Imbricating oil much IS now supplied direct from small mobile or fixed tanks or cabinets.
Most of the big oil companies provide fuel and oil storage equipment, including petrol pumps, but with these we are not concerned, as they are supplied for proprietary brands only.
As regards independent systems, perhaps the best known are those manufactured by S. -F. Bowser and Co., Inc., Windsor House, Victoria Street, London, S.W.1, and Bywater and Co., 121, Kingeway, London, W.C.2. In both the the tanks are kept undergroimd.
We will deal first with) the Bowser system. Some of the leading features in this is that the petrol is thoroughly filtered in the course of delivery, that is, where Bowser pumps are employed an automatic record of gallonage is provided by automatic meters and a patent air-drive attachment can be provided for the 5-gallon pumps. This saves time and labour and avoids congestion of vehicles around the filling point.
The Bowser oil-storage tanks and dispersing pumps are particularly neat. They can be supplied in batteries equipped with a barrel-track, cradle and barrel-dash, which greatly facilitate the filling of the tanks from barrels, the dash also preventing splashing. One equipment consists of two 20-gallon oil tanks mounted on a special truck and having a measuring pump.
The Bywater fuel system works on a hydraulic system, so that the tank is always full either with water or petrol, or a proportion of each. The water, of course, lies above the petrol and by embodying a raised head of water the pressure from this forces the fuel into the delivery pump. The company has made arrangements for manufacturing the Gex measuring pumps. so that they will, be entirely of British make. It is interesting to note that this pump has been selected by the War Office for all its storage requirements. It was described in detail in The Commercial Motor when' it first appeared on the British market, and we then referred to its many interesting features. It has accurately adjusted measuring cups, and the measurement can be checked by calibrations marked on the glass of the container. The pump ie easy and rapid, and the rate of delivery is 12 gallons per minute. The company is also interested in the Aster visible oil pump, which also will be manufactured in England.
Liquid Measurements, Ltd., Bush House, Aldwych, London, .1fV.C.2, markets the Hammond British-built visible petrol pump delivering from 1 gallon to 20 gallons at each operation. The 4-gallon model is that usually installed by garages and large filling stations. Each pump is Stamped by an inspector of weights and measures, and R.A.C. certificates for accuracy and efficiency have been awarded to them, It may be mentioned that the first kerbside visible petrol pump installed at Canberra, the new Federal capital of Australia, is of Hammond make.
A particularly interesting pump which can deliver any of els different qualities or brands of fuel at will is the Samoa, marketed by .Theo and Co., Ltd., 32, Tarleton Street, Liverpool. It ,visibly gauges the quantity supplied and can deliver up to five gallons at one operation. The pump is operated by an electric motor controlled by a reversible switch and drains empty immediately after use.
The Steel Barrel Co., Ltd., Phoenix Wharf, Uxbridge, manufactures a large number of storage tanks of both underground and surface pattern. It does not itself manufacture a measuring pump, but supplies its tanks to various companies for use with any pump. These tanks can be fitted with manhole covers, and there are fittings especially designed for the pumps. This company was the originator of the D-shaped tank for road transport service.
Welded or riveted tanks, bath cylindrical and rectangular, are made in all capacities up to 11,500 gallons.
Another well-known make of tank for all purposes and particularly for cil and petrol storage is that of Thompson Brothers (Wigton), Ltd., BiIston, Staffs. These are provided with sockets, manholes and other fittings for anytype of pump. It is of particular interest to note that the fuel-supply tanks all the way alms the desert on the CairoKarachi air route to India are of Thompson make, these being supplied to the Anglo-American Oil Co., Ltd.
This company is the maker' of the well-known oval-type tanks for use on motor vehicles and trailers.
In connection with the storage of oil, it is important to make reference to the barrel-tiering and other equipment supplied by Herbert Morris, Ltd., of Lcnighborough, . The tierer permits any barrel to 'be remoVed and conveyed to wherever required without interfering with the others.
The Milwaukee Tank Works, Inc., Abbey House, Victoria Street, London, S.W.1, markets oil-storage cabinets, drums, etc., of many types suitable for garage use. Apart from these, the' eompasy markets self-measuring pumps, both for inside and outside use, The smaller ones (types 37 and 33) deal with one gallon at a stroke, whilst types 361 and 401 have a special contintioos-motion. pump by which an operator can deliver 15 gallons per minute. Twelve turns of the crank deliver five gallons, but to return to the plunger, only two revolutions in the same direction are necessary. The types. 37 and 361 are 'totally enclosed and weatherproof.