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g choice

by CM Technical writers

COMPETITION grows no easier for the accessory and component manufacturers, but at least the operator benefits from the large choice of equipment available.

Some 2,500 parts are put together to make a finished commercial vehicle, and although many are still made by the vehicle manufacturers there are many which fall outside their preserve.

We report on a selection made by,CM technical writers.

249

Bridgestone Tyre Sales Ltd, Old Walsall Road, Great Barr, Birmingham BRIDGESTONE makes tyres to suit vehicles sized from a go-kart to an earth-moving machine, but during 1978 this Japanese firm has expanded in the lorry field since opening its new warehouse just north of Birmingham.

Several types of tubed and remould tyre are exhibited at the NEC. One, the R190 Premium front-wheel tyre, is designed • to minimise the problems of , shoulder wear often attributed to power-steering.

The R180 is a normal highway tyre, but also on display are a selection of five distinctive types of steel radial truck tyres suitable for the medium and heavy range.

The VBX series is for a general purpose drive-wheel tyre while the pattern of the VSL is claimed to give greater resistance to cuts when used on partly paved roads or on site work.

250

Firestone Tyre and Rubber Co Ltd, Great West Road, Brentford, Middx FIRESTONE Tyre and Rubber Co Ltd is showing its full range of van and commercial vehicle tyres this year. The stand reflects the 50th anniversary of the Brentford factory and features the all-position steelbraced radial T 2000 truck tyre. This has a wide flat tread for even wear and improved wet traction.

Reinforced beads provide strength and stability while the design of the four steel belts beneath the tread is a great protection against penetration.

251

Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Co (Great Britain) Ltd, Wolverhampton MAKING its show debut on the Goodyear stand is the G191 all-steel radial lorry tyre launched earlier this year.

Part of the established GSeries of radials, the 191 has a tread and belts 20 per cent wider than standard radial tyres. It is intended primarily for fast, long-distance vehicles, particularly those with big engines.

Also on show are other examples from the range including the Series2 018, G19 S & G and the G15 Road Lug intended mainly for off-the-road At the lighter end the Series-2 G800, a steel pelted, nylon carcass radial for distribution vehicles is shown.

253

Dunlop Ltd, Fort Dunlop, Birmingham THE centrepiece of the Dunlop truck tyre display is the SB411, a tyre specifically designed to cope with extra forces that are generated on the drive axle. A display shows the SB411's. . ability to meet difficult conditions — in this case tackling the shiny and smooth surface of a wet cobbled slope.

Other tyres on display include the SP111, the mainstay of Dunlop's radial truck range. Smaller and lighter, the SP 111 L is recommended for smaller vehicles while the SP van is designed for compact vans.

Wheel balancing machines, tyre chargers, pneumatic wrenches and tyre pressure guages are just a few of the pieces of garage equipment that are also on display.

255

Michelin Tyre Co Ltd, 81 Fulham Road, London

MICHELIN. claims the destinction of being Britain's leading

tyre manufacturer producing steel-braced radial tyres. In the commercial field the XC van tyre is designed to meet the stresses of stop /go delivery work experienced by vans and light trucks which are involved in constant change in load conditions.

A look around the vehicle exhibits will show the pro minence that Michelin enjoys at the heavy end of the market with its steel radial truck tyres.

Most Michelin truck tyres now offer a double life which caters for a final life regroove at the end of their initial tread wear — then the tyres can undergo a remix process to give them a second lease of life, finally to be regrooved a second time. With the major cost of construction constituting the carcass it makes economic sense to make the best use of it.

Although many people will. not accept the regrooving cess, it is quite safe to do it with these tyres, says Michelin, provided basic rules are observed.

Michelin technical personnel on the stand will provide full details of how this should be done. Hubbard Engineering Co Ltd, Hillview, Otley, near Ipswich, Suffolk HUBBARD is keeping cool about its range of refrigeration and in-cab air conditioning units.

Five new truck and trailer refrigeration units are shown, complementing the company's traditional field of operation in the van and light truck market. Both 'the 650 and 1,000 are diesel engine powered monobloc units with three-phase electric standby. The arrangement of the components has allowed most surfaces to be sound insulated so keeping the noise level down to 72 dBA and 77dBA respectively.

Another new model, the 475, is a one-piece bulkhead mounted unit for use with a compressor driven either from the vehicle engine, crankshaft or a compressor and electric motor pto driven from the gearbox.

The air conditioning division of Hubbard Engineering markets air conditioning systems in kit form, for truck and specialpurpose vehicles and cars. The CT 140 is a popular roofmounted combined condenser/ evaporator unit, but the new roof liner for filling the interiocof the cab roof with a remote condenser offers a high cooling capacity.

22

Tucker Fasteners Ltd, Walsall Road, Perry Barr, Birmingham BEAR NUTS, jack nuts and wheel nuts are all blind-screw fastening anchors which simplify the construction in the bodybuilding industry by providing a metric thread into thin sheet material where access is limited to one side only.

Tucker also makes a range of pop rivets and large flange derivatives, but of particular interest to vehicle bodybuilders is the Huckbolt structural fastening system. A light-weight power tool is used to install a heavyduty locking bolt which is said to provide a strong vibration resistant joint which has good sealing properties and tamperproof qualities.

29

Robert Bosch Ltd, Rhodes Way, Watford, Herts NO LONG-HAUL vehicle is complete without a radio. A new set on show for the first time by Bosch is the Blaupunkt Ham burg CR that sells at around the E120 mark.

There are mode's which cost much less, but at the top of the range is the Blaupunkt Berlin Electronic CR, a fully automatic electronic radio which features self-seek station-finding, stereo cassette player and recorder. Cost? E675 plus VAT.

40

Eberspacher UK Ltd, Fibbards Road, Brockenhurst, Hants FROM West Germany comes a range of independent fuel burning units exhibited by Eberspacher UK Ltd.

They provide warm air or water heating and are particularly applicable for use in lorries, cranes, excavators, buses and coaches where there is an absence of available engine heat.

The units can burn the petrol or diesel fuel carried on the vehicle but need a 12 or 24 Volt dc supply to power the fan.

Thermostatic control maintains the desired temperature and a timer gives 22-hour preselection of start up. The range covers 6,000Btu /h — 28,000Btu/h output for the hot air models and 17,000Btu/h to 80,000Btu/h on water units.

53

Thomas Electronics Ltd, Garrison Works, Birch Vale, Stockport, Cheshire AMONG the large range of components either manufactured or supplied by Thomas Electronics is a range of components designed to warn the driver in the event of a malfunction.

The Thermolarm is a solid state unit which offers temperature protection while the Autolarm gives an immediate positive warning of an alarm concerning emergency doors, oil pressure, water level, air pressure, etc.

A reversing horn interrupter provides a warning to others by interrupting the sound emitted from a vehicle horn when the vehicle travels in reverse.

54

Tungstone Batteries Ltd, Market Harborough, Leics

THE stand of Tungstone Batteries Ltd is devoted entirely to batteries for commercial vehicles, psv, tractors, industrial plant and cars as well as some for marine and leisure use

A new breed of polypropylene high-performance commercial vehicle and tractor battery is claimed to be both lighter and stronger than units of conventional manufacture.

130

Quinton Hazel! Automotive Ltd, Hazell Way, Bermuda Road, Nuneaton, Warwick& "SAFETY LAST" might be Quinton Hazell Automotive's slogan this year for the company is showing the QH Underrider — an energy-absorbing unit which, when fitted to the rear of commercial vehicles, can absorb impact energy progressively.

It is said not to sustain total damage below speed differentials of 56km /h (35mph) where another vehicle has underrun the rear of the chassis.

136

Jost (GB) Ltd, Heywood Industrial Estate, Pilsworth Road, Heywood, Lance FOLDING landing gear presented by Jost (GB) Ltd has been designed to give extra ramp clearance on roll-on/roll-off ferries and for kangaroo trailers carried by railway wagons. Unfolded, the legs retain their function to extend and retract telescopically over 0.370m (14.5in), but by folding up the lower portion the overall height is reduced by 0.26m (10in).

The landing gear can lift 20 tons, but support a static load of up to 50 tons.

137

Trist, Draper, 804-818 Bath Road, Brislington, Bristol A NEW BRAKE lining material, being produced by Trist, Draper Ltd should be of interest to operators of commercial vehicles and psv alike. It is designated 1040 HD and described as a heavy-duty lining with a medium to high coefficient of friction.

152

Magnatex Ltd, Bath Road, Heathrow, Hounslow, Middx

A REPLACEMENT mirror is the latest Tex product. It is made primarily to suit both Volvo and Scania vehicles but will naturally fit many other manufacturers: cabs. Its main feature is the sighting adjustment consisting of :a .large knurled knob slackening adjuster. To cope

with the extremes in temperature an electric heating element can also be fitted.

179

Beckett, Laycock and Watkinson Ltd, Acton Lane, London NW10 A COMPARATIVELY low-cost tipping window from Beclawat Mersey employs an overcentring spring in the waist-rail. This overcomes the need to employ more expensive overcentring spring plungers said to require large end quadrants which in term restrict ventilation.

The production of this window is simple and is frugal in its use of materials, and therefore the product is relatively cheap.

211

Kysor lndustial (GB) Ltd, Bridge Works, North Street, Whitworth, Lancs SPEEDY removal of the cover on the Kysor KA 300 cab top combined evaporator and condenser unit allows easier servicing, says the exhibitor, Kysor Industrial (GB).

The KA 300 unit is demonstrated on a rotating display so that the controls and the omnidirectional circular air vents can be clearly seen.

This model can be fitted to most cabs and is said to be an asset for plant and heavy commercial vehicles operating in adverse conditions.

219

Eaton Ltd, Truck Components Group, Eaton House, Staines Road, Hounslow, Middx EATON Truck Components are best known for their range of driveline components, including the Fuller gearbox.

Less well known, however, is that Eaton also produces a range of viscous fan drives covering application from vans to heavy commercials. For the time being the units are manufactured in the United States, where they were originally designed to cut ' down on noise emission but more recently have found favour for their energy conservation capability.

The fan drives fully only when the engine temperatures determines it should—only for about five per cent of the total running time.

222

Petter Refrigeration Ltd, Hamble, Southampton A DERIVATIVE of the well known Petter Refrigeration's diesel driven PDL refrigeration unit is on show for the first time in the UK.

It is known as the PDL 50 RE, and is a trailer unit with a standard condenser and recently developed ceilingmounted remote evaporator.

An advantage of up to 4curn extra cargo space is claimed where standard pallets are used.

The units automatically adjust to maintain a constant temperature level within the reefer regardless of the Weather outside.

223

Crane Fruehauf Ltd, Hayesgate House, Uxbridge Road, Hayes, Middx A DEMONSTRATION of a fifthwheel in working motion by Crane Fruehauf shows the low wear characteristics of the jaw action when coupling to a kingpin. So that the action can be seen more clearly the assembly has been inverted.

Other trailer components including hanger and equaliser brackets, mudguards, bump bars, torque arms, brake drums and springs, etc, are also displayed.

224

Clayton Dewandre Co Ltd, No 3 Factory, Outer Circle Road, Lincoln A COMPLETE air brake system for a medium-weight vehicle based on the tandem air/ hydraulic actuator operating hydraulic brakes is just a part of the display exhibited by Clayton Dewandre.

On this system compressed air is supplied from a single cylinder air compressor fed through the condenser and drain valve to the circuit reservoirs through a triple protection valve. The service braking is controlled from the DB threebrake valve giving split operation of the actuator with the tandem master cylinder. An inverted hand control valve operates the spring brake unit to give emergency and park braking.

This system also has coupling for the two-pipeline trailer system operated through relay and protecting trailer control valve.

229

'Hatcher Components Ltd, Broadwater Road, Framlingham, Woodbridge, Suffolk GRP has become accepted for a wide range of uses within the commercial vehicle industry over recent years. The new Slipstreamer shown by Hatcher Components is one such example. Moulded in glass fibre reinforced polyester the unit is easily secured on the cab roof by a gutter fitting or more permanently, by bolting through the roof.

The height and rake of the device can be adjusted at any time to gain the best aerodynamic position to suit the vehicle and load.

The purpose of fitting such a device is to economise on the use of fuel. Just over 10 per cent savings have been claimed under controlled conditions in a recent test survey carried out by the Motor Industry Research Association.

232

York Technical Services Ltd, Yafforth Road, Northallerton, North Yorks STABILITY and extra capacity are the advantages given for the two new bogie suspensions on view on the stand of York Technical Services. Both are redesigned models of the York Heavy Duty Dreadnaught suspension available for bogie capacities from 20 to 40 tonnes.

The DN range features low mounting brackets for use on low-bed heavy-duty trailers for on or off-highway application.

The DNS on the other hand has mounting brackets which straddle the springs to improve the stability to the heavy-duty off-road trailer.

236

Rubery-Owen Rockwell Ltd, Rackery Lane, Llay, Wreckham, Clwyd AN EXPLODED model of the Anchorpak diaphragm spring brake, made by Rubery-Owen Rockwell, is also on display. These units are said to overcome the three main problems associated with piston brakes — large wearing surfaces, icing up and 0-ring failures.

238

Norde Suspensions Ltd, Sywell Airport, Northampton coming more popular and not only on tankers, says Norde, which is showing a new tandem Brooklands unit, intended for flats and boxvans, and employing a combination of trailing arm and solid rubber.

The Norde system uses rubber both in shear and compression to make the springing progressively stiffer as the load is applied. Rubber is claimed to mean total reliability because it is fail-safe and needing no lubrication it does away with routine maintenance and can be replaced easily — with minimal costs and downtime.

260

Tecalemit Garage Equipment Co Ltd, Be!liver Industrial Estate, Roborough, Plymouth, Devon ON the Tecalemit stand the recently introduced 16-ton capacity surface mounted fourpost lift is shown. Each of the 2.2kW electric post-mounted motors is operated centrally by a single push-button control giving a maximum lifting height of 1.6m (5ft 4in). Lateral track adjustment caters for vehicles of different widths. Run-up ramps with automatic wheel stops are fitted as standard.

Mobile lifting columns are the feature of a new range of electro-mechanical lifts. Each column has a capacity of 5 tons and when used in sets of four or six provide a total lifting capacity of 20 or 30 tons. The design is principally intended for use in commercial vehicle and psv workshops. Each column is equipped with forks which locate on the vehicle's wheels and will accommodate wheel sizes from 7.00 x 16 to 11.00 X 20.

Best advantage will be made using this system in conjunction with support brackets or tripods so that the equipment can be used to lift or lower a succession of vehicles without being restricted to one fixed site.

265

Repco Ltd, 59 St James's Street, London SW1 A TYRE changer designed with wheel core in mind is this year's main exhibit from Repco UK.

The equipment combines a powerful bead breaker with an air activated clamp which affords maximum protection to the wheel by automatically adjusting to provide adequate clearance of the rim.

Wheel sizes from 10 to 20 inches diameter can be handled by the F86 machine. No additional adapters are needed even for closed centre wheels.

274

B.T. Sales and Services Ltd, Huntingtower Road, Sheffield A LOW-COST exhaust extraction package is being shown on the stand of B.T. Sales and Services. At a cost of around the £500 mark, the pack is supplied complete with sufficient ducting, fittings and fixing for the average workshop fitter to install. It removes the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Eight systems in the BT unit range have each been specifically designed to cope with individual exhaust extraction needs.

278

SSI Fix Equipment Ltd, Kingsclere Road, Basingstoke, Hants IN WORKSHOPS or stores, space is always at a premium. The range of modular storage and materials handling equipment produced by 551 Fix Equipment Ltd is intended to capitalise on what is available.

Representatives of the company are on hand for consultation, and to give advice to maximise the advantage of the systems used.

A modular workbench is a very recent addition in this range of product.

287

HPC Engineering Ltd, Victoria Gardens, Industrial Estate, Burgess Hill, Sussex .

SCREW compressors are generally associated with industrial application where the maximum working pressure is not high. HPC Engineering claims to make the only screw machine, the Plusair, available in the UK which is able to provide the high working pressure of 1,300kN isqm (188psi) required in the garage trade.

The advantages of a screw* compressor over the standard reciprocal type are said to be that it is quieter, can be run continuously, needs little maintenance and is easier to install.

Filtration and after-cooling ensures that the compressed air is virtually uncontaminated by moisture or oil.

293

Sykes-Pickavant Ltd, Warwick Works, Kilnhouse Lane, Lytham St Anne's, Lancs THERE is something about displays of hand tools that make people stop and look. This year's Sykes-Pickavant stand is no exception, but of special interest are two new miniature gear pullers, twin and triple leg versions, being shown for the first time.

They are both screw operated and give a reach of 64mm (2.5in) and a spread of 89mm (3.5in), making them particularly useful for pulling small components.

294

Harlem-Wilcomatic Ltd, 512 Purley Way, Croydon, Surrey LIVE demonstrations are being carried out with a HarlemWilcomatic dual-purpose commercial vehicle and car brake tester. This and other models are all said to be acceptable to the DTp for statutory testing of vehicles.

294

Wilcomatic Ltd, Purley Way, Croydon, Surrey THE Commercial Vehicle Washing Equipment division of Wilcomatic claims to have made a breakthrough in quality washing of commercial vehicles with a new brush-type machine.

Wilcomatic makes a range of chassis washing and cleaning systems together with a series of "drive thru– commercial washing machines which cater for vehicles of irregular shapes and sizes and will clean all vehicles from 2.6m to 4.5m (8ft Sin to 14ft 9in) in height.

301

Pyroclense Ltd, Ridgeway, Iver, Bucks A DEMONSTRATION of how Pyroclense has applied the developments in chemical technology to the cleaning requirements of the commercial vehicle industry can be seen on this stand.

The capacity to deal with different sizes and shapes of vehicle is shown by a choice of automatic washing systems able to apply a wide range of chemical cleaning agents which penetrate even the most heavily ingrained traffic soil.

Development of the chemical cleaning concept has been extended to deal with such problems as the removal of oil spillage from chassis and other areas, and even for decarbonisation of pistons and cleaning of other engine components.

307

George Kuikka Ltd, Hill Farm Avenue, Leavesden, Watford, Herts.

A COMPLETE SET of four rods can be brought back to within manufacturer's specification in less than 20 minutes — that is the claim made by George Kuikka for its LBB 1 81 0 powerstroked horizontal automatic honing machine.

Also shown on the same stand is the CK10 an automatic vertical honing machine for resizing cylinder blocks.

345

Cargo Van Equipment Ltd, PO Box 17, Bridgend Industrial Estate, Bridgend, Mid Glams ANTI-SLIP extruded floor sections, originally designed to meet a specific need by the brewing industry, have been found to have a wide application in the bodybuilding industry and are shown by Alcan Aluminium (UK).

The range is made up from three basic models. A 9mm (0.35in) overlay corrugated extruded aluminium floor incorporates a high friction rubberised inset. A 32mm (1.26in) selfsupporting aluminium floor section also incorporate the high friction rubberised insert. When supplied in plank form the product assembles as a conventional floor.

Two types are shown assembled on the Alcan stand — the 9mm in a Trailer International Pool (TIP) body and the 32mm section in a Ryder Truck vehicle.

420

BSG International Ltd, Burgess House 1,270 Coventry Road, Yardley, Birmingham ONE of the three stands occupied by BSG International will be devoted entirely to original equipment extras. Two notable examples include Britex seat-belts for both light vans and heavy commercials and a rearview, mirror that will maintain good rear vision for the driver in the coldest weather.

The large vehicle model will clear ice from —20' C (-4 F) in four minutes. while it takes less than two minutes for the small van model to become usable in similar conditions.

448

Kenlowe Accessories and Co Ltd, Burchetts Green, Maidenhead, Berks KENLOVVE has been making electric cooling fans for 20 years and is well versed in the problems of engine cooling. The big 380mm (15in) diameter fan unit has ball-race bearings and is continuously rated in keeping with needs on psv and hgv.

With winter coming on it may not be cooling but starting which will be a problem for some. The Kenlomain may be the answer. It is light, fully portable and provides the means to start a vehicle with a flat battery.

Measuring (7.5in x 5in x 6in) it is contained in an acid-proof plastic coated metal chassis and case.

A carrying handle is provided. The unit is supplied with heavy-duty copper plated battery clips and about 6ft of mains cable, weighs 5.5kg (121b) and is suitable for 200 to 250 Volt application; a 110 Volt model is available to special order.