VEHICLE DESIGN FORECASTS
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FORECASTS of developments in commercial vehicles, contained in a new book entitled Commercial Vehicles—Engineering and Operation include: The increasing use of short-stroke engines and turbocharging (forecast in a chapter by B. W. Millington); The possible development of hydrostatic transmission with separate wheel motors (by T. C. F. Stott); Major advances in the development of integrated circuits for transistor regulators and of metal-magnet alternators with strontium/ferrite magnets (by K. F. Hutcheon); The elimination of many engine noise problems by "acoustical treatment at the drawing board stage" (by C. H. G. Mills); and The provision of more specific regulations on braking systems, on methods of restraining loads and protecting drivers and on vehicle lighting (by H. Perring).
The reputation of the authors of the 12 chapters in this work, which is published by the The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (at 72s 6d) should commend the book to all fleet managers, engineers, designers and students in the road-transport industry. The information given is upto-date, practical and, where appropriate, forward looking. The book probably provides the best coverage of practices and trends relating to commercial vehicles yet published in this country.
T. G. Gibb, director of freight planning, Transport Holding Company, contributes a chapter on "The operation and maintenance of commercial goods vehicles"; B. W. Millington and H. W. Barnes—Moss, a director and chief designer respectively of Ricardo and Co. Engineers (1927) Ltd. "diesel engines for comniercial vehicles"; T. C. F. Stott, manager, power train, new materials and processes, Vauxhall Motors Ltd.,—"Transmission and Driving Axles"; W. Manning, chief engineer, Ford Motor Co. Ltd.—"suspension, steering and tyres"; J. M. Dickson-Simpson of Transport Press Services—"commercial considerations in the design of articulated vehicles"; F. D. Hales, Senior Research engineer MIRA—"The ride and handling of articulated vehicles"; A. J. Wilson, chief engineer, Girling Ltd.— "brakes and brake systems"; K. F. Hutcheon, chief electrical engineer, CAV Ltd., a chapter on "Electrical Equipment"; J. McGowan, chief body engineer, Leyland Motors Ltd.—"Ergonomics and the Driver"; C. H. G. Mills and D. T. Aspinall, MIRA head of research and research engineer respectively—"Commercial Vehicle Noise"; C. T. Humpidge, general manager, Sheffield Transport Department—"the development of the public service vehicle as the complete vehicle concept"; H. Perring, chief mechanical engineer, Ministry of Transport—"The law affecting the construction of commercial vehicles".