Maker and User. in Closer Harness
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DURING this war, the energies of practically all our commercial-vehicle manufacturers have been almost entirely diverted to the production , of armaments, fighting and war'transport vehicles, and, to a much smaller degree, to those 'vehicles of more or less standard pattern to meet the urgent needs of essential transport in the goods and passenger-carrying spheres. Few new models have been brought out, and whilst, no doubt, a little work has been carried on by thedesigning staff in respect of chassis for post-war production, naturally, little information as to this has come to light.
In the interim, however, . " The • Commercial Motor" has published, at intervals, articles from designers and a few operators, which have embodied technical matter relative to what were considered improvements which it might be thought advisable to include in variogs types of post-war vehicle.
We have been brought to the view, however, that those sporadic efforts are not sufficient to meet the case. We felt that it would be more helpful to co-ordinate opinions as to the specific features which' operators would like to have incorporated, but the difficulty which arose was how to arrange for these wishes to be expressed insome more concrete form.
In an article in this issue we give brief details of the action which we took in this matter., It comprised the arranging of a conference last March at which certain important operators, including two of the main railways, were represented. At this meeting a working committee-was elected, and members of this have made interesting and valuable contributions which are embodied in the aforementioned article.
Makers' and Users' Views Wanted We most cordially invite other members of the original conference, as well as operators who were not represented at it, also manufacturers of vehicles, units and components, to add their comments. If they do so in fair numbers, the whole should comprise an . authentic and strikingly practical addition to the sources of information available to both manufacturers and operators. That there is a genuine need for this is indicated by the fact that we have ourselves been asked, at different times, for our personal views as to what • classes of vehicle are likely to be in demand after the war. We have answered such questions to the best of our ability, but we believe that the move which we have instituted will be of greater service, as being more repreSentative.
We believe that it i in the true interests of the manufacturers and of the commercial-vehicle industry as a whole, to throw a stronger light upon tha requirements of vehicle 'operators. Obviously, a designer, cannot expect to produce a vehicle,, or range of vehicles, which will fully satisfy the needs of every, user, but at least he should •know what the majority is .likely to require.
. A Tendency to be Discouraged There is an undoubted risk, at any rate in the case of some concerns which will be in a position to purchase large numbers of vehicles, that unless they find types suited to their particular needs they may themselves build these up from already tested priority units and components, and thus remove a considerable amount of potential business 'fromthe established vehicle. makers. In a few cases this tendency has actually been transformed into action. It, is partly with a view to obviating further moves in' this direction that we are. following our present course.
We' feel it to be essential that the shoemaker should stick to his last, also that if the maker be deprived of any considerable portion of their . home trade they will not be in such a good position to cope with the export market for which everyone is hoping. Large production means, or should mean, reduced cost, better facilities for the supply Of spare parts and greater ability to provide suitable depots andservice stations overseas, as well as in this country.
We have, in a previous leading article,, stated our opinion as to the question' of individual makers producing a large number of models in the endeavour to meet the demands in a variety 'of markets. It may be that from the information which we are now placing before them and that -which we hope to publish in later issues, they may .find it advisable to concentrate their efforts in particular directions. At least we can hope that the .somewhat pungent criticisms as regards the desirability of further standardizatiou will beiakeft to heart and eventually show themselves in a tangible form.
Foamed Concrete for Thermal Insulation MANY 'operators of road transport are interested in the subject of thermal insulation —in other words, in materials which will enable heat to be retained or cold maintained in tankers; etc.
In this connection Dr. H. Roland Fraenkel has made' a valuable contribution to the September Journal of the Royal Society of Arts. It deals with the possibilities of cellular or light-weight concretes, which are manufactured according to various patent formul. They are easy. to produce, at low cost, in any part of Britain or the Empire, and they are particularly valuable in those places where magnesium, aluminium or zinc are difficult to procure. The texture of -foamed concrete resembles that of cork, and comprises small, evenly distributed cavities making up most of the volume, sur rounded by thin walls. Densities of 18-25 'lb. per cubic ft are said to give excellent results. One method of manufacture is.to mix a tenacious foam into a mortar consisting of cement and water. The thermal conductivity is 0A5 to 0.52 B.T.U. per hour, per degree difference F., per sq. ft., per in. thickness. Various types are known as Cellconcrete, Insulone, Lighterete, etc. One way of employing These materials is in the insulation of pipes in trenches, the cellular concrete being filled in solid around the pipes. This is a method much used on the Coritinefft We do not know whether materials in this class have been employed for sucfr purposes as the insulation of vehicle bodies, but the possibilities in this direction might well be explored. Under test it might possibly be found that they would not stand up to vibration so well as the better-known and more expensive materials, also they may not be comparable in respect of . weight. They,. naturally, present far-reaching potentialities in connection with the insulation of buildings, and in this connection would seem to possess some appeal to those of our readers who are interested in the construction of factories and Warehouses. It is said that they also provide good insulation against sbund, but it might be stretching the possibilities to suggest that we might one day have concrete-insulated bodies for passenger vehicles.