New equipment and publications
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JO MATTER how often a fleet engineer upraids members of the driving staff regarding ittention to the tyre equipment on their 'ehicles, little good will come of it if the depot yre gauges are inaccurate. A service comprising regular visits to iremises for the purpose of checking the iccuracy of pressure gauges has been started ry Lucas Pressure Gauge Co, Ltd., of 1 George itreet, Balsa!! Heath, Birmingham 12. The company has developed equipment vhich ensures accuracy to within 1 per cent Ind which will check pressures in increments if 10 p.s.i. up to 80 p.s.i. The test shows the rue reading at the business end of the air lie and even if the depot gauge is faulty the iecessary correction can be made enabling t to be kept in service until a replacement irrives. A certificate is affixed to the dial or 'older arid on this are recorded comparative eadings throughout the range. Persons inlating a tyre can read from the certificate the ecorded pressure required for correct inlation. The testing scheme is being operated on a :ontract basis with charges of £1 per visit for he first gauge plus 10s for each additional nstrument at the same address. Visits are nade at regular intervals four or six times )er year and initially it is operating in an area :overed by a radius of 50 miles from Birmingiam.
A letter to the above address for the attenion of Mr. B. F. Lucas will secure further letails and a contract form.
_ifting on pits
:lectro-hydraulic pit jacks specifically designed or use with commercial vehicles and made Germany are now being marketed in the UK ly Potter Hydraulics. The Ministry of Transport .; reported to have ordered 114 of them. The jack consists of a double-acting hylraulic cylinder with a lifting capacity of 6 tons it maximum pressure. A recessed turntable at he top of the ram prevents accidental slipping if the axle and the full height of 23in. can be eached in 40sec. A trolley designed to run on tracks along the ,ides of a pit carries the jack and its electriclowered high-pressure pump. The pairs of unners are adjustable through rack and pinion nechanisms and can be supplied for a maxinum track width of up to 36in. Built-in safety features include a mitre valve vhich closes automatically if the load is susained over a long period and prevents unin tentional lowering. The pump also has a builtin safety valve to prevent overloading of the cylinder and this also acts as a limit stop governing ram travel. Operation of the jack is controlled by means of a three-position handoperated valve.
Marketed by: Potter Hydraulics, 29 Chesterfield,Road, Dronfield, Sheffield, SIB 6XA.
Servicing sinn pulled
Standardized components have been introduced by Electric Power Storage Ltd. to simplify servicing of the company's ExideIronclad and Kathanode traction batteries. In addition to the containers, components common to both ranges will include terminal pillars and cell lids.
Variations in the number of pillars per cell
are reduced considerably and all the cells ar of the single-pillar or double-pillar typ incorporating a separate guard. This will as act as an acid level indicator.
Made by: Electric Power Storage Ltd., Exid and Kathanode Batteries Division, Bakewel Derbyshire.
Underfloor mirror The Unimec underfloor safety mirror, first shown at the Dairy Show in October 1967, is now being marketed in Southern England by S. Norrish Ltd. It is designed for battery-electric vehicles and gives the driver an unobstructed panoramic view of the underside of the chassis and its four wheels. A child playing under or near the vehicle can readily be seen.
Located under the front of the vehicle, the mirror is automatically lowered into its operating position when the driver sits on the cab seat. A foot lever can be used to retract the mirror into its running position once the vehicle is under way. When it is open, it forms a venturi with its housing and the air that is drawn out of the cab by the venturi keeps the mirror surface free from mist and dirt.
A double-mirror is available for applications in which the standard unit is not practical. If required the mirror can be provided with a protective shield.
Marketed by: S. Norrish Ltd., 220 Great Portland Street. London, W1,
Control of fire
An Eastmancolor film is available from the Fire Protection Association which is intended to show audiences derived from industrial organizations the importance of rapid action by well-trained staff following the discovery of a fire. A copy of the film can be purchased or obtained on loan.
According to the FPA, the estimated cost of the material damage caused by fire last year was £90m.
Issued by: Fire Protection Association, Aldermary House, Queen Street, London EC4. Price: £48.
Twin tyre inflator
A special pressure-equalizing device enables a new Schrader's tyre inflator to be used to inflate the two tyres of twin wheels simultaneously. This gives a balanced pressure in the tyres and enables both to be checked with a gauge at the same time.
The air control and dial pressure gauge are combined in a single, wall-mounted cabinet. The pressure equalizer is fitted between the end of a spiral retracting plastics tube, leading from the cabinet, and forked leads to which the tyre clip-on connectors are attached.
Moving the control lever to the "inflate" position permits air to pass to both tyres: when the lever is centralized in the "neutral" position the gauge needle gives the balanced pressure reading. If required, the tyres can be deflated to the required pressure.
Made by: A. Schrader's Son Inc., Division of Scovill Manufacturing Co., Tyburn Road, Erdington, Birmingham 24.
Price: £36 15s.