A NEW TYPE OF FUEL TANKER.
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Brief Details of a Tank Wagon in which Many Interesting Features are Incorporated.
ON the occasion of the recent commercial vehicle parade organized by the Commercial Motor Users Association and held in Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, a vehicle, which attracted a considerable amount of attention, although not actually taking part in the event, was an unusual type of tank wagon which has recently been added to the fleet of vehicles run by Shell-Mex, Ltd. The basis of the new vehicle, of which an illustration appears on this page, is a Model 506 5-ton Associated Daimler chassis, and the capacious elliptical tank if ith which the chassis is equipped is the product of Thompson Brothers (Bilston), Ltd., Bradley Engineering Works, Bilston, Staffs.
The tank has a capacity of 1,200 gallons, and a striking appearance is given to the vehicle by the special construction of the driver's cab and the provision of side panels which extend the whole length of the space occupied by the tank. The roof of the cab is built' to the same radius as the tank, and two windows in the rear partition follow the curvature of the tank. By this means both general appearance and utility are enhanced, and in the latter connection it may be mentioned that a very clear view to the rear is obtained when reversing.
A sloping windscreen is provided, and an adjustable bucket seat ensures that the driver secures maximum comfort 'and ample freedom for his elbows. The side panels, to which we have referred, provide a large fiat surface on which the name of the company, its products and advertising matter can be displayed, and this arrangement is certainly an improvement over that which necessitates the use of the curved sides of the tank for the same purpose.
The method of attaching the tank to the frame is of particular interest. Inplace of the usual holster and straptype of mounting, which imposes some what severe stresses on the frame, two pairs of steel feet, which are bolted and welded to circumferential ribs on each end of the tank, are utilized. These feet are placed on rubber pads and made secure by bolts which pass outside the frame members, thus obviating the necessity for drilling of the frame members. This method of construction is extremely light and, apart from allowing the frame a certain amount of independent movement, it possesses the advantage of ready detachability. Actually, the tank can be unbolted and lifted dear of the chassis in about 15 minutes.
The two compartments at the front of the tank have discharge cocks fitted on the near-side ends behind the panel, whereas the contents of the rear compartment are discharged at the Great care has been exercised to ensure the utmost cleanliness in the hand' ling of motor spirit in bulk and, with this end in view, four steel tubes with lock-up ends are provided to accommodate the hose-pipe equipment.
This outfit has been designed by Mr. Vallings, of Shell-Mex, Ltd., and the construction of the tank, cab and auxiliary fittings, together with the work of mounting, has been well carried out by Thompson Brothers (Bilston), Ltd. It will he noted that all the features that are introduced into the design of the vehicle and which contribute to its smart appearance possess a practical value.