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Scottish RAC. Reports Trial Run of H.S.G. Lorry

7th August 1936, Page 31
7th August 1936
Page 31
Page 31, 7th August 1936 — Scottish RAC. Reports Trial Run of H.S.G. Lorry
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Keywords : Fuels, Peat, Coal, Spark Plug

THE official report of the Royal Scottish Automobile Club on the performance, during a four-day trial, of the 4-ton lorry, made by Gilfords (H.S.G.), Ltd., Park Royal, London, N.W.10, has just been published. Readers will remember that a brief account of this trial was contained in The Commercial Motor, dated July 10 last.

Running on producer gas, the H.S.G. was entered for the R.S.A.C. test by the Duke of Montrose, C.B., C.V.O., a director of British Coal Distillation, Ltd., the maker of Suncole, on which fuel the machine was run together with a peat product prepared by the Suncole process. The test was supervised and observed, on behalf of the Club, by Mr. Laurence Bell, M.I.A.E., M. I.B.E.

On the first day, July 6, the machine, which was loaded to a gross weight of 7 tons 71 cwt., was driven from London to Morpeth, 287 miles, . in a

running time of 10ihours. It consumed 370 lb. of Suncole, that is,

1.3 lb. per mile, which is equivalent to 43 vehicle miles for Is. No trouble was experienced and no involuntary stop was made.

The furnace was refuelled six times (about every 50 miles) and the water tank was replenished once with two

gallons of water, On two occasions during this run the clinker plate in the ash-pan was lowered, but no incombustible matter was extracted. Twice, a stop of over one hour's duration was made, and in each case the fire had to be drawn up, by running the electric blower for three minutes, prior to restarting the engine. Each refuelling operation occupied from five to seven minutes.

On the morning of the following day an inspection was made. Only one handful of ash and clinker was found in the ash-pan; about a pint of dust was extracted from the expansion and filter chambers. All sparking plugs were in good condition, whilst on an air valve in the induction system a slight white deposit was discovered.

The journey was then continued to Edinburgh, 106 miles, which was reached in 4i hours running time, at the same consumption rate. Misfiring was experienced during the first 40 miles, but was remedied by fitting one new sparking plug.

Two runs to Glasgow 'and back were made on the third and fourth days respectively. On the first, the consumption of Suncole over the 47 miles covered on the return journey was at the rate of 1.5 lb. per mile. On the second, peat was used and the consumption rate rose to 1.6 lb. per mile..

The report concludes with a summary of general impressions, the following points being mentioned:— except when the faulty plug was replaced, no involuntary stop was made throughout the test. The quick acceleration and the manner in which the engine pulled up hills without any sign of distress were noticeable. The Suncole and peat fuels appeared to be well suited to the H.S.G. generator and the gas produced seemed efficient. The machine was smokeless and the exhaust gas was practically odourless.

The H.S.G. Company states that, for the 393 miles to Edinburgh, the actual fuel cost was 8s. 6d. Had petrol been used the figure would have been about ;e2.

Tags

Organisations: Scottish Automobile Club
People: Laurence Bell

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