Passing Comments
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The Power of Words WHEN searching for for Good or Bad " explanations of the present in our Life , upheavals in our national, political and industrial life, the mind is led into many speculations. That this old and tried Nation should be led, and even driven, along a path which involves the destruction of all proved systems and institutions, which might well end in economic collapse, is a happening paralleled only by the political disasters that have taken place in other countries in recent years. Ono main cause is words written and spoken in the form of promises and ideologies. Good and high-sounding words can often be used to promote sinister purposes, and it is difficult to believe that the public, as a whole, fully understands the significance of the words used to lure and lull it. Words are ideas, and thought is only as effective as the language in which it is spoken. The more words are understood, the greater the range and penetration of the mind, the converse, of course, holding good. Present-day carelessness and lack of scruple in the use of words create amongst the public a dulled comprehension of the facts. made in announcements. There are still countless people with but the foggiest idea of the national affairs with which politicians and others are gambling before their eyes. Consider the case of road accidents. It is certain that a more vigorous and alert average mentality would eliminate half of these, as it would also speedily clear up the calamitous industrial position.
.)t Some Bus RequireA CCORDING to an meats and Results in ''American operator, inter America city coaches are required with considerably more power, improved torque converters, better air conditioning, two-way radio and increased passenger comfort. The Twin Coach Co. is developing a bus with two 180 h.p. engines to give a speed of 60 m.p.h. at 65 per cent. engine power capacity and about 2,000 r.p.m., which low speed means longer engine life. The runs are often long, and the ability to return on one engine would save much money on breakdowns. Buses are now frequently 35 ft. long, but passengers are often given the extra space instead of four more seats being installed. For city service, the driver's arc of clear vision should be 180 degrees: he should be able to see the road reasonably close to his vehicle, whilst being able to spot clearly overhead traffic signals. Heating and ventilation are said to be the most serious problems, and there should be 20 cubic ft. of fresh air per minute per seated passenger, and illumination of 15 ft-candles for the whole normal reading area at each seat. This would call for fluorescent lighting. Steering continues to be too great an effort for drivers, and power steering may be required. American inter-city buses appear to have an extremely long life. One operator claims that a 2,000,000-mile life is not fantastic, and of six oilengined vehicles bought in. 1939, some have run more than 1,300,000 miles, and others have done up to 1,500,000. Eddy current Brake nESIGNERS in this country Which Controls Vehi1-"have for long considered
cle Speed . the possibilities of what we may term the " indirect " electric brake, in which the retardation is effected by generating current, which is converted into heat and dissipated. A brake of this type will not bring a vehicle to a standstill, but will keep the speed within certain limits and relieve the ordinary friction brakes of much over-stressing and heating Such a mechanism is being developed by the Warner Electric Brake Co., of America. The retardation is adjusted by two simple speedand load-control rheostats in the cab. The driver sets the first for the desired maximum speed, and the second according to the grading and load. There is a switch on the accelerator pedal, which cuts out the braking while there is any pressure on it. A second switch on the brake pedal gives more powerful action, regardless of the setting of the speed-control rheostat.
Lockheed Celebrates A N enjoyable [unction was Two Millionth Flyi-theld in London recently
draulic Brake • to celebrate the production of
the two millionth set of Lockheed hydraulic brakes, in the chair being Mr D T Brock, governing director of the Lockheed Hydraulic Brake Co., Ltd After welcoming the guests, he called upon the vehicle and sales director, Mr A. C. Burdon, who mentioned that 2,000,000 brakes and their tubing, put end to end, would go half way around the world, but the really important point was that they meant safer motoring to drivers and pedestrians. He added that it was only 20 years since the company produced its first brake of this type Incidentally, another of its products, the Borg and Beck clutch, is fitted to 75 per cent of the commercial and private vehicles produced in Britain during 1946 The service school had been re-opened, and the company is always prepared to put anyone through a course of instruction on correct brake ,maintenance.