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The Latest Brake Tester

7th July 1931, Page 75
7th July 1931
Page 75
Page 75, 7th July 1931 — The Latest Brake Tester
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FOR some time Tecalemit braketesting installations have been available for four-wheelers. They have been put into service in many parts of the • country. The latest introduction on the part of Tecalemit, Ltd., Great West Road, Brentford, Middlesex, is an enlarged model with six platforms. It is, therefore, capable of testing the brakes -of rigid six-wheelers, The maker guarantees the ,installation for .axle weights up to 8 tons, so that a vehicle laden to the legal limit of 19 tons is well within the safety margin.

The apparatus consists of six wheelplatforms which run on short rails ending in profile cams or ramps ; those offer a resistance to forward motion in proportion to the weight on each platform. Each one is connected to its respective indicator, which is carried in a vertical pillar and is provided with an hydraulic rebound buffer, so that, when the vehicle brakes are released, the -platforms do not run backwards too rapidly.

At the forward end of the apparatus

is a powerful electric motor ; this drives the traction chain through a worm-andwheel. set. From the traction chain to the front axle of the vehicle runs a tubular traction pole with a screw-controlled clamp which couples to the axle.

Test procedure is as follows :---The vehicle is driven on to the ramps and the traction pole connected to the front axle. Next the hand brake is moved to the " off " position and the pedal depressed, being held either by a mechanically operated pedal depressor or by the driver's effort ; if a vacuum servo be installed the engine is left running. The operator then switches on the electric motor and the vehicle is pulled forwards against the sloping ends of the rails, on which run

the platforms As the tyres cannot slip on the platforms the latter will be drawn forwards against the rapidly increasing resistance, but any lack of gripping power on the part of any brake allows the wheel to roll along its platform. In consequence, each indicator moves upwards in proportion to the total motion of its corresponding platform. The current is then switched off.

As the indicators are grouped in the one column the operator can tell at a glance the efficiency of each and, every brake. After readings have been taken the indicators are returned to zero, the necessary adjustments made to the brake-operating gear of the vehicle and another check is made.

An interesting part of the set is the hydraulic jack which can be moved along between the rails to lift each axle in turn; this facilitates checking the freeJcloin of the brakes after adjustment.

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