Technical Features at the C.M.U.A. Parade.
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DIL:RING the course of a brief inspection of certain of the vehicles which we made at the C.M.U.A. Parade held recently in Lincoln's Inn Fields, we observed quite a number of small but interesting features, some of which we illustrate. No doubt anyone with more time at his disposal could find many other features also worthy of note as showing what is being done both by makers and owners to promote safety and efficiency in connection with the use of their vehicles.
There is, for example, the neat form of screw-up trailer brake employed on the Fodens owned by the AlienAmerican Oil Co.,Ltd. This brake • control consists of a bracket carrying a nut through which passes a long square-threaded screw with a convenient handle at the upper end, whilst the lower end passes through a second nut squared and with one face working against the bracket. To this square nut is attached a stirrup connected to a wire rope passing round a pulley, which is also carried by the bracket.
We noted one quite neat little fitment which might well be utilized on other vehicles. This is a bonnet spring and clip secured to some part of the chassis just above the off-side dumbiron so that it can be used for retaining the starting handle in an approximately horizontal position. This, incidentally, was also on one of the AngloAmerican Oil Co.'s vehicles.
The third illustration does not represent an actual point in design, but shows how the front axles and steering connection on the Dennis vehicles owned by the Gag Light and Coke Co. are polished. We draw attention to this point as it is a good factor in the cause of safety, any weaknesses, such as cracks, being easily discernible, whilst the polishing ensures attention to important parts which often receive far too little. With an engine of high effieieney which is called upon to give a high power output for the greater portion of its life, as is the case with units such as that providedin the Scammell tractor-lorry, the exhaust-pipe manifold is apt to become very hot, and this not only causes hot air to-be conducted into the driver's cab and around his feet, but may be responsible • for unsightly blistering of the bonnet. We noted with interest that in the Scamteens run by Shell-Mex, Ltd., large wire grills ace provided at the off side of the bonnet and the exhaust manifold is further shielded by a metal. bound sheet of asbestos. The wire grills obviate heating and blistering of the bonnet and permit the free circulation of air around the manifold.
We also observed that the Pyrene fire-extinguishers on brackets outside the cabs were readily accessible without mounting the vehicle or entering the driver's cab.