A Mobile Crane for Fire-brigade Service
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An Interesting Appliance for Undertaking Some of the Special Duties Performed by the London Fire Brigade
SUCH is the reputation for efficiency achieved by the London Fire Brigade that it is not uncommon for its assistance to be sought in the metropolis for a wide variety of accidents, including some in which there is little or no risk of a conflagration breaking out. It is because of the different calls now made upon its services that the brigade has found it desirable to add to its mobile equipment the crane lorry shown in an accompanying picture. It is capable of dealing with a load of 8 tons and was constructed by Dennis Brothers, Ltd., of Guildford, to ideas conceived by the chief officer of the brigade, Major C. C. B. Morris, M.C.
Briefly described, the chassis has a wheelbase of 10 ft. 6 ins., the six-cylindered engine with which it is equipped ,having a bore and stroke of 110 mm. and 140 mm. respectively, and developing 118 b.h.p. Through the medium of a four-speed gearbox and a worm-driven back axle this is capable of maintaining a speed of 48 m.p.h, on the level, whilst a gradient of one in six can. be negotiated with full load at 12 m.p.h.
Provision is made in the engine-cooling system for the addition of the London Fire Brigade's own pattern of water heater. An electric starter is, of course, fitted, and there are two separate ignition systems—a h.t. magneto, as well as coil and distributor working off the 12-volt lighting circuit. The 20-gallon petrol tank is of copper, its 3-in.
filling orifice being equipped with a safety device. A duplicated petrol-feed system includes two leads from the tank, two separate Airtovacs, two petrol fillers and two leads to the carburetter.
Special attention has been paid to the lighting set, which, in addition to the customary lamps, supplies power to a wander lead on the dashboard and a plug socket at the
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rear, wired in parallel with the side lamps and capable of illuminating a headlamp transferred to a rear bracket.
A point of interest in the driver's cab—which is capable of accommodating three men—is that, in addition to the drop windows in the side doors, a sliding portion of the roof enables any occupant to escape from practically any position of the vehicle should it be involved in an accident.
The crane, which is mounted slightly behind the rear axle, was made by Herbert Morris, Ltd., of Loughborough. Two crank handles are provided for manual operation of the winch, and by the instantaneous change of a pair of gear wheels the same handles are applied to the shortening of the jib. To maintain the stability of the chassis when engaged in raising such heavy loads, two screw-down jacks are anchored below the rear extremities of the frame longitudinaIs. It should be noted that the crane can operate from the rear or either side of the body.
The more rapid lifting of lesser weights is accomplished by way of a separate light chain tackle, which can be suspended from the hook of the main crane.
There are capacious lockers on the near side and these, together with the deck of the body, accommodate an extensive range of breakdown equipment, including such items as a Morris 15-ton four-wheel ambulance with towing pole, a Morris 6-ton two-wheel ambulance with towing pole, two hydraulic jacks lifting 8 tons and 10 tons respectively, towing bar for loads of 24 tons and upwards, oxyacetylene plant on trolley, pickaxes, shovels, etc.