LOOKING AFTER VEHICLE ELECTRICS
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I general, N geral, transport managers have not been trained in electrical engineering, and any basic electrical knowledge they possess is out of date. There is a short-age of auto-electricians qualified to diagnose and rectify faults and to assess the life expectancy of electrical components. Few young men are attracted by the opportunities open to auto-electricians examples are la
and exacking of electricians m
rising to managerial level. A full-time a
electrician is normally justified if commercial vehicle fleet numbers more than 90.
These observations were made by Mr. R.H. Dillow, assistant service manager of the field service of Joseph Lucas Ltd., at a meeting of the Institute of Road Transport Engineers, Midland centre, at Birmingham on Tuesday, when he read a paper on "Maintenance of vehicle equipment (electrical) on modern commercial vehicles ". After emphasizing that the need for an efficient electrical system had become more critical over the years, Mr. Dillow said that average generator output had had to be increased from 14 amp, before the war to 19 amp. in 1955 and 20 amp. in 1960. Ry 1970 an output of around 25 amp. would probably be required. Manufacturers of electrical components had to cater for stop-start vehicles running. say. 50 miles a week on which the starter was used 400-500 times and for long-distance vehicles of the same type, the engines of which were started 50 times per week in a mileage of 1,000. Starter load was increased with the onset of engine wear and faulty cables and connections were a .common cause of trouble, as they created a "partial blockage to the flow of current, continued Mr. Dillow. Field experience had shown that maintenance staff seldom made adjustments complying with the makers' recommendations. A high voltage drop across the solenoid was all too common, and in a typical diesel engine installation this could result in a current discharge of 850 amps. In passenger vehicles fluorescent lights could be recommended on the score that they provided two-and-a-half times the light intensity for a given electrical output. In various references to ac. generators in his paper and during the discussion, Mr. Dillow claimed that the recent development of "premium grade belts had largely solved the problem of driving alternators at a relatively high speed. Referring to petrol-engine ignition systems, Mr. Dillow said that the fully transistorized type as used on racing cars was far too costly for commercial use, but the transistor-assisted system avail able at a lower cost offered marginal improvements in starting and high-speed operations. Referring to frequency of inspection by a skilled electrician, Mr. Dillow claimed that an annual inspection occupying two or three hours should suffice.
No Toll Receipts
THE highways and vehicles corn' mittee of the Road Haulage Association is seeking legal advice on whether there is any obligation to issue a receipt for road tolls, following the refusal of the Dartford-Purfleet Tunnel Authority to issue such receipts. If there is no legal obligation, the committee is to ask the Minister of Transport to see that the issuing of receipts—of particular concern to commercial operators--is made obligatory oil any future authority with the right to levy road chars. Meanwhile the gecommittee has, with much reluctance, accepted the Ministry's proposal that vehicle noise be measured by meter, but has stressed that two microphones and two meters at least 30 yards apart should be employed.
.B.R.S. (Parcels) in 1963 .B.R.S. (Parcels) in 1963 TOimprove facilities throughout their nation-wide network of branches, B e .R.S. (Parcels) Ltd. ether opened new depots or carried out major alterations
at 18 centres during 1963. w
One of the new developments as the opening of the new premises at Marsh Barton,. Exeter, where formerly there were congestion difficulties which had affected much of the West Country and other parts of the network. New depots were also opened at Kirkcaldy (replacing Methil), Colwyn Ray (replacing Abergele), Reading, Swindon, Canterbury (replacing old prem'ses in the town and at Margate) and at London Airport.
Rail Coal Contract Rail Coal Contract DR. BEECH1NG and Sir Christopher n of t Hinton, chairman Central Electricity Generating Board, signed an agreement in London on Tuesday which will nearly double the amount of power station coal carried by rail over the next 10 years. It is the most important single
e of bulk f e of bulk f
pact for the carriage to be negotiated by the railways since the
Beeching Plan was published. nt It envisages that the current coal
m. supplied tonnage of 34 pplied to power stations will go up to 60 m. by the end of the decade.