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Fighting Bush Fires in Australia.

10th July 1928, Page 95
10th July 1928
Page 95
Page 95, 10th July 1928 — Fighting Bush Fires in Australia.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

it indicating the unusual tasks 1. which ordinary connaercial motor vehicles are sometimes asked to perform one may well quote the work for which Thornycreft lorry, operating in a certain part of Australia, has been awfally equipped. Thornycroft (Australia), Ltd., the Australian branch of John I, Thornyeroft and Co., Ltd.; was approached a short time ago by a wellknown pastoralist, whose property had suffered very considerably as a result of bush fires, and he asked the company whether it would be possible to devise some apparatus for fighting these conflagrations by using an ordinary Thornyeroft lorry, but without impe4-1 ing, its use for usual transport work. So the company set itself to solve the problem and . eventually a pump was designed which was driven from the gearbox, the standard type of steering worm and worm wheel being used to obtain the necessary right-angle drive.. This pump was required to draw water from tanks carried in the body when it was fouad necessary to use it as a.m.-snit of the absence of a natural supply. It was essential that the pump 'should', work at its Maximum efficiency during the time thatthe vehicle was at rest or while it was travelling very slowly. Demonstrations proved that it could satisfactorily undertake the work under

these conditions find, accordingly, the vehicle was purchased.

Only a few days elapsed. from the time the vehicle was delivered before its fire-fighting capabilities were put to the test, and it was then driven to the 'scene of a big inish fire at a speed which would not have done the average touring ear injustice, after which the Pump was continuously at work for twolong stretches, one of six' hours' and the other of 14 hours' duration. It worked without a hitch daring the .whole time and satisfactorily extinguished the blaze.

The accompanying illustrations show the vehicle and its equipment, .ft detail view of the pimp and the lorry in use. The .veltiele is a standard Al-type Thornyeroft and it carries removable tanks of 300 gallons capacity. An arrangement of valves on the 'delivery side. of the pump enables two lengths of hose to be brought. into 'use as the vehicle proceeds slowly alongside the. _ fire. The hose of larger section is, of. course used to deal ,with-the main seat of the fire, whilst the smaller hose' is directed en to smouldering remains.

Within a few days of this vehicle proving its Worth Thorayeroft (AustraT ilia), Ltd., was favoured with an order for a similar machine from 'another lara,e 'Australian landowner.

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