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Passing Comments

11th May 1940, Page 12
11th May 1940
Page 12
Page 13
Page 12, 11th May 1940 — Passing Comments
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Pulverized Coal Used A LTHOUGH producer gas as an Alternative 1—k now figures so largely as an

Fuel alternative to petrol, little

attention seems to have been paid to the further development of the pulverized-fuel engine. On the Continent considerable work was done in this respect some 10 years ago, and it was demonstrated that, whilst many difficulties were entailed, these appeared to be no more insurmountable than those associated with the use of producer gas. Engines were, in fact, developed to operate not only on coal dust, but even on sawdust and disintegrated. paper, and were shown to yield notably high thermal efficiencies. Few Troubles ExperiMOT long ago we referred to enced with Oilla suggestion by an operator engined Conversions . that users who fitted more powerful oil engines to replace petrol units should beware of cracks developing in transmission parts. Where they have occurred the vehicles have been comparatively old, and the additional torque was apparently the cause of the trouble, for out of 500 conversions carried out by one concern using a well-known oil engine, no trouble of this kind has beenexperienced. Actually, an oil engine should normally give a smoother torque, as the power does not peak in the same way as with the petrol unit. Gauging Contents of A N inquiry received recently Large Tanks by DiprIconcerned the accuracy of

ping estimating the contents of large

petrol tanks by using a dipstick. It was stated that, with a 2,000-gallon tank, the variation in a comparatively short period might be 30 gallons or 'so. A point to remember is that petrol alters its density with temperature. A figure we were given some time ago for expansion or contraction was .005 of the bulk for every 10 degrees F. That would mean 5 gallons per 1,000 gallons, but the problem is complicated by the fact that the metal of the tank may also expand or contract, this depending upon where the tanks are situated. If buried fairly deeply, the temperature alteration can be only slight. AT the Congress luncheon of the P.S.T,A., Mr. A. C. Baker, general manager, Bir

mingham transport, told a good story. Approached by a head-lamp-mask inventor, who produced a certificate of its merit, he started out on a test. As it was fairly light, they first visited one or two places of refreshment and then proceeded to test the device. Mr. Baker was most impressed, as he could see cows at each side of the road and even the top of the trees, but he queried the mask's legality. So also did a constable, whose " Wot's this 'ere? " was replied to by the inventor, who produced his certificate. The constable asked to which lamp the mask was fitted and, to the surprise of Mr. Baker and the inventor, it had vanished!

The Horrific Story of the Phantom Headlamp Mask . . . .

Tags

Organisations: Congress
People: A. C. Baker, Bir

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