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Passing Comments

12th September 1958
Page 38
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Page 38, 12th September 1958 — Passing Comments
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Reading Vehicle Instruments

AN interesting point about cab design has been raised • by Mr. E. N. Corlett, of Birmingham University's engineering production department. Looking at a new vehicle, he noticed that the six circular meters in the cab mostly read in different directions, which meant that a driver had to look separately at each dial and remember which way the needle travelled.

Mr. Corlett points out that for many years it has been the practice in the aircraft and process engineering industries to guard against errors by ensuring that all instruments operate in the same direction, and that pointers rest at the same angle under normal running conditions. As a result, reading is easier, and any faults are spotted immediately, because one pointer is not in line with its partners.

He suggests that, for normal running, all pointers should rest at the " 12 o'clock" position, with the exception of the fuel gauge and speedometer. Then they should travel in a generally clockwise direction. Mr. Corlett also puts forward the idea that in all cabs these meters should be just above the steering wheel, so that the driver's eyes do not have to change focus so often in moving from the road to his instrument panel.

Automation by Vauxhall

I AST week a party of some 40 members of the Institute of Road Transport Engineers paid a whole-day visit to the Luton Works of Vauxhall Motors, Ltd. This proved most interesting, particularly to those who had not been at the works for several years, and there were many comments on the great improvements which had been carried out, especially towards a high degree of automation. For some of the major units a three-day supply of parts continuously circles the shops on a slow overhead conveyor, thus avoiding any delays in production by possible stoppages of the supply of particular components.

Cylinder castings are fed into a battery of machines and they are delivered completely machined at the far end.

One of the most impressive sets of machines ,cuts the teeth of gearbox countershafts. The blanks are fed onto spigots on a small conveyor chain, and an arm on each machine lifts a blank, fits it into position for cutting and replaces it on a spigot when finished in a manner which is almost human, but even more meticulous. The only manual work on the shafts seems to be the removal of a few burrs.

And so the process of mechanization has extended in a great many other directions, even to the spray-painting of bodies. On those for cars there are altogether about eight coats, including two for rust-proofing. The spraying booth has four sets of swinging spray arms. Each is comprised of two pairs, one pair dealing with the upper part of the body and the other with the sides, and the only two men with them are equipped with hand sprayers to add any finishing touches required.

Incidentally, this booth is so arranged that there is a partial vacuum reaching up to about half the height of. the men, which almost obviates, the need for masks, all surplus paint being drawn downwards.

The press shop is huge and contains dozens of presses, ranging up to 1,200 tons. Complete floors, roofs, sides and other parts are produced in one or two "blows." To these are tack-welded the smaller sections and fittings before they are built into complete body shells. Where necessary flame welding is also employed. Later the vehicles are polished under the almost-blinding light emitted from hundreds of fluorescent lamps so that the most minute defect can be seen,

A Nice Touch

TOWARDS the end of August a reader of this journal I booked two returns by coach between Victoria and Caine by Western National's. Royal Blue service. The return coach was due to leave Caine at 4.23 p.m. but when it arrived at 5.10 p.m. it was full. The driver said that he had telephoned to the head office and a relief would be coming. This arrived at 6.25 p.m. and, with only the two passengers, proceeded to Marlborough, arriving at 7 p.m. Here the relief driver said that he could not take them farther as he had already driven from Paignton before picking them up.

It was then agreed with an inspector to await a bus, which would leave Marlborough at 8 p.m. This arrived at Victoria Coach Station at 10.30 p.m.

Subsequently a letter was sent to the operators suggesting that better service might have been given, although there was no complaint regarding the employees concerned, who had all been most courteous. To the writer's surprise a reply was received saying that the complaint would be investigated, with a view to preventing such occurrences in the future, and enclosing 10s. to cover any additional expenses which might have been incurred.

It is presumed that this should not be considered as a precedent, but it does show that even nationalized organizations can possess that human touch, which can help to smooth ruffled feelings.

Vital Statistics

REFERENCES to the question as to whether or not there was a Rolls bus, which have appeared recently in The Commercial Motor, have prompted a lady reader to write. as follows: "Charlie Rolls was a great friend of my brother, E. S. Shrapnel-Smith The first editor of this journal—ED.] and once, when staying with us in Berkshire, he was greatly interested in the design of a large Leon Bollee car belonging to another guest. Having obtained permission to take certain measurements of this vehicle, but having mislaid his notebook, Rolls jotted them down on visiting cards found in the hall tray. Later, the cryptic writing on some of these cards puzzled our housekeeper, who discovered Back to dash .; feet ' on that of the vicar's wife."

Piping Light to Dials

iT is well known that light can be " piped " or bent by the

use of rods of glass or certain plastics. It seems, however, now that a new method of achieving this has been discovered, using transparent glass fibres, which are said to have proved more efficient than anything else employed hitherto. An obvious advantage of this material would be for instrument dials, in which a number could be lit from a single source of light.

Automation—A Deplorable Word

THE word " automation " must sometimes be employed in this journal. Its usage is almost enforced, but many people will be heartily in sympathy with Standard's managing director, Mr. Alick Dick, in his condemnation of the term when speaking to the delegates of the Institution of International Engineering and R esearch Congress at a recent luncheon at the Banner Lane Works. He said, I deplore the word automation as a description of improved equipment."

It is suggested that the word has less and less meaning the more Often it is used, but it is not as bad as " automated."

International Dictionary

3PEAKING for the guests at the I.I.E.R. Congress, Mr. H. Tornebohn of the Swedish S.K.F. company endorsed Mr. Dick's praise of the Institution's work as a means for promoting international harmony as well as the spread of technical knowledge. Fourteen countries are members of the Institution, of which 10, including Czechoslovakia, were represented at the congress.

A worthy project of the Institution is the preparation of an international dictionary of production technology.


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