Old Experience • in New Gas Equipment
Page 31
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
AllenNeil Lowpressure Town-gas Containers Which Embody Fruits of Knowledge Gained
in 1914-1918 DURING the war of 1914-1918 Mr. Allen, who is now a director of the Allen Neil Fabric Gas Container Co., Ltd., Ludgate House, Ludgate Circus, London, E.C.4, was responsible for the manufacture of 6,000 gas containers for transport needs. This company, therefore, which, as its name implies, is working for a similar purpose, should have ample experience in this specialized field.
Two main types of container are now produced, the Allen --Neil, shown mounted on a Thornycroft vehicle, and the Walsh, fitted to a van roof. They are both available in a variety of sizes, costing from £16 upwards. With regard to the former, the bag is controlled by wooden battens arranged across the top, and retained by elastic guides at both sides, whilst wooden " trippers " hinged to the base maintain the box shape of the container, and by regular pressure prevent distortion and ensure uniform deflation, In the case of the latter a streamlined frame houses the bag, and its action is governed by systems of links at the sides together with guide cords. The layout of the mechanical parts can be seen from the illustration, but there are -too important features of the device that may not be appreciated at first sight.
Clearly discernible in the picture is the horizontal rod that connects the centre joints of the front and rearmost pairs of links. It is free to slide through the corresponding joint of the second pair of links, and upon it depends the parallelism of the mechanism.
Surrounding the bag on a horizontal central plane are guide cords attached to the hinges at the extreme front and rear. As the container deflates and the distance apart of the hinges -increases, the cords tighten on to the sides of the hag and draw them inwards, preventing the fahric from forming floppy folds, and, like the " trippers " in the other design, maintaining pressnre on the gas.
Fabric Proof Against Damage High-quality material is used for the container. It is double-texture fabric, with a layer of rubber sandwiched between, whilst the exterior is treated With a special preparation to prevent saturation and chafing and to render it weather-proof. Its specification is largely a result of the wide experience gained 20-odd years ago. We are informed that a pinhole puncture is immediately self-sealing and that a cigarette end will smoulder out, on the bag, without harming it.
Part of the equipment supplied with the container is a repair outfit, comprising patching and solution for the repair
of any tear of the fabric resulting from an accident.
Evidence of the durability of the material is afforded by the distance of 2,000 miles which has been covered by a Standard 14 h.p. car being run by Mr. Walsh, sales manager of the company, with a Walsh-type container on the roof. Owing to the greater speed of the car than the commercial vehicle this constitutes a more severe trial, for wind resistance is responsible for high stressing of gas containers. The fabric appears to be still as good as new.
This particular vehicle is stated to cover 19 miles to 200 cubic ft. of gas. the capacity.of the bag, the price of a fill being Is. 4d., and the time required for taking-on a charge being eight minutes. The cost of the container and framework, as illustrated in the picture of the Walsh type, is £26, whilst the complete equipment, with fitting, works out at about £36. The design is fully protected by patent.
Inchltled in the standard apparatus are an approved charging fitment and a mixing and control valve of the type developed by the Gas Light and Coke Co., Ltd.
There is no doubt that this form of alternative fuel has big scope under conditions of short range.