Too Much Specialization
Page 55
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
ONCE you were good enough to grant me space in which to air my opinions concerning clutch-release bearing mechanism.
-I would like now, as engineer in charge of a large and very mixed fleet, to comment on the difference in outlook that exists between British and U.S. manufacturers regarding the standardization and interchangeability of parts. Most British makers now use proprietary components and sub-assemblies, but in fax too many cases these are obviously specially designed for the vehicle concerned, and it was never intended that they should be used on any other. Where any real measure of interchangeability exists, it is usually found that the component is of U.S. origin. It may well be that the only standardization British makers desire is that the operator should standardize on one make of vehicle, but where similar-capacity lorries of different makes use the same proprietary components, what a boon it would be to the fleet engineer if he could interchange these without alteration.
The amount of stores space saved, if the same degree of interchangeability existed here as obtains in America. would be considerable. A brake shoe for X vehicle, for example, fitting equally well on a Y of equal carrying capacity Components lending themselves particularly well to a high degree of standardization include brake systems. clutches and their related mechanism, ball and roller bearings, shackle and swivel pins, batteries, oil filters, etc.
The foregoing in no way detracts from my firm Conviction that British vehicles are the finest.
London, S.W.6. " CiASKEE" THE WRONG VINEYARD
EITHER Lord Long was not clear in his pronunciation or your printer wrong in his spelling, but in the article " Fruits of Increasing Bitterness," in your issue dated March 24, you refer to a certain " Nabotu's vineyard" which was seized and taken away from him. The gentleman's name was actually Naboth. We have presumably advanced a little since the days of "The Kings," for the members of our Government do not go home, "sulk," go off their food or call in their wives' help (as far as we know) to have the transport owners eliminated before acquiring their goods. Let us hope that a fate similar to that which befell Ahab and Jezebel does not await the members of H.M. Government.
Ashford. S. B. LA TROBE.
[We are afraid that we cannot blame Lord Long for this error. It is no doubt due to the sometimes almost undecipherable writing attributed to journalists, and not to our lack of Biblical knOwledge.—ED.1
WHICH IS THE BEST TOWBAR?
WITH regard to the correspondence on towing which vv has been published recently in your pages, I feel, without doubt, that the only really safe way of towing a vehicle is by means of a V bar, provided that there are suitable attachments on the vehicle in question. This method is so safe that, excepting legal requirements, if any, the towed vehicle does not need a driver as long as the steering is properly centred before moving off. The towed vehicle may also be reversed as if it were a semi-trailer.
I cannot add anything useful to F. C. Forster's letter of March 17, except to plead for two concealed towing eyes for the V bar. All American Service and quite a few German war vehicles were .equipped with towing eyes as standard, but how many British Service types were so fitted? To deal with a civilian vehicle is still more difficult.
Doncaster. H. G. SWAN, ex-Captain, R.A.O.C., V.R.D.
FURTHER 10 the article in your issue dated March 17,
in which you asked for readers' experience in the towing of vehicles, may I suggest that the use of a steel tube, about 3 ins, in diameter, 8 ft. long and with round eye ends, would be the most suitable form of towbar. If weight be not considered important, the bar could be spring-loaded. Drag on corners may easily be overcome by employing a shackle at each end of the bar. This will afford amplearticulation where, say, a loaded eight-wheeler has to be
towed. A shackle capable of withstanding a pull of at least 5 tons should be adequate.
This bar could be carried on the outside of the chassis frame or even suspended from brackets fitted to the cross-members. It could, if thought necessary, be locked to one of the brackets. I do not see how a V bar would serve the purpose owing to the obvious difficulty of fitting, and other readers may agree with me that to equip vehicles with such a bar would be too expensive to justify its infrequent use.
1 do not agree with the suggestion of the coroner that ball joints should be employed. Their size to provide the necessary strength would rule them out.
Hounslow. W. F. YORATH.
DRIVING BUSES NOT ON SERVICE
.AS a fitter employed by an ex-Tilling Group company,
I would like to express my appreciation, of your excellent journal, of which I am an enthusiastic and regular reader. My primary purpose in writing, however, is to obtain certain information.
I would like to receive particulars concerning graduateship or other forms of membership of the Institute of Road Transport Engineers I would also like you to settle an argument which has
arisen during the course of my work, regarding the driving of buses which are not on service. Does this work require the driver to have a p.s.v. licence, a h.g.v. licence or an ordinary licence covering all groups?
Keighley. E. M. EARNSHAW.
[We thank you for your appreciative remarks concerning this journal. As regards membership of the I.R.T.E., we have asked the secretary of that body to send you details, but would add that graduates are accepted up to the age of 30, and must show that they are making a serious study of road transport engineering and are taking appropriate technical courses. As regards driving buses on test or for others reasons apart from the work on which they are normally engaged, an ordinary group driving licence will cover the driver if not more than one extra person he carried on the vehicle. There must also be no load. For a man to take out a bus with a test load other than human, a heavy goods vehicle licence is necessary.—Eol