KEEPING THEM RUNNING . . continued
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Tyre depth gauge
The Capstan Gauge Division of MB Metals Ltd. has designed and is producing a precision instrument for measuring tyre tread depth.
The gauge is robust and simple to use. It is finely calibrated in 0.01mm divisions but because the total depth that can be measured in lmm—the legal minimum across three-quarters of the tread of a tyre in use— it will have limited application for commercial-vehicle operators. The gauge was, however, designed to meet a specification set by the Ministry of Transport and police departments and is officially approved.
Made by: The Capstan Gauge Division of MB Metals Ltd., Victoria Road, Portslade, Sussex.
Price: £2 17s 6d retail.
Portable pumping unit
A portable diesel-powered pumping unit with a throughput of up to 18,000gal per hour. and which can handle solids of up to 0.375in. diameter, is to be marketed by Warwick Pump and Engineering Co. Ltd.
The pump is powered by a Petter AA1 diesel engine which will develop 4 bhp at 3,600 rpm. It is a single cylinder, four-stroke, air-cooled engine designed for continuous operation in temperate and tropical climates with a fuel consumption in the region of one pint an hour operating at maximum governed speed; its tank capacity is 6-I pints. Starting is by a rope and pulley device, or the engine can be supplied with a handle as an extra.
The pump is a centrifugal-type, self-priming unit with a 3in. bore outlet. It has a maximum throughput of 18,000gal (12,000gal at 47ft head).
The pump casing is fabricated in heavy duty steel. The impeller, which is directly coupled to the engine crankshaft, is made of bronze, and the diffuser is a cast iron unit.
One of the main features of the pump is a special spring-loaded seal assembly which prevents water leaking from around the engine crankshaft where it enters the pump. The seal is located in a grease packed chamber which also prevents damage to the pump should it be run without water.
By incorporating a special hinged clack valve on the inlet pipe, the pump is able to retain liquid and repriming is claimed to be unnecessary.
The outfit is fitted with a carrying handle and can be supplied with or without a two-wheeled trolley. It can also be adapted to take electric or petrol power units.
Marketed by: Warwick Pump and Engineering Co. Ltd., Ferry Lane, Hythe End, Staines. Middlesex.
Price: E164 16s with Petter engine and trolley.
Two new safety accessories for its manual and automatic spray guns have been announced by the Spraying Systems Co. of America whose range of guns and accessories for airless spraying and coating are marketed by C.T. (London) Ltd. They are the Rotoclean attachment and the Protective Cap, both being suitable for the 24A and 25A manuallyoperated Gunjets and the 24AUA automatic spray gun.
The Rotoclean provides a quick method of unclogging the spray tip. On rotating the lever through 180deg and squeezing the gun trigger, the direction of flow through the orifice is reversed to flush out clogging particles. The spraying operation is resumed when the lever is returned to its original position.
The new Protector Cap has two front lugs which prevent fingers getting near the orifice but do not distort the spraying pattern. Designed for use in place of the standard cap, the flats on the tip locate inside the groove and a swivel design permits the spray pattern to be positioned in any plane.
Marketed by: C.T. (London) Ltd., 27 Ashley Place, London, SW1.
Portable lubricator
Known as the Lube-ette Major, a new portable lubricator is being marketed by Lawrence Edwards and Co. (Engineers) Ltd. It comprises a hand gun, connecting hose and a plate incorporating a plunger. The plate is attached to the open top of a standard 28Ib tin of grease and the plunger is used to charge the gun, which operates at a pressure of 6,000 p.s.i. The gun can be uncoupled from the hose and continues to operate for over 100 shots on the one charge.
Marketed by: Lawrence Edwards and Co. (Engineers) Ltd., Stourport Road, Kidderminster, Worcs.
Price: £15 10s.
Drill point geometry
Z. Brierley Ltd. has announced that a new drill point geometry, known as the N-C Prismatic Point geometry, has been developed that can be applied to any of the company's drill grinders.
The new four-facet point features a radiallyrelieved area, with convex relief adjacent to the cutting edge, and a concave heel which
extends to the tip of the web. This forms a )ointed triangular peak at the centre of the web )1tip of the drill. The result is a self-centring 3oint geometry that gives the drill improved iole spacing, and it is claimed that a given 3enetration is obtainable with a reduced 3ressure.
The drill is automatically centred when it strikes the workpiece, even if the surface is nclined; it also self-centres if it is off-centre on a round surface or a rough casting is being drilled.
Evolved by: Z. Brierley Ltd., Llandudno, Caerna rvonsh i re, North Wales.
New giant tyre
Pirelli Ltd. has introduced a new giant tyre for motorway trunking called the Teseo 576. It has a nylon-cord fabric casing that is claimed to reduce overheating on long journeys, especially under full load. Because it has been designed mainly for long-distance work, its tread pattern has central zig-zag sipes and deep side grooves. This combination is hoped to give better roadholding in the wet and fast water dispersion. Dual-strata tread construction allows a high wear resistant outer tread to be incorporated in the Teseo and an under tread compounded to give better heat resistance.
Sizes currently available are: 9.00-20, 12 ply; 9,00 20, 14 ply; 10.00 — 20, 14 ply and 10.00 — 20, 16 ply.
Marketed by: Pirelli Ltd. 343 Euston Road, London, NW1.
When to light up The RAC list of lighting-up times which was delayed earlier this year because of Parliamentary indecision over the new British Standard Time has now been published. It lists times for every day of the year and is corrected to take into account Summer Time which this year started on February 18 and is due to end on October 27; depending on Government legislation it may continue beyond that date.
A special correction table on the list also provides lighting up times for Bristol, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Glasgow and Belfast while on the reverse there is a mileage chart giving distances between 45 main towns and cities in England and Scotland.
Published by: The RAC, 83-85 Pall Mall, London, SW.
Calculating instrument
An inexpensive measuring and calculating instrument which combines the functions of a 4in. vernier caliper, depth gauge and slide rule is now available in the UK. The Caliputer is available either in English or Metric scale. The inch vernier reads to 0.001 in., the metric to 0.02mm, with readings applicable to both caliper and depth measurements. When the caliper is used to measure a diameter, the Caliputer gives circumference and cross-section area by direct reading, and the slide rule performs all normal multiplication, division, square and square root calculations.
The instrument is made of satin-finish stainless steel with scales permanently precision-etched. It is 4.75in. long and is supplied in a pocket-size vinyl plastic scabbard containing detailed instructions for use.
Marketed by: A. P. Warren Ltd., 37 Sheen Road, Richmond, Surrey.
Price: £4 18s 9d.
Cleaning units
The Electro-Magic range of balanced-power cleaning units is now being marketed by UKOTACO. These wheel-mounted machines clean by directing on to the surface a high pressured jet of hot water containing a chemical which activates the grime. By switching off the oil-fired burner, one can use the machine to give a cold rinse.
Brief specifications are as follows: Model 660-180 g.p.h. at 600 p.s.i. in temperature range 1004:leg to 180deg F. Model 670-420 g.p.h. at 600/700 p.s.i. in temperature range 100deg to 200deg F. Both models have oil-fired burners and operate off 220/240V, 50 cycle, one-phase electricity supply.
Marketed by: UKOTACO, Shifnal, Shropshire.