Pneumatic Doors in a New Double-decker
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11 OCHDALE CORPORAL'S'. TION has recently put into service a Leyland double-decker with sliding doors operated by compressed air. The entrancecum-exit is placed forward, where the driver can supervise loading and unloading, and, if necessary, open and close the doors, This design is of particular interest when considered in relation to the views on the location of entrances and exits, which were expressed by a number of leading authorities in "The Commercial Motor" on February 14. Mr. C. T Humpridge, B.Sc. MInst.T., general manager of Rodidale Corporation's transport department, explains that. the staircase 'leads to the centre of the upper saloon, so that passengers at either end have only a short distance to walk. Another advantage of the entrance position selected by Mr. Humpridge is that the risk of a passenger slipping under the rear wheel is lower.
Factors prompting the design were the reduction of the number of platform accidents, the elimination of draughts, dust, etc., greater warmth and cleanliness, and safety and convenience in the use of the staircase to the upper saloon. In addition. it would be possible to use the " pay-as-you-enter system on this type of bus. .
Manufactured by Messrs. Massey Bros., of Wigan; to the general manager's specT2cation, the body is mounted on a Leyland T.E1,7 -chassis. . As constructed it is a 57-seater, there being 25. seats in the lower saloon and 32 in. the upper. If necessary, 58 seats could be provided by 'placing five passengers on the rear seat of the upper saloon.. All seats face forward.
In the prototype, a Westinghouse compressor has been installed andis driven from the propeller shaft. It operates through a press button and electro-pneumatic valve to a Peters airdoor gear, and is of the type used on the London Underground coaches. There is an emergency valve outside the bus, for use should the door stick.
but the air pressure is such that the doors can be opened by hand in an emergency.
Either the driver or the conductor may operate the door and there is a warning light over the driver's head to indicate when the door is closed or when it is open.
' Particular attention has been paid to the design of the doorway, so that there need be only two steps up into the lower saloon, as in the normal rear entrance, where the passenger steps.on to the platform and then up into the saloon. The boarding step is wide and safe.
The central staircase is straight and. as it rises from the floor of the saloon and not from a rear platform, the number of steps is reduced by one. Apart from being a convenience to passengers, this eases the conductor's work.