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Making the C.M.F. Heavy-service Radiator.

15th October 1914
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Page 8, 15th October 1914 — Making the C.M.F. Heavy-service Radiator.
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Interesting Particulars Gathered From a Recent Works' Visit to This Pioneer Company, Which, in Addition to its Other Productions, is Turning Out 60 Cast-tank Radiators and 60 Tube-blocks Weekly.

There is probably no component part of a chassis, be it industrial or pleasure type, to which attention has been given to a greater extent than in the construction of the radiator. In order efficiently to disperse a 'certain number of heat units' it is very necessary that this important adjunct be not only comparatively light structurally, but in addition by far the larger proportion of its construction has to be left fully exposed, and in a position 'where it will receive a no incansideiable amount of vibration which may be set up.

Anyone who has had the opportunity of witnessing for himself the building up of a modern-type radiator will at once agree that the practised hand of a specialized mechanic is necessary at every stage of its development.

The C.M.F. Company's Early Claims in Radiator Manufacture.

One of the few British undertaking,s which can safely lay claim to have had experience in the construction of radiators since the very earliest days of the industry is the Coventry Motor Fittings Co. The firm itself was established in 1902; long before that year, however, the present partners, Mr. W. S. Tyler and Mr. C. E. Hatfield, were directly concerned in the building up of radiatorsā€˜for the Coventry Daimler Co. right from the time that pioneer concern started business in this country.

Having some idea ourselves of the unique position in which the C.M.F. Co. stands at the present time, both with regard to length of experience and capacity for varied output, we recently paid a visit to the works at Coventry so that we might be in a position to acquaint our readers with the firm's activities in order to meet the present abnormal demand for its productions.

Upon our arrival, we were conducted round the spacious factory by Mr. Tyler himself, and what impressed us more than anything else was the remarkable number of heavy-service radiators which were being put through. Upon a little consideration, this state of affairs was quite to be expected, inasmuch as this company was one of the first to impress upon chassis builders and users alike the undoubted advantages of the cast-header-and-base type of gilled

tube radiator over that form which, at any rate in the early days, savoured much of the tinsmith's art. Chassis builders of to-day are indeed few in number who do not embody the cast tank form of coolingunit, particularly in the building up of their higherpowered industrial machines. The C.M.F. company, of course, is doing a considerable amount of business in other types of radiators, and of this we hope to write further upon some future occasion.

Great Care is Necessary in Making up the Tube "Stacks."

The most important part of the construction of a heavy-service radiator is, of course, the building up of the tube-block, or " stack," to use the shop term, and we first directed our attention to the department responsible for this work. Previous to assembling the block, the top and bottom cast-gunmetal plates are faced and drilled in order to accommodate the 124 tubes, which is the average number used. On the outer faces of the plates the holes are then machined with a good deep countersink in order that a liberal amount of solder may he subsequently " floated " round the tube-joints. The tubes utilized are either 4%in, in., or in. diameter, according to the type . of radiator required, and these, after having been cut off in 2 ft. lengths, and provided with mild-steel

in. square or round gills, are then placed in position in the tube plates, the correct depth being ensured by the aid of templates.

The Joints are Not Dipped, and Each One is Hand-Soldered.

Each joint is first of all sweated in by hand, and in the filling up of the countersink there are three different operations involved in order to ensure that the solder has every opportunity of cooling off uniformly. It will thus be realized that when the final floatingprocess is carried out the possibility of a leaky joint is reduced to the minimum. After leaving the tinsmith's hands the tube-block is treated with a harddrying black paint with the aid of compressed air.

in one of our photographs reproduced below, we show this company's method of reinforcing the tubeblock at two different points. These stays are comprised of steel wire in. in diameter cut off to a suitable length, and afterwards well soldered to the gills. This provision has a most important bearing on the life of the radiator, as the risk of vibration, which is the cause of so many leaky radiators, is adequately guarded against, and, moreover, the interposing of these reinforcing pieces renders the tubeblock practically one solid mass, The cast aluminium top and bottom are then drilled to the same template as that utilized in the preparing of the tube-plate, the faces of the castings, of course, having previously been machined. The aluminium side-columns, which merely act as distance pieces, are then machined and drilled at their respective flanges. The top and bottom tanks and the columns are then bolted together, and all flanges trimmed up square.

Surfaces in Contact With Water are Treated With a Preservative Solution.

The castings are next dissembled and those of their surfaces which will eventually come in contact with water are then painted with a solution specially mixed by the C.M.F. Co. The medium is utilized not only with a view to filling up the pores in the metal, but it also serves as a protection from the action of impure water, thus preserving the life of the tanks. The header and base are then ready for being connected up to the tube-block, rubber insertion being interposed between the plates. and tanks in order to ensure perfectly water-fight joints.

The final process consists of a hydraulic test in which a pressure of 20 lb. is raised inside the radiator. Considering that 5 lb. per sq. in. is sufficient to show any sign of leakage, it will be at once under. stood that the pressure to which the radiator is subjected under the usual test is more than adequate.

Regarding the Cleaning Out of C.M.F. Radiators in Service.

Upon our inquiring as to the frequency with which a radiator of this type requires attention in the way of cleaning, we were informed that the company has had radiators in for repairs which have been in service for upwards of three years, and there has been an entire absence of deposit either in the tubes or on the inner surfaces of the water tanks. It is practically impossible, so say the makers, for the residue to accumulate either in the tube-block or in the tanks, as the waterproof paint to which we have already referred provides quite a glass-like surface which i makes t impossible for grit or foreign matter to secure a hold. This characteristic is evident both in the horizontal as well az the vertical types of C.M.F. radiator.

The Producing of 150 Heavy-service Radiators Weekly is Contemplated.

Some idea of the remarkable developments which have taken place with this concern may be gathered from the fact that in the early part of this year the company's average weekly output was 12 complete radiators and the same number of tube-blocks. At the present time they are turning out no fewer than 60 finished radiators and 60 tube-blocks in the same period of time, and the management is directing its attention to being in a position to produce 150 radiators a week ; indeed, adjacent land has already been .aeouired with this object in view. Whilst passing through the shops, we noticed radiators being put through for such well-known chassis builders as Straker-Squire Thornycroft, Dennis, Karrier, Vulcan, Hallford, Siandslay and Pagefield.

Other C.M.F. Activities.

In addition to the activities which we have herewith indicated, the firm is also doing a considerable amount of business in manufacturing petrol tanks up to 50 gallons capacity, lighter types of radiators for touring cars, radiator filler-caps of all types and sizes, bonnets and bonnet rests, compression and petrol taps, pressure gauges, petrol filters, exhaust silencers, wings, and built-up fans.


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