A WELL-DESIGNED TWO-STRETCHER AMBULANCE.
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An Interesting Austin Design, Incorporating Novel Stretcher Rack Gear.
ONE MAN IN his time plays many parts, and the same quotation might apply equally tb the "Austin . Twenty,' for this chassis is being increasingly used for a variety of purposes. We illustrate on this page an-ambulance which has recently been employed at.
the Austin works. .
The ambulance body possesses a num ber of unique features. There is a sliding door between the driver's seat and the body proper. The attendant's seat, beside the driver, is collapsable, and folds inwards and upwards together with its back rest. A rounded pulley on the back edge of the seat itself engages with the front edge of the sliding intercompartment door, with the result that, by folding the seat, the door is opened, and a passage-way from the front of the car into the ambulance. is opened up. Access to the driver's seat can be obtained by a door on the offside as well as through the usual near side entrance.
The body is extremely roomy, and is built with its floor flush with the side members of the chassis. There are no corners which cannot be easily cleaned in the interior of the body, as all the fittings are made to stand off the walls for
sterilizing purposes. There are four frosted windows built high in the body sides and six ventilators, whilst an elec tric lighting system is incorporated. Half the back is devoted to a door; the other ha-If supporting a water tank and medical chest, which are placed above a wash-basin. On tha left-hand side one awls a collapsab:e seat for the attendant, and on the right there is provision for two stretchers set one above. the other.
The stretcher rack gear possesses some interesting features, and consists of a
framework rack for the lower stretcher, which is fixed in a horizontal position. The upper rack is pivoted at its front end to the correct height. Its other end can be let down on to the lower rack by means of a winding gear and cables passbag over pulleys fitted high up on the inside of the aanbulanoe. The handle for this winding gear is inserted through a hole below the outside of the doorway. The act of insertion automatically disengagessa safety lock. This design of rack gear enables tho.,stretchers, to be withdrawn and replaced withthe minimum of effort.
Two sloping entrance rails, pivoted about their front ends, are provided to facilitate the sliding in of the stretcher, which, of come, runs on rollers. The hoisting gear is then put into action, and the upper stretcher, when raised, is locked in _ the correct position. The entrance rails are than hinged vertically, a projection on the rack passing through slots in the rails, by which arrangement thalatter are secured. The door is closed, and the ambulance is then ready for use. The body is provided with a white roof and interior, the exterior being finished in Olive green. It is considered that a vehicle such as this should make a strong appeal to municipalities.