SLIDING ROOFS
Page 53
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for Taxicabs
TAXICAB design of necessity progresses somewhat slowly owing to the restrictions imposed when vehicles are to be used in London. An interesting step towards the improvement of cabs has, however, recently been made by the passing by Scotland Yard of a design of sliding roof made by the Sun or Shade Sliding Roof Co., of Peterborough Road, Parsons Green, London, S.W.6, the sales department of which company is situated at 33, Davies Street, London. W.1.
• Advantages in operation offered by this type of roof include the ability on the part of any passenger to open or close it instantly, without help from the driver and without the need for decelerating or stopping the cab; in addition, the size of the opening may be regulated to suit conditions at any particular time, the construction is cheaper as compared with a landaulet type of body, full-sized lights may be used in the rear quarters and passengers may use the cab as a convenient form of observation stand for race meetings and other functions. Passengers can stand upon the floor and have their heads and shoulders well above the roof line.
From ground level there is nothing to distinguish the cab— when the roof is closed—from one
having a fixed head. Therefore, thia appearance is smart and there are no projecting parts on the roof. Landaulet irons can be abolished and the fixing of interior lights in any position is considerably simplified. The opening extends from tlie division between the driver's compartment and that for the passengers to a point almost level with the front of the rear-seat squab, whilst the side limitations consist of the hollow cant-rail domes which embody the runners or channels for the sliding part of the roof. , The movable portion of the head consists of two principal parts—. viz., the external leather head and the internal head cloth. Each of these is carried at the rear end upon a spring roller so that, as the roof is moved backward, the two lengths of material roll up neatly and silently. These rollers are situated below the finishing strips, one on the outside of the body and the other inside, so that in the unlikely event of a spring breakage the faulty component can be replaced in a very short space of time. Roth outer and inner strips are fixed to a rigid cross-member at the forward end, this member sliding in ash channels built into the cantrail domes. The ends of the crossmember are equipped with rubber rollers, as are the extremities of the sticks supporting the folding section ; these are spaced apart by means of a well-arranged lazytongs mechanism.
For locking purposes a catch on ' the front of the travelling crossmember of the head engages with a projection fixed to the permanent portion of the roof. When the passenger operates a large wing-nut at the front of the sliding head the catch is released and the initial movement is imparted to the head; then the operator pulls back the opening portion, which can be locked in any position simp/y by
turning the wing-nut control, thus allowing spring-loaded bolts to engage holes in tile ash channels previously mentioned.
In all types of construction of sliding roof one of the vital points is the provision for the drainage of water which collects on the sliding section. In the S.O.S. design there is a channel placed across the body at the forward junction of the fixed and sliding sections of the roof. This carries away any water which may escape through the rubber joint between the moving and fixed sections. Along each side there is an inclined gutter leading into the hollow cant-rail domes, which are made in aluminium to prevent rust ing. When the water reaches the domes it cab then flow sideways into the gutters, which also take away water running down the out side of -the domes. • We understand that a rigorous test was applied to this drainage device before official approval was given for its use on Metropolitan taxicabs. A hose was allowed to play upon the roof for• a considerable time without any trace of leakage.'
Existing fixed-head cabs can be converted. The necessary. parts for the inearporation of the S.O.S. head in new bodies' can be obtained from the maker; 4.1iese are easily built Into the cab body,. As an alternative' the 'design may be constructed undo licence.'