Outfit for Emptying Gas Mains
Page 40
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THE liquid which collects in gas mains is very, corrosive, and the use of vacuum plants to empty the sumps has the obvious advantage that contact between the liquor and working parts of the pumping unit is avoided. Vacuum operation is a feature of a 350gallon gas-liquor vacuum-siphon outfit recently introdueed by the Eagle Engineering Co.,.Ltd., of Warwick, and for discharging, the exhauster may be used as a compressor. The use of an auxiliary engine reduces running costs to a minimum.
The outfit is mounted on a MorrisCommercial 25-30-cwt, chassis, and the pumping gear is carried in ,a rear compartment behind the tank, which is closed-in for travelling. The vehicle is notable for its "clean" exterior and the incorporation of hoseand tool-boxes within the panelling.
The Reavell rotary exhauster is belt driven by a J.A.P. air-cooled petrol engine, which develops 0.8 b.h.p. at 1,600 r.p.m. At a speed of 1,400 r.p.m. about 0.6 b.h.p. is absorbed by the exhauster, which is then aspiring 9-cubic-ft. of air per min. at a vacuum of 20 ins.. of mercury. To create a pressure in the tank for discharging: the air flow is reversed by means of two threeway valves.
The tank is cylindrical with a diameter of 3 ft. 3 ins, and a length of
7 ft. It is constructed of electrically welded stal plates, and is fitted with a transverse baffle and a bolted manhole. The air pipe-line is of
diameter smooth-bore armoured suctionhose which incorporates a strainer with a detachable element, and the liquid line is a rigid pipe with a sight-flow indicator. The extensions comprise four 8-ft.
lengths of diameter armoured hose complete with couplings. The outlet connection is a 2-in, screw valve with a 11-in. B.S.P. screw-coupling complete with blank capS. An overflow valve of the float type is fitted, and this automatically closes the air pipe-line connection when the tank is full. A water indicator, a combined vacuum and pressure gauge, and a relief valve are also provided.