PETROL FROM THE BARREL TO THE TANK.
Page 14
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
A Handy Garage System of Supply Ensuring Speed of Delivery and Accuracy of Quantity.
T" gradual displacement throughout • the country of the familiar 2-gallon can of petrol by bulk installations is a sign of the times, but it has been evident that the kerbside pump will not find •favour with every local authority., at least at the first. onset. We heard it said the other day that local authorities have to " be educated up to the kerbside pump," but it would be more correCt to say be "reconciled to it," just as one has become reconciled to various street obstructions which have a strong utilitarian value.
Because of theevidence of this local Ipposition to kerbside installation' the as Lighting Improvement Cu., Ltd. (well known for 011ie° motor fuel and lubricants), have devised an adaptation of their own filling apparatus so that it becomes easily portable, drawing its supplies from a "barrel carried on the plat'form. of a for-wheeled trolley. Mounted upon the framework of the trolley is a steel gantry, which supports the measuring apparatus and the pump, whilst hinged to the rear of the trolley framework is a hinged ramp, which, when "lowered; assists in the removal of the empty barrel and its replacement by a full one, and, when hooked up, serves to hold the barrel securely on the trolley, Supported on bearings on. the gantry is a winch drum of small diameter. A rope is taken from thi.a round the barrel, which it is required to haul Up into position on the trolley and is .hooked to an eye on the frame. The winch being 'thee turned by means of the handle, the full barrel is easily hauled and lifted from the ground on to the trolley byone man.
A hose and connecting pipe establish communication between the barrel and the rotary pump mounted on the gantry,
whilst the two measures, eaCh of onegallon capacity, with the pipe line to the vehicle tank, are mounted at the summit of the machine in full sight of the customer. The trolley is readily pushed out from a garage up ha the vehicle requiring supplies, and thus there its no sacrifice in efficiency or speed of supply, and if the apparatus be conspicuously, yet tastefully, painted and decorated, and it can be se disposed on the -premises as to he visible to drivers of approaching or passing vehicles, there
must be a measure of the advertising value which undoubtedly attaches to the fixed and more blatant kerbside pump.
The two one-gallon measures are carefully adjusted by calibrating rods to secure accuracy in delivery, and are so arranged that one is filling . whilstthe other is emptying. Thera are sight glasses in the equipment for the demonstration of filling and gmptying. The air which is expelled from one measure is employed to accelerate the discharge from the other, so that a gallon of spirit is delivered every 4 or 5 seconds. By the use of a control cock, which is claimed to be superior to any on the market, all leakage, waste, or inancuracy is avoided, a boll thrust, 'however, assisting hand manipulation. When the spirit is pumped from the barrel through the double two-way cock it flows into one of the calibrated receptacles, the aa• being forced before it into the float chamber and being enable to escape through the overflow pipe is is diverted into the adjoining measure and so expedites the delivery therefiann, When the whole of the air has been expelled, the spirit is seen to rise in the sight chamber, the surplus or overflow passing back to the float chamber, and thence to the suction pipe.
The pump is readily removable for cleaning or repair, but the whole apparatus is so simple and robust that the minimum of work is necessary to maintain -it in working order. The system is of particular use in private fleet garages, as the trolley ca-n be pushed from vehicle to vehicle, the required quantity is quickly and accurately transferred to the vehicle tank without involving any avoidable leakage of vapour as when petrol is poured out of cans, whilst the apparatus records and indicates the quantities supplied.