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SHOW PIECES '72

Some of the new or novel equipment items seen at this autumn's transport exhibitions

By Trevor Longcroft

A PRODUCT I have not seen before is the electric/hydraulic trolley jack marketed by Pang Chemical Vulcanizers Ltd, 129/137 York Way, London Ni 911.

There are two units and each has a two-stage jack capable of lifting 25 tons, at maximum extensions of 70mm, 100mm and 140mm depending on the jack type. The jack is mounted at one end of a two-wheel trolley, and a 380V three-phase electric motor to power the hydraulics is mounted at the rear, The models differ in reach; the smaller one is 740mm, the larger 1.38m between the jack and trolley wheels.

Nilfisk Ltd, Newmarket Road, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, has two suction cleaners, the GA71 and GT31, of interest especially to the coach operator. The GA71 is small enough to pass up the gangways of most pay while the latter, a larger unit, is placed outside a vehicle and may be supplied with 100ft hose for cleaning psv, vehicle cabs or bulk carrying bodies. Both units will pick up shattered windscreen pieces.

A test outfit intended mainly for the testing and setting of nozzles in the field is the latest addition from Merlin Spaco Engineering Ltd, Winery Lane, Walton-le-dale, Preston, PR1 38R.

The unit, which costs £55, can deliver 2cc per stroke at pressures up to 400 ats. The hand-operated pump has a hooped handle allowing either

leftor right:hand operation.

A car and car-derived van wash has been introduced by Ultrasonic Machines Ltd, 325 Bath Road, Slough, Bucks. The vehicle is driven into the wash booth and a gantry passes over it. Two chemical applications and one clear water rinse are applied in a cycle time of approximately From Warwick Pump and Engineering Co Ltd, Oxford Road, Berinsfield, Oxon, 13X9 81.X, comes new semiautomatic, under-chassis washing equipment. The vehicle to be cleaned is driven slowly through the wash area; as it approaches it moves a swinging arm, starting the water pump and the wash process. Floating-head assemblies driven by water jets ensure that all parts of vehicle underside are cleaned. When the vehicle is driven from the wash area a further swinging arm is deflected, so stopping the wash process.

Water purifiers geared to the purification of water for vehicle batteries and coolant systems are produced by Elgastat Accessories Ltd, Lane End, High Wycombe, Bucks. The latest addition to this company's range is the B800 Elgastat Major. Briefly, the company supplies a resin-filled barrel through which normal tap water is passed, emerging as purified water. If required this water may then be piped to any number of service bays throughout a building. When the barrel rosin is exhausted the process is automatically stopped.

A useful modification to the Tangye-Epco lorry-mounted hoist allows this one-ton hoist to be electrically, instead of manually, operated. It has been fitted with an electric power pack which operates from either 12V or 24V supply.

There is a comprehensive range of air-operated tools available to the maintenance fitter, and a recent addition by Desoutter Automotive Ltd, The Hyde, London, NW9, is an air-operated power hacksaw/ filer. This tool has a rotatable — through 360 deg — front barrel for circle cutting and an adjustable stroke, 0.250irr. to 1.2in., which allows dead-end cutting.

Tra nservi ce-T I, Bristol Road, Bridgwater, Somerset, which incorporates 'Crypton, Bradbury and V. L. Churchill, produces a vehicle testing package for DoE test requirements for light vehicles. The results of the various tests are electronically recorded on a print-out sheet.

The system comprises a Bradbury 735 Liftmaster Mk1, Crypton EG28 "road speed' brake tester, a Churchill steerin backlash indicator and a Cryptor J1 headlamp.aligner.

The test is completed in twc phases, one on the lift and thi other on a rolling-road deck. Thi fitter will carry out visual check: on the necessary component: and press a "pass" or "fail' button on his handset control the outcome of each check beini recorded on the final print-out Forty-eight checks are includet on the print-out sheet; 13 an automatically completed ani recorded without operator assis tance, once the equipment ha been set.

The dismantling of sprini brake actuators is made safer b. the Churchill spring brak, servicing equipment. The actua tor is securely clamped to th, tool base — the actuator casin! screws or circlip is removed an' the spring gradually released b the withdrawal of a leadscrevs, The equipment also ensure accurate location of the pisto shaft into the actuator hea. when assembling.

Two companies, Emanue (Garage Equipment) Ltd, 51: Purley Way, Croydon CR( 4NZ and Wilcomatic Ltd, 11 London Road, Bromley, Kent both have brush-wash unit suitable for cleaning articulate, vehicles. Both units have a to contour brush that follows th profile of the vehicle; a limitin switch prevents the brushe from snagging the brake an electrical connections betwee cab and trailer.

The range of electricall operated four-post lifts fror Tecalemit (Engineering) Ltd Plymouth, Devon P16 8LA, expanded to include a crammer cial unit with a lift capacity of 1. tonnes through 5ft. The un comprises two drive and -tw plain columns. The electric motor built into the drive columns hal, a brake to inhibit run-on an ensure that the lift platfon remains level when the circuit broken.

For general servicing of light car-based and other vani Tecalemit makes an electrc hydraulic two-post lift with 2-ton lift capacity. A column fixed to each side of a floor-fixE spine, each one supporting a pi of asymmetric arms th protrude into the space betweE

continued from page 86 the columns. The telescopically adjustable arms enable the vehicle to be supported at points that are not structurally weak. A support pad is fitted at the end of each arm and an adjustment of 2in. on each pad ensures a simultaneous pick-up on all four bearing areas when the vehicle is lifted. Maximum lift is just short of aft; the unit, including power pack, is 10ft 10.5in. wide (between columns 7ft 11in.) and 7ft 8.5in. high. The lift requires no special foundations, just a flat base into which the four mounting bolts per column can be secured.

I was interested to learn that Holset Engineering Co. Ltd, Turnbridge, Huddersfield, Yorks, HD1 SRD, now provides servicing for its turbochargers direct to hauliers at eight key repair centres, also it has appointed 12 branches as services stockists and 15 branches as unit exchange stockists. Details can be had from the company.

Diagnosing defects in radiator pressure caps and cooling systems should be easier with the model RCT tester from the AC-Delco division of General Motors Ltd, Stag Lane, Kingsbury, London. the setting on the tester is adjusted to the pressure capacity of the cap being checked, The tester is then pressurized with the built-in pump unit until the relief valve blows; the gauge reading should comply with the manufacturer's specification.

A new design of packaging for pistons and bearings, to be introduced by AE Auto Parts Ltd, Legrams Lane, Bradford, shortly, will provide quick identification. The packages will be coloured red for bearings and yellow for piston products The savings in weight obtained from cast aluminiumalloy road wheels has prompted the GKN group to make them available for commercial vehicles also. Beside being lighter than wheels made of more conventional material, they are claimed to be stronger.

A r-:Ir body bearer in aluminium which has greater load bearing properties to stand the first impact of loading has been designed by Alcoa Manufacturing (GB) Ltd, PO Box ea, Swansea. It takes the necessary reflective strip better, too. As well as the now familiar ribbed colour sheet which it makes for bodywork, the company is also developing a new door section for vans. It will incorporate rubber moulding for air-tight sealing.

A full range of Purflux oil filters is produced in France by a concern associated with Telma Retarder Ltd, 841 Yeovil Road, Trading Estate, Slough, Bucks. The corrugated elements of the filters are said to withstand a higher-then-normal pressure and to provide an increase in filtering area of 50/75 per cent over previous filters.

A new plug-and-socket unit has been produced by Clang Ltd, Cricklewood, London, NW2, that enables the leads of a trolley-mounted garage battery to be plugged into sockets mounted on the outside of the vehicle in a convenient place for starting the engine or operation of the electrical gear if the battery is flat. It has been tested at 300 amp/12V continuously over three hours.

Five new products of the Drum Engineering Co Ltd, Edward Street Works, Bradford, Yorks, BD47 comprise the Pluto 4 pump that is suitable for petroleum spirit, fuel oil and so on and has a capacity of 500gal /min; the Gemini 130 oil-lubricated cornpressor/exhauster having a pressure rating of 40 psi and the Europa 130 oil-free compressor/exhauster operating at the same pressure; the Europa 30 electrically driven oil-free cornpressor /exhauster designed for handling milk; the Europa 500 blower having an output of 450 Cu ft/min at 13 psi or 330 cu/ft/mmn at 28.6 psi.

Relatively recent additions to the range of fuel injection pumps produced by the Societe Industrielle Generale de Mecanique Applique e (SIGMA), 89 Boulevard Irene Joliot-Curie, 69 VenIssieux, France, RM and RMS in-line pumps have plunger diameters of 10mm to 14mm and cover applications to diesels with two cylinders up to 12 cylinders. Mean injection rates vary from 24.34 cu mm /degree of camshaft rotation for a plunger diameter of 10mm to 47.72 Cu mm /degree of camshaft rotation for a plunger diameter of 14mm.

I was impressed with the lighting and safety equipment of S.E.V. Marchal, March& Distributors Ltd, Great West Road, Brantford, Middlesex. The 7in. dipping quartz iodine headlamp conversion unit to fit vehicles with 7in. headlamps will increase safety during fog. Warning horns and beacons and the ingenious Portablast, a portable hand warning device creating a powerful blast said to be audible a mile away, could save lives.

The trend towards pressed steel fifth-wheel couplings — as against the traditional cast steel — was exemplified by DaytonWalther Ltd, Astmoor industrial Estate, Runcorn, Cheshire. Related to Dayton Walther, of Ohio, trading was formerly under the Slaven Transport Products set-up. Esso is one of the large companies to have gone over to pressed couplings. The Tru-Lok coupler senses the height of the kingpin and will not couple if the trailer is too high.

Trko-Folberkh Ltd, Great West Road, Brentford, Middlesex, TVV8 SHP, has done a vast amount of development work to perfect its new compressed-air wiper system. The high-torque Trico 8PM motor will drive three 560mm blades with enough power in reserve to cope with snow Two-speed operation is available to meet requirements in E number of countries. There is ar alternative intermittent wipe mode.

The universal linkages deve, loped by Trico-Folberth resolve the problems of the multifariour designs of windscreen layouts An almost unlimited variety o

linkages can be built from thesi parts and they can easily bi asembled in situ if fitment of .

pre-assembled linkage present problems. The constructioi makes it easy to modify linkap parts on a prototype vehicle ti get the best results.

Smiths industries Ltd Cricidewood, London,' NW EiNN, has obtained marketin, rights for the transportable axl weighing system produced b Weighwrite Ltd, White Wal them Airfield, Maidenhead The Weighwrite device is no being used by the Department the Environment for roadsid checks and the DoE hopes t

istall the device at sites on very main road in Britain.

The only preparation necesary before using the device is a !,in.-deep concrete trench, !ft-wide and 10ft-long. The reighing platform can be moved om site to site by trailer. There ; no necessity to centre ahicles, and axle weights 3curate to one per cent are said be possible provided both heels are on the platform. An dicating unit — quite separate DM the platform, but also )rtable — provides both visual id permanent weight records a chart. The static version of e Weighwrite costs £1450 and e dynamic unit £1880.

One of the most costly imponents in any commercial :hide is the engine and yet 'gine failure owing to simple uses is commonplace. Kysor dustrial Great Britain Ltd, ridge Works, Lloyd Street, rhitworth, Lancs, has proiced an engine protection vice which automatically shuts f the engine if water mperature or oil pressure iviates from predetermined fe levels. The American /itches used to monitor oil assure and water temperature

are said to be accurate to 11 psi and 3deg F respectively. A warning light is illuminated in the cab if danger level is reached. If the engine is not stopped quickly it is automatically shut off. A manual override can be used to start the engine for 30sec to allow the vehicle to be moved if it is causing an obstruction. Prices vary but, including fitting charges„ the approximate cost for a Gardner 6LXB engine is £70.

Wheel assemblies weighing as much as 1250Ib can be removed by one man with the assistance of a commercial wheel-removal trolley manufactured by Bendix Westinghouse Ltd, Kingswood, Bristol, BS15 2NL. It may also be used to mount wheels on to axles without damaging stud threads.

The trolley has an L-shaped tubular frame which can be moved vertically through a pair of supports mounted on a three-wheeled base-frame. The lifting frame is moved by a hand-operated hydraulic jack, and the single rear castor wheel is fixed beneath a vertical lead-screw which may be used to set the angle of approach.

The hydraulic jack and the lead-screw have a maximum extension of 10in. each. The unit weighs 231Ib and is 31in. high, 37in. wide and 45in. long.

A new range of air-operated drills, tappers and impact wrenches is available from Broom and Wade Ltd, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. The drills and tappers may be supplied with pistol, straight or angle grip. Drill capacities are up to 0.875in., tappers to 0.312in.

From Broom and Wade also come two sanders both weighing 4Ib 20z including pad, one with an operating speed of 2800 rpm, the other 5000 rpm.

The 0.312in. and 0.5in. bolt capacity impact wrenches are designed for one-hand control and are, it is claimed, instantly reversible. The smaller unit will accept a 0.375in., the larger a 0.5in. square drive. Both units have a kin. BSP air connection and can be obtained with many accessories. A Britool torque multiplier which can be used in conjunction with a torque wrench is marketed by James Neill (Sheffield) Ltd, Napier Street, Sheffield S11 8HB. The 5:1 torque multiplication available means that the maximum usable torque of wrench may be increased fivefold.

The unit has a single-stage epicyclic gear train mounted on needle-roller bearings and a maximum torque output of 1250 lb ft. The kit as supplied includes the multiplier, a reaction bar and a spare 0.75in. square drive.

Several hydraulic body repair jigs are now available. V. L. Churchill and Co Ltd, London Road, Dayentry, Northants NN11 ANF, has designed a new Unipull system to be used in conjunction with its Unijig body repair and checking system. The system uses a new Unipost which is anchored to the floor by chains and when used in conjunction with a handoperated hydraulic cylinder connected between the damaged vehicle and post will pull the body back into shape.

A slow-speed, oneman-operated brake tester which will accommodate light vehicles with axle loads up to 3000lb has been designed by Laycock Engineering Ltd, Archer Road, Sheffield, S8 OJY. It can have either a fully or semi-recessed roller table 12ft 10in, wide by 3ft 6in. by 1ft 3.4in. deep overall; a separate read-out console 3ft 8in. by 1ft Sin, wide by 15in. deep is also supplied.

The all-electric hand-control enables one man to operate the unit and take full test readings from within the vehicle. A permanent record of the results is given on a printed read-out sheet and the unit can be integrated with a computerized diagnostic system.