Air-conditioned training unit takes to road
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' • An American-built air conditioning unit is now being offered in Britain by Eaton Axles Ltd, of Warrington. The first installation is on a new mobile sales and service training unit costing around £8000 which has just been put into commission by Eaton. It will travel overseas as well as covering all the British territories where Eaton vehicle components are used.
In order to achieve the maximum possible space in the "classroom" part of the vehicle, an articulated configuration was chosen. The drop-frame single-axle semi-trailer is a 38ft 6in.-long Brockhouse Expediter Fl 1 SL unit of nominal 12.5 tons capacity. It carries bodywork by G. C. Smith (Coachworks), Long Whatton, Loughborough, Leics. Construction of the framing is in timber and steel, with Plymax exterior panelling. Interior headroom is 6ft 9in. in the main-part of the trailer and 5ft 6in. above the swan-neck.
With operation in tropical conditions in mind, the body is insulated with a 2in.-thickness of foamed polystyrene, while mounted in the roof arc two American-produced Eaton Cool-1 airconditioning units. The municipal crew cab of the 9ft 6in.-wheelbase Commer VCAW 514 tractive unit is similarly equipped, with a third air conditioner.
Power from the Commer's Perkins 6.354 engine is utilized via a pto and generator for the cab cooler, while those units in the roof of the trailer are mains-driven, for plug-in operation on site.
Eaton Axles Ltd is able to supply the American air, conditioners for the British market if required, although no prices are being quoted. Each unit has a capacity of 24,500 Btu/hr at 90deg F intake temperature, 50 per cent relative humidity. Maximum electrical loading is 37amp; the thermostat is operative within the range 45 to 77deg F; evaporator air flow is 400 cu ft/min. Above the roof line the Cool-1 unit measures 18in. by 9in. by 12in.