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32 tons on four axles
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Bristol breakthrough into Eire
• The first new heavy-duty Bristol coach chassis to be ordered for Irish private operators since pre-war days will go to no less than five independent coach operators. The orders, valued at over £50,000, comprise five LH chassis and one RE, all to be fitted with bodies by Plaxtons (Scarborough) Ltd., and were placed through the local assemblers M. Ascough Commercial Vehicle Sales of Dublin.
The operators involved are: Pab Transport Ltd., Dublin (1 LH 45-seater and 1 LHL 53-seater); D. Cronin, Cork (1 LH 45-seater); P. Reddin, Skerries (1 LH 45-seater); E. Kennedy, Dalkey, Co. Dublin (1 LH 45-seater); and Dublin Hire Coaches Ltd., Dublin (1 RE 53-seater).
Dearer batteries
• Higher costs of raw materials, mainly lead, following devaluation, justify a 4 per cent average increase in manufacturers' prices for batteries, reports the PIB. The Board also finds that the corresponding average increase in recommended resale price would be 2+ per cent. The Ministry of Technology is pursuing with the battery makers concerned the implementation of the Board's recommendations.
Changes in the charter
• The Institution of Mechanical Engineers has announced that the Privy Council has approved certain changes in the description of classes of membership.
In future Honorary Members and Members will be called Honorary Fellows (Hon. F.I.Mech.E.) and Fellows (F.I.Mech.E.), present Associate Members become Members (M.I.Mech.E.). Other descriptions of membership classes remain unchanged.
The titles "Chartered Mechanical Engineer" and "Chartered Automobile Engineer" will no longer be used. These are covered by the general description of Chartered Engineer (C.Eng.).
• By using its Widespread bogie, York Trailer Co. can now offer trailers to carni 40ft loads on four-axle outfits grossing 32 tons, without axle overloading and with coupling compatibility for all popular tractive units plated for this gross combination weight.
The drawing and table alongside show how the combinations mate up, all within the new maximum length of 49ft. 2iin.
Three new models were announced by York this week to provide this configuration. They are the SL.32/WS Teamster platform model, the SK.32/40/WS skeletal container carrier, and the PSK.32/40/WS dual-purpose platform-skeletal. In each case, gross plated trailer weight is 27 tons, providing a nominal payload of about 23 tons; the Widespread bogie (pictured top left) enables the outer axle spacing of 38ft to be achieved.
A second key to the practicability of this configuration is the use of a 39in. kingpin location. But it is the Widespread (with 6ft 8in. axle centres), already well-used in Europe, which has enabled York's Keith Buckby to design the new models to avoid the need for 15.25 metres overall to obtain 32 tons on four axles.
In a typical case, with the centreline of the coupling 7ft 7in. from the centreline of the front axle and a 39in. kingpin position, axle loads are 9.25 tons on the tractive unit rear and 17.15 tons on the bogie—with an allowance of 24.3 tons for the payload and frame weight. The swing radius of the front corner of the semi-trailer, with this kingpin position, is 62.75in.
Ford Motor 0600, 0700 and 0800 tractive units are now available ex-works complete with York Big D fifthwheel couplings as part of an SVO "package" which incorporates rear fenders, brake hoses and electrical jumper lead with 7-pin connector. Recommended retail price is £145 with steel fenders and VIM with rubber ones.
Will the QuasarlUnipower City Car introduced last week inspire similar cube-shaped small delivery vehicles? Turning circle is 18ft and parking in a 6ft kerb gap is possible. The 8MC 1100 a. a. automatic power unit gives a top speed of 50 mph with good acceleration to allow for traffic lane changes. Demonstrated in London last week by Universal Power Drives Ltd., of Perivale, Middlesex, well-known chassis manufacturers and transmission engineers, this "city car" is based on the concept of Vietnamese designer Quasar Khanh, who lives in Paris. The vehicle has sides of Triplex toughened sheet and is roofed with green-tinted Sundym heatabsorbing glass. Five sliding glass-doors are fitted and the transparent plastics seating accommodates six people.
Rootes at Eastbourne exhibitions
• Rootes Motors Ltd. will be showing a variety of Commer and Karrier specialized municipal vehicles and ambulance conversions at the Royal Society of Health and the Rural District Council Surveyors' Exhibitions which will run concurrently at Eastbourne during the week commencing April 29.
CM index
• The index to Volume 126 of COMMERCIAL MOTOR (August 1967 to January 1968) is now available. Copies are available at is post free from Temple Press Ltd., 40 Bowling Green Lane, London Ed.
t will become increasingly important for the Nigineer to be able to see at a glance whether Jr not the tyre equipment he is having fitted s covered by a plated weight for the duties on which it is to be used.
From Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Co. this week I was sent details of a wall chart it is distributing free of charge on request which shows the various ply ratings and tyre sizes needed to comply with requirements of the plating and testing regulations that come into force on July 1.
The chart can be supplied printed on metal for display outdoors, and on card for indoors. It also gives details of different operating requirements for all types of Goodyear tyres of varying sizes and ply ratings.
If you need a chart write to TruckTyre Sales Department, Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Co. Bushbury, Wolverhampton, Staffs..
Flexible hose
Hypulse is the name given to a new surge-andpulse-resistant flexible hose made by Lockheed Precision Products Ltd. It is a rubberbased hose reinforced internally by hightensile steel-wire braiding and conforms to specifications SAE100 R1, R2 and R5.
The Hypulse types CHB1 and CHB2 have a single thickness of wire-braid reinforcement while the types CHC1 and CHC2 have a double layer of reinforcement. In the case of types CHX1 and CHX2, a single layer of wire-braid reinforcement is combined with an additional inner reinforcing layer of braided textile material; its outer neoprene cover is also enclosed in braided textile.
Produced in bore sizes of din. to 2in., the hose is suitable for use over a temperature range of —15deg C to 100deg C or —40deg C to 100deg C according to the type of lining. It can withstand high working pressures.
Made by: Lockheed Precision Products Ltd., Speke, Liverpool.
Slide rules
Pickett slide rules of American origin are to be marketed in this country by Roy Chambers (Concessionaires) Ltd. The slide rules are of all-metal construction and are designed to obviate warping and sticking. Precision micro-divided scales are accurate to within + or — 0.00157in. The cursors are made from a special Tyril plastics material: each slide rule is provided with a hand-sewn leather carrying case. A giant wall-demonstration slide rule is available for classroom use.
Marketed by: Roy Chambers (Concessionaires) Ltd.. 2c South Street, Gosforth, Hants.