Electric Lighting for Taxicabs.
Page 49
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MHOSE WHO have attempted to devise an electric light equipment tor taxicabs have always found themselves confronted with the curious outcome of cab operation—that there are long periods of idleness and of slow running, either in traffic or whilst seeking a fare, the result being a difficulty in generating sufficient. current to keep the storage battery up to the required strength. It is not difficult to arrange that the dynamo shall "cut in " and commence to charge the battery at a low generator speed or to give its full output at, say, 12 miles per hour, but it is much more of a problem to maintain a constant output as the speed increases beyond the figure mentioned. Unless the charging current can be maintained the large output demanded in the course of an evening's work with a cab would mean a great drain on the battery. To the problam thus presented the research department of C. A. Vandervell • and Co., Ltd., of Warple Way, Acton, W.3, has devoted considerable attention, and the sales department, of the company now feel 'assured that they have something good to offer in the C.A.V. taxi-set. This consists of a pair of headlarnp.s, a pair of side lamps, a tail lamp, a meter lamp, an interior lamp, dynamo, accumulator switchboard, separate switch for the interior light and the taxi-meter and a fusebox. The retail price for the set, inclusive of fitting, is £21 14s., but £4 4s. can be saved from this sum if the owner of the taxi should decide to dispense with the' headlamps.
The drive is taken to the dynamo by belt . from the engine shaft through a free-wheel clutch mounted on the armature shaft.
We'illustrate the complete outfit (less -wiring), and one can say, from a close examination of every detail of the set, that the workmanship and finish are well up to C.A.V. standard of excellence.
The dynamo employed is the N.C. type; which has been standardized by many of the principal oil corn palsies, and is considered suitable for vehicles having engines up to about
10 h.p. It generates a 6-volt current at 8 amperes
at an engine speed of 700 revolutions per minute, and it will begin to charge at a vehicle speed of five miles per hour. The full output being reached at 12 miles per hour, the falling off at speeds beyond that and up to 20 miles per hour
is extremely small, but in any case the dynamo takes the lamp load with ease. The battery is of. the.heavy duty type known as' the 6XR10 model C.A.V.Willard. This is a battery that is strong mechanically, being made of ebonite cell units crated in a strong container made of wood equipped with handles. The plates are separated by— and receive support from—threaded rubber insulation sheets, the threads embedded in the rubber acting as wicks to permit the electrolyte to reach the plat-es. This battery will withstand a great deal of vibration and road shock, and does not, succumb to great variations in charge rates nor to heavy discharge. A service system is maintained in connection with this type of battery, and it is placed freely at the disposal of owners and drivers using the battery.
The headlamps have special diffuser glass lights, a production which has passed the authorities at Scotland Yard, whilst the side lamps have whiteenamelled •reflectors.
At the present moment over 400 of these sets are in use on taxicabs in London, giving every satisfaction.