THIS IS REVOLUTIONARY, SAYS COVENTRY'S FIRE CHIEF
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COVENTRY'S chief fire officer, Mr. A. Leese, this week claimed that the use of compressed air for operating cutting tools and an advanced form of floodlighting represented a revolution in the design of fire-fighting appliances. They had set an example that other brigades would surely have to follow, he added.
Mr. Leese was speaking at a demonstration of three new Dennis-based fire-fighting appliances evolved in conjunction with the vehicle and component makers by the City of Coventry Fire Brigade.
Powered by Rolls-Royce B81 petrol engines developing 195 b.h.p. at 3,750 r.p.m., the Dennis F36 vehicles are equipped with a Broom Wade WRIO0 rotary compressor driven from the side p.t.o. of the five-speed constant-mesh gearbox at approximately 2,000 r.p.m. and delivering 85/100 cu. ft./min. of air at 100 p.s.i.
Compressed air is used to operate a disc grinder, a variety of panel-cutting tools, a reciprocating hack-saw and a pneumatic pick, and has a wide potential for driving other types of equipment, including possibly the water pump, which is now driven from the gearbox p.t.o.
During the demonstration of a simulated road accident the hulk of a car was cut in two with the aid of the disc grinder in 6 min.
Providing many times more than normal light output. the four floodlights of the vehicle are of a modified aircraft-landing type and can be used in conjunction with two portable lamps. Current is derived from 24 V, 185 a.h. batteries which are charged through a rectifier by a 55 amp. ac. generator. The voltage is reduced to 12 by the length of the lead, which is 100 ft. in every case.
The appliances are finished in a special yellow paint, developed in conjunction with the staff of the Lanchester College of Technology, Coventry, which has been shown to be highly distinctive to the human eye over a wide range of lighting conditions.
The demonstration was attended by Mr. B. G. Stacey, general manager and director of Dennis Bros. Ltd., who described the new appliances as a notable example of an advanced design produced by close liaison between vehicle maker and user.
A Dennis prototype appliance will be equipped with a "sprint" version of the Rolls-Royce B81 engine having an output of 235 b.h.p. Compression ratio of this unit has been increased to 7.25 to 1 which compares with a standard ratio of 6.4 to 1.