30-ton Amphibious Tractor for Nigeria
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THE exploration and oil-drilling activities of the Shell
B.P. Petroleum Development Co., of Nigeria, Ltd., have called for several specialized items of equipment. A recent order is for a giant amphibious crawler tractor to operate in the swamp lands of the Niger Delta, where oil has been found at Oloibiri and Soku.
The vehicle—an Albion-Cuthbertson Water Buffalo— is to be built by Albion Motors, Ltd. It will be powered by a 150-b.h.p. engine having 450-lb./ft. torque. The Leyland Pneumo Cyclic semiautomatic gearbox drives through a centrifugal clutch which .automatically takes up the drive at 750 r.p.m. The tractor will tow a gross weight of 30 tons.
The Water Buffalo
has an all welded watertight chassis arranged to enclose all moving parts except the tank-type undercarriage. A-semi-rubber track is employed, ' capable of fleXing freely in every direction and exerting a ground pressure of . 11-2 lb.fsq. in. Sufficient buoyancy is provided to prevent the tractor breaking through the swamp crust. Equipment includes a forward bulldozer blade, a rear-mounted A-frame for use as a crane and a powerful capstan winch. Drilling-rig parts and heavy oilfield equipment are to be towed by the tractor in either 28-ton or 10-ton amphibious trailers known as slipes.
SCOTTISH ROAD PROGRESS
ACHART illustrating the progress of road works in Scotland has been issued by the British Road Federation. It shows schemes costing £100,000 and over started during the financial year ended March 31. and is the second to be issued since roads in Scotland became the responsibility of the Scottish Secretary of State.
Largest project shown is the £64-m. Clyde tunnel, due to be completed in March. 1963.
WELSH OFFICER FOR MINISTER
THE Minister of Transport hopes to appoint a senior officer to represent him in Wales. It would be this officer's duty to report Welsh views on any matter which might have a particular impact on the country.
Plastics Body for E.R.F. Tipper
ATIPPER with a plastics body has been produced by Holmes (Preston). Ltd It is of l2,1--cu-yd. capacity and is based on an E.R.F. 440 chassis. Body length is 12 ft. 6 in. and the .unladen weight of the vehicle is 44tons, . The body is based on a Homalloy light-metal frame and was made up from Tyglass and roving cloth. The fixed headboard is integral Alit the 4-ft. sides and the floor, and the inside corners are radiused.
Twin-ram tipping gear is of Pilot pattern. Cab 'and wings are also of plastics.
TOWER FOR 15-CWT. VEHICLES
HAVING a working height suitable for the maintenance of class B lighting installations, the latest tower ladder made by John Gibson and Son, Ltd., Jameson Place. Leith, Edinburgh, can be mounted on a 15-cwt. pick-up. The framework is made of specially extruded light-alloy sections, and access to the platform is by means of rungs at the rear. Platform heights of 10 ft. 6 in., 11 Ft. I in. and 13 ft. are available. A high guard rail is provided. Ample space is left at the rear of the veh'cle for tools and'fittings. Prices vary from £95 to €104. N.R.T.F. Seek New Talks on Purchase Tax THE National Road Transport Federation are asking the Chancellor of the Exchequer to receive a deputation to discuss the reduction or abolition of purchase tax on goods-vehicle chassis.
This decision was reached last week and followed
a promise by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on May 20 that he was " always willing to hear representations from any industry on this kind of problem." The N.R.T.F. met Mr. J. E. S. Simon, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, before the Budget and thohght that he had grasped the point of the injustice of purchase tax on goodsvehicle chassis.
The N.R.T.F.'s annual report for 195758 says that the vehicles committee, under the chairmanship of Mr. J. T. Turner, dealt with a wide range of subjects, including fleet owners' terms, vehicle manufacturers' guarantees, exhaust smoke from oil engines, intensity of rearlights, Lyre inspection panels, construction of vehicles, fitting of two-piece wheels, fuel rebates, tools for new vehicles, laden weight of vehicle combinations, braking systems of commercial vehicles and premature failure of electric bulbs.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders were told of the need for chassis to be extended to the full length of the body, the importance of supplying an adequate jack and wheel brace on every new vehicle, the need for standardized threads on nuts and bolts and for ceasing to use two-piece wheels. Fuel suppliers were asked to raise the present bulk-buying rebates to the preSuez level. The oil companies replied that their policy was to keep down the general level of fuel prices, rather than to grant higher rebates to large consumers.