Road Tankers that Form a Mobile Pipe Line
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WITHIN the next four weeks, 26 W 2,000-gallon Leyland tankers will be operating in Iran for the AngloIranian Oil Co., Ltd., and they will maintain a regular service between the refineries and the bulk stores, acting, in effect, as a mobile pipe line. The Anglo-Iranian Oil Co., Ltd., is, at the present time, operating a number of 15-ton articulated 10-wheeled goods vehicles and a 4,000-gallon and two 3,000-gallon tankers, all of which were supplied by Leyland Motors, Ltd. • The latest 26 tankers are fourwheeled Buffalo-type normal-control chassis, in which the engine is mounted ahead of the front axle, Left-hand steering is, of course, adopted. The 10-litre petrol engine, which is of a similar type to that successfully used in the Leyland railcar unit, is governed at 2,000 r.p.m., and is complete with a starter motor. Dual ignition is supplied by a Simms magneto and Delco-Remy coil—both systems have automatic advance—and dual sparking plugs are employed. The Zenith downdraught carburetter is protected by a standard Leyland oil-bath-type air cleaner.
The main gearbox provides four forward speeds, the ratios being 5.64, 3.13, 1.78 to 1 and direct, and a reverse reduction of 6.65 to 1. An auxiliary gearbox is also provided; this has a step-down ratio of 1.275 to 1 in all gears, and it is arranged so that, by a reversal of the shafts and gears, it can easily be converted to give a step-up ratio of 1 to 1.275. • Incidentally, the rear-axle ratio is 7.15 to 1.
An S:1.1. petrol pump, which is capable of delivering 20 gallons of fuel
per hour, feeds the engine• from two 75-gallon tanks, one on each side of the frame; the indicators on the tanks are protected by screens against stones that may be flung up. Dunlop tyres, 12.00 by 20 singles at the front and twins at the rear, are used.
All but one of these chassis will carry 2,000-gallon elliptical-sectioned tanks, built by Thompson Brothers (Bilston), Ltd. Each tank body is divided into two equal compartments and, provided with baffles to prevent surging of the liquid load. Each compartment has a 16-in, internal-diameter manhole, whilst 'the manhole lids are totally enclosed by aluminium covers. The 26th chassis will carry an allaluminium tank, manufactured by the Aluminium Plant and Vessel Co., Ltd.
The equipment of the vehicles includes a four-piece windscreen, glazed with Triplex Toughened glass ; two standard Bosch windscreen wipers, each with a Separate switch; two 1-gallon Foamite fire-extinguishers fixed outside the cab; and Dunlop Latex-filled cushions.
Another interesting feature that is now becoming general on tankers is the earthing cable for the safe conduct of static electricity charges to earth, a suitable 50-ft. earthing cable and a stake being part of the equipment. Although the specification includes such refinements as Luvax shock absorbers, the vehicles have been designed primarily for arduous work over rough roads and under tropical conditions.