A Dual-purpose Machine for a Specialized Service
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AN accompanying illustration shows an interesting Fordson lorry, equipped by Universal Power Drives, Ltd., Perivale, Middlesex, with a Unipower bogie and an air-compressing plant, which has recently been acquired by the Gas Light and Coke Co. The vehicle has an eight-cylindered engine, the object of this being to providethe high power—about 70 thh.p.---requirei to run the compressor—an ArmstrongWhitworth appliance, mounted at the rear. This convenient arrangement is made possible by the fact that, on the Unipower four-wheel-drive bogie, the power take-off, which is at the back of the gearbox, is situated at approximately the centre of the bogie.
The outfit is largely employed in the maintenance and installation of gas mains, and is designed to operate in new housing estates and so forth. It is in such circumstances that the six wheels and four-wheel drive are of value,, for this work necessitates the frequent negotiation of soft or rough land.
Three pneumatic road drills are driven from the compressor, the exhaust from the engine being carried upwards away from the men using them. A pair of lamps is mounted at the rear of the vehicle to illuminate the job. Current for these is supplied by a bus
type dynamo, used in conjunction with an additional battery. Unladen, the vehicle, with compressing plant, weighs 4 tons 3 cwt.
In addition to the tools and equip ment required, piping and other apparatus is normally carried in the lorry body, whilst, if necessary, it can be used for transporting excavated material, etc.