Passing Comments
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THE motor vehicle having Instead of "Par A superseded the horse, is it Camion " likely in turn to be superseded by the aeroplane? The Assistant Postmaster-General gave the information recently that the G.P.O. has for some time been considering the carriage of mails by helicopter, and will be ready to proceed with the examination of such schemes as soon as suitable helicopters become available. He stated that the transport of mails between airports and post offices is executed by the quickest means, now usually a direct motor service. Is this Why McNamara's contract is terminating? Perhaps the Post Office is taking to wings. We hope, however, that it will not charge air-mall rates for inland postage. Stamps are too expensive now, and it is doubtful whether the increase in speed would be worth extra cost. On the other hand, perhaps the same thing was said about.motor vehicles in the heyday of the horsed van.
PEAKING recently to '-'members of the Oregon Motor Transport Association, the engineering vice-president of the Cummins Engine Co. said that whilst the problem of the maker is to design and build the most dependable engine possible, the operator's problem is to safeguard his investment. It ,,is important to select the right engine and equipment combination for the job, to see that the engine is properly installed, that component parts are properly integrated, to provide adequate cooling, and to ensure against unnecessarily high intake-air restrictions and temperatures. Exhaust pressures and temperatures should also be kept to the minimum. That power losses from overheated air and excessive intake depression, due to
American Engineer on Waste of Engine Power
inadequate air filters, are important is being realized. but there is less appreciation of the serious waste occasioned by the use of improperly designed fans and radiators. The general tendency is to employ too small a radiator; consequently, over-size fans must be provided. These rob the engine of as much as 10 per cent. of its rated power, when not more than 5 per cent, should be necessary.
WE have received from the " registrar and secretary. Mr. R. W. L. Harris, B.Sc., M.1.Mech.E., of the Professional Engineers Appointments Bureau, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W.1, a report of the work of this body during 1946. The average number of engineers on the register was 964, 184 being primarily civil, 390 mechanical and 390 electrical. Employers have assisted by notifying 1,155 vacancies, a number of these applications being for more than one engineer. In general, nominations have been made within a week of receiving news of a vacancy. It is known that at least 217 applicants have obtained posts to which they were nominated, and that a further 158 were offered posts at or above the minimum salaries they specified, but these were not accepted for various reasons, chiefly lack of suitable living accommodation. it is notable that considerable difficulty was found in placing men over 40 years of age. Of successful candidates, 50 per cent. were under 30, 40 per cent. between 30 and .40, and only 10 per cent. over 40; 52 per cent. were ex-Servicemen. The majority of, overseas vacancies notified were for the Middle and Far East' or Central and West Africa; difficulty seems to have been experienced in finding candidates willing to go to these countries. Licensed Appointments Bureau for Professional Engineers. .
The R.A.C. Analysis
of Breakdowns for THE analyses of the causes the R.A.C., were always of interest. They were compiled from the club's GetYou-Home service. The practice has now been resumed, and the analysis for 1946, although concerned with cars, shows causes which may have a relationship to some troubles in commercial vehicles. The main troubles in the past have been with the ignition system and back-axle driving shafts, and 1946 proved no exception, except that the damage to shafts was even greater than in most pre-war years. As was to be expected, owing to the age of the vehicles, there was an increase in breakdowns arising from defects in the front axles and steering. Ignition failures, curiously enough, were much fewer, but carburation troubles have risen steadily and were responsible last year for 7.59 per cent. Accidents accounted for only 4.38 per cent. compared with an average of 10 per cent. in pre-war years. The R.A.C. points out that a few minutes' work on the ignition system, in particular, in the garage might have prevented hours of delay on the road. Percentages for other mechanical
failures were:—Cylinders and pistons 10.86, undefined engine troubles 5.50, water circulation 4.36, bearings 3.61; non-starting was only 0.72. In the transmission, clutches accounted for 6.57, gearboxes 3.11, universal joints and propeller shafts 2.79, whilst brakes showed their increasing reliability by being responsible for only 0.64. In back axles, shaft failures were 16.14, differentials 1.27, road wheels and suspension systems were only 3.80, lighting 4.44, whilst vehicles out of fuel represented only 0.56.
Use Easy Names for IT has long been the fashion Commercial vehicle Ito bestow names upon com Models. • . . mercial models, and those of
birds, beasts, etc., in this way became famous in many parts of the world. We sometimes wonder what determines the choice of a name, and whether its distinctness when spoken over a telephone is one of the criteria by which it is selected. The point is worth bearing in mind, as anyone in road transport will confirm after telephoning for spares for some lesser-known type. On a bad line the task may be exhausting and lead to error.