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An X-ray Unit for the Field

22nd January 1954
Page 45
Page 45, 22nd January 1954 — An X-ray Unit for the Field
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A Mobile Self:contained Darkroom and Office Designed to Produce First-class Engineering X-ray Work A:MOBILE field engineering radiographic unit was recently supplied to The Power Gas Corporation, Ltd., and Ashmore, Benson, Pease and Co., by Wiggins Garage, Ltd., Stockton-on-Tees. Based on a Cornmer Avenger passenger chassis, and with bodywork built by Plaxtons (Scarborough), Ltd., Semler Road, Scarborough, it carries a 24-volt generating set, storage batteries, an air-conditioning unit and a pressurized hot and cold water system, and can therefore operate on

locations where fresh water supplies may not be available. The X-ray negatives produced in the vehicle are acceptable to Lloyds Class 1 standard.

The vehicle consists of a driver's cab, photographic darkroom and workroom occupying just over half the body space, and an office which, when the unit is travelling, is used to carry the X-ray equipment mounted on a Ford 8-h.p. chassis. This is loaded into the vehicle at the rear, which is enclosed by a large door 6 ft. high by 5 ft. 61 in. wide, constructed of light alloy and hinged at the top.

Two heavy laminated wooden loading ramps, which hook on to a rail running along the rear end of the vehicle, are provided. When not in use, they slide into a locker under the office floor, where they are locked into position by a gate. A flush-fitting door covers the locker entrance.

The X-ray equipment is secured by four stout lashing rings screwed into the floor, at each corner. When not required, they are stored in the vehicle tool locker and their locating holes are filled by blind bolts.

The office tables collapse into the wall when not in use. Shaped filing cabinets fit into cant-panel lockers provided with sliding doors. Folding chairs are stored in a Luton cavity.

The fully equipped darkroom has a processing unit, drying cabinet, work bench with cupboards, cassett racks, stainless steel sink and draining board, and a 11-gallon 24-v. D.O.T. water heater. Waste water is collected in a 15-gallon tank on the off side.

As it is essential for negatives to be free from blemishes, the darkroom is both dustproof and lightproof and is lined throughout with Limpet asbestospanel board. To prevent possible damage to expensive film through inadvertently opening a door, the sliding door between the office and the darkroom can be backed independently on the darkroom side.

A sub-frame built under the darkroom carries a Nife storage battery of 250-amp.-hr. capacity which supplies the main power for the unit. A Stuart Turner 11 kW. 3 b.h.p. 25/35-v. petrolelectric generating set is provided for charging the accumulators.

Air-conditioning is provided by a Smiths 8 kW. fresh-air hot-water heater mounted under the workroom floor. Fresh air is drawn from outside through a replaceable fibre-glass air filter, which allows a flow of 300 cu. ft. per minute.

The conditioned air is supplied direct from the heating unit into a duct incorporated in the plinth under the loading bench and drying cabinet This duct has five manually controlled grilles, four in the workroom and one in the

office. Hot, water for the heat exchanger is supplied by piping the heat exchanger in parallel with the Stuart engine radiator, and a tap actuated from the workroom controls the hot water flow to the heating unit, enabling the darkroom operatives to control the atmospheric temperature at will.

A full-fronted cab built integral with the body has been incorporated by retaining the front structure of the Commer. The cab is separated from the workroom by a thermally insulated double-skin bulkhead.

In designing the vehicle—the work was undertaken jointly by the operator, supplier and bodybuilder—consideration was given to making the maximum use of the limited space available. The drop-frame extension, therefore, in addition to holding the loading ramps and fresh-water tank, also has two large cavities for carrying radio-active isotopes in suitable leadlined containers. At the front end of the drop-frame, a large locker has been provided for spare part kits, supplied in strong wooden boxes for when the Unit operates overseas.

The body is of -composite construction, built on a hardwood frame and bound with steel gussets and flitches. The external skin is of 18 s.w.g. aluminium panels with waterproof joints covered by aluminium mouldings.

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Organisations: Unit for the Field

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