Mobile Welding Laboratory
Page 49
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QPECIALLY designed by Pilgrim ■ --) Mobile Units, Ltd., Ringwood, Ilants, a mobile radiographic and weldtesting laboratory is now in service with Welding Supervision, Ltd.
The new unit, which is used to bring a scientific supervisory and testing service to clients' works or sites, incorporates spacious dark-room facilities, an office and a testing section. To withstand the rigorous conditions almost invariably encountered on remote sites, a specially strengthened chassis was fitted, and the layout arranged to achieve even distribution of the load.
The dark-room is completely lightproof and adequately ventilated to permit the welding engineering-radiographers to work under all climatic conditions, A sliding door to the darkroom is fitted with a warning light and automatic lock, as a precaution against interruptions during processing. Two water-storage tanks provide a supply of water for the sink, whilst electrical heating elements maintain the correct temperature for the chemicals used for developing.
Acid-resistant plastic splash panels have been used for the wet and dry benches, and the floor, which has good
drainage, is surfaced with thick rubber sheeting as a protection against corrosion from spilled chemicals.
The forward compartment of the vehicle is fitted with adequate storage facilities and a work bench so that welders' test specimens can be ground and filed to the correct dimensions. A fold-away drawing board is available for the welding engineers' technical drawings and sketches, and the X-ray unit can also be stored here.
Mounted over the specially reinforced wheel box is a portable tensile testing and bending machine. The machine, developed by Welding Supervision, Ltd., is capable of pulling test specimens up to 15 tons direct load.
Attractively finished in the company's colours of maroon and egg-shell blue arid roofed with aluminium, the unit carries radioactive isotopes and portable X-ray sets as well as ultrasonic testing equipment. The isotopes, in their containers, are stored in a compartment lined with +-in, lead sheet which provides additional screening to the operator and permits the safe handling of undeveloped films in the workshop and office sections. The unit can also carry magnetic and fluoroscopic apparatus if required.