• A RANGE OF BRITISH OIL AND FUEL PUMPS. Describing the Recently Introduced Smith Petrol Pump and Oil-servicing Unit.
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jI 011.IPARATIVELY speaking, there IsJare not many petrol pumps and oil. servicing units of British manufacture on the market, so it is particularly interesting to note the introduction of a range of appliances of this kind by the Sydney Smith Patent Pump Co., Ltd. We recently witnessed a demonstration of two of these units at the company's premises at Aldwych House, Strand, London, W.C.2, :_nd we were impressed by their case of operation and the manner in which they were constructed so that they could not be tampered with by unauthorized persons.
As is indicated in our illustration, a sliding, roll-type metal cover is fitted to the ail-servicing unit and this can be easily drawn across the front of the container section and locked into position. This is particularly useful for small country bus depots where staffs• are restrieted to two or three men, who cannot be expected to be on guard, as it were, over all parts of the depot. at once. While on the subject of covers, we may mention that a panel is normally fitted to screen the feed-tubes from dust and dirt, but this is not shown in the accompanying illustration. This has obvious advantages for outdoor. use.
To turn to the actual operation of the oil-servicing unit, a simple type of vacuum pump is employed to draw the lubricant from the drums to the containers. The pump is pedal-operated and has an action sufficiently powerful to deal with thick gear oil—a somewhat unusual feature in this particular class of appliance. Once the oil has been drawn to the containers, which are of glass and have a capacity of one quart, the lubricant can be drained into the strongly made cans by means of levertype regulators, these allowing the supply to be drawn in quarts, pints or half pints as desired.
Drums having capacities of five or ten gallons can be used with the appliance, and an empty 'drum can be exchanged for a full drum in about a minute, telescopic feed-tubes being provided to allow for the differences in the height of the drums. Incidentally, the suction of the vacuum pump is said to be so strong that there is no need to drain the drums which have been used. _
This compact unit, which is 7 ft. C ins, high and 4 ft 6 ins, wide, is made for the Sydney Smith Patent Pump Co., Ltd., by Richard Garrett and Sons, Ltd., of Leiston, Suffolk, and sells at the reasonable price of £22 10s.
Richard Garrett and Sons, Ltd., is also constructing a commercial-model
pet.ol pump for this concern. Like the oil-servicing appliance it is of robust design and, in this case, the pump is of the semi-rotary type.
The dial attached to the pump is unusually massive and registers up to 20 gallons.
A rapid flow of petrol-10 to 12 gallons per minute---can be obtained from the device and the length of hose supplied should be sufficient to meet all requirements. Incidentally, the pump is so arranged that tanks at unusually high levels can be filled witi ease. The hose is also adaptable for use with swing arms. Without the storage tank this appliance is priced at £32 10s.
Pump engineers svill be interested to note that the appliance is arranged so that there is no need for the use of the usual retaining valves, a specially
balanced column of oil being used in their stead.
Ease of operation is another point in favour of this pump. The long, convenient handle can be moved with surprisingly little pressure. It shculd not be forgotten, moreover, that the appliance has been expressly designed with a view to making a particular appeal to the large commercial operator, and, judging from our inspection, there is much to justify the company's hopes in this direction.