The Purchase Department.
Page 21
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Where to Buy your Supplies.
An Automatic Trailer-coupling.
It is, of course, generally recognized that the coupling on any class of vehicle so fitted should be absolutely automatic in action, or so constructed that
there is no need whatever for the operator to have to risk his person between the vehicles to be coupled. A form of coupling-box which has been brought to our notice is, in particular, adapted for use on motorwagon trailers, and the patented device has been introduced by the Automatic Trailer Coupling Syndicate, 10, Rutherford Street, Newcastle (London sales office, 28, Victoria Street, S.W.). As shown in the drawing, the fitting is bolted to the rear cross-member of the wagon, the actual couplingbox, with the trailer-drawbar, shown about to engage the locking-pin, being depicted in the lower portion of the illustration. The box itself is constructed from cast-steel. When out of engagement, the locking-pin is held up inside its guide by means of a case-hardened trigger kept in position by a coil-spring.
Upon the drawbar being inserted in the couplingbox the trigger is pressed out of engagement, and the pin is forced into position through the action of the coil-spring situated at the top of the guide. To release the drawbar the hand-lever is raised carrying the locking-pin along with it ; the trigger then engages with the pin, thus holding the latter up inside its guide. It may be remembered that the device was shown in position on a wagon exhibited 011 the stand of Messrs. G. Scamnaell and Nephew at the recent Olympia exhibition.
Bullturn Owners of light delivery vans, inotorcab ownerdrivers and others employing vehicles fitted with pneumatic tires will appreciate a device known as the " Bullturn Aye-Ready Rim " ; it is maaufactured by Bullturn, Ltd., Bishopbriggs, Glasgow,
under Blackwell's patent. Its constructional features have been frequently referred to and described in our columns and the fitting has been tested under working conditions by members of our staff.
For the benefit of those interested we may mention that the device takes the form of a specially designed light steel rim on which is mounted a solid rubber
tire of about 11, in. diameter. It is fitted alongside the pneumatic tire and while in position is clear of the ground when the tile is fully inflated. As the construction is fitted on the inside rim of the roadwheel, there is less betiding strain on the axle than from the pneumatic tire itself. When a puncture takes place, upon the tire's becoming deflated, the auxiliary rim takes up the running, thus preventing the ordinary tire from becoming further damaged, until a repair can be effected. It will be seen that by its adoption, there is no necessity to carry either a spare tire or wheel. The risks attendant upon inadvertently running on insufficiently inflated tires are also automatically guarded against. Two different types of the " AyeReady " rim are manufactured, the flange design which can he bolted to the felloe of wood wheels, the combination rim which is constructed to carry both the pneumatic tire .and and the auxiliary solid tire.
You Can Get It At " LW." (Oxford).—In reply to your inquiry as to where you can obtain an adjustable engine stand suitable for a garage, you should communicate with the following concerns :—Alldays and Onions Pneumatic Engineering Co., Ltd., Birmingham—London office, 58, Holborn Viaduct, EC.; W. H. Willcox and Co., Ltd 38 Southwark Street, London, E.C. ; Brown Bros., Ltd., Great Eastern Street, London, E.C.
The Aveling Screen Adapted to Motorbuses.
An ideal form of weather screen which is particularly suited for use on commercial vehicles is that manufactured by T. C. Aveling (Birmingham) Co., Ltd., 91, New Canal Street, Birmingham. Although there is no glass whatever used in its construction, ample protection is afforded the driver in all kinds of weAther, without his line of vision being interfered with. The device is capable of being adjusted to any required angle.
Our illustration shows the screen fitted to a motorbus ; in the left-hand view it is depicted in a closed position, and in the right-hand fully open. The city of Birmingham Corporation Tramways Dept. has placed a repeat order with the manufacturer, and screens are to be fitted on the entire fleet of motorbuses running in that city.