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Italy Adopts Trailer-drawn Producer-gas Machines

26th May 1939, Page 38
26th May 1939
Page 38
Page 38, 26th May 1939 — Italy Adopts Trailer-drawn Producer-gas Machines
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'THE Fiat concern of Turin, the leading producer in Italy 1 of motor vehicles of all types, has, for some time, been turning out large buses and goods vehicles equipped to run on producer-gas. The latest development of the company is the introduction of a producer-gas outfit for application to a light coach or bus chassis; i.e., one adapted to carry up to 18 persons, including the driver.

As on such a light vehicle, the space available is limited and the weight of the producer-gas equipment inadmissible, it was decided to mount the apparatus on a light twowheeled truck adapted to be hauled behind the coach to which it supplies the fuel. The gas generator is of the Fiat company's own design and is adapted to use charcoal.

Combustion is started and maintained, initially, by means of an electrically driven fan. Mounted on the trailer is all the cognate apparatus, including the combined gas cooler and purifier, and the filters. The generator and its adjuncts are enclosed in a streamlined sheet-metal shield, with detachable portions to allow of ready access being gained to any part needing occasional attention. Flexible metallic tubing is used between the trailer and the coach to allow for the movement which takes place under running conditions. The power unit, which has been designed for the use of gas fuel, is of the four-cylindered type, having a bore of 115 mm. and a stroke of 125 mm. and overhead valves ; with a compression ratio of 8 to 1, it is stated to develop 47.5 b.h.p. at 2.200 r.p.m. Ignition is by coil and distributor and engine starting by two 24-volt motors working in parallel, as in the heavy types of Fiat oil-engined vehicle.

The trailer, which has low-pressure pneumatic-tyred wheels, has an overall length, including the drawbar, of 8 ft. 4 ins., a width of 4 ft. 9 ins., and a height of 6 ft. 4 ins,

54 Its weight, in running order, is 12 cwt. 31 lb. The overall length of the complete outfit is approximately 29 ft. 5 ins., of which the bus, or coach, accounts for 21 ft. 1 in. It is understood that no difficulty is experienced in reversing or in negotiating corners; the turning circle is 27 ft. The vehicle is stated to be able to attain a speed of 37/ m.p.h. and to be able to ascend 18-per-cent. gradients on first gear. The fuel consumption on smooth, level roads is said to work out at about approximately 141 lb. per 100 miles, so that, as the generator has a capacity of 297 lb., the vehicle is able to cover a distance of just over 200 miles without recharging being necessary.

Among the advantages claimed for the new trailermounted producer-gas outfits are that, nd't only do they avoid the possibility of causing inconvenience to the pas-, sengers, but they facilitate the work of cleaning, etc.

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Locations: Turin

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