BRITISH MUNICIPAL PRODUCTS FOR OVERSEAS.
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Interesting Appliances Supplied by a Prominent Maker for Service in the City of Baghdad.
A LTIIOUGEE in this country it is a common sight, particularly in the summer months, to see mechanical street-watering machines in use in all the Dig cities and towns, there are many important centres in other countries which cannot boast such up-to-elate equipment. Moreover, in many wellpopulated areas overseas, the system of general sanitation is more primitive, and some efficient means of keeping the chief thoroughfares free from germladen dust and refuse is really imperative if infection and illness are to be less rife.
Not that, in all efIRES, the authorities are unaware of their responsi
bility in such matters, but they are faced with extreme difficulties which certainly do not have their counterpart in this country. Take, for example, Some of the Eastern centres of commerce. They are not within easy reach of a natural water supply, and, consequently water is often lit a premium so much so, that to use it for streetwatering would not only prove wasteful, but would le deemed prohibitive on the score of cost.
The city of Baghdad, however, is more fortunate than this, in that it has an inexhatfitible supply of water in the River Tigris, on the banks of which it stands. It is not really surprising, therefore, that the Municipal authorities in this centre should have turned to the use of modern equipment for meeting Their needs, and they have done well by choosing British products, which municipal engineers generally freely admit are in the front rank.
The engineers' department of the Baghdad Municipality has had the two Dennis street-watering machines illustrated on this page in service for some months past, and so efficient have they proved in actual use that Dennis Bros., Ltrl., Guildford, received an order for a third machine, which has just been
litatzy.
shipped overseas ; this is also shown in an accompanying picture.
Like its forerunners, the latest purchase of the authorities has a capacity of 900 gallons. The tank which the chassis carries is of rectangular section and is double-welded (both inside and outside) in order to secure additional strength, which is considered essential in view of the deplorable state of the roads which have to be negotiated. IS the main, the chassis is a, standard Dennis 3i-tonner, but, as it is the first of its type to be equipped with apparatus for street-sprinkling, some further details will he of interest.
The engine is the makers' new Ctype, which is a four-cylinder raonobloc unit, with a detachable head made in halves to facilitate easy handling. It can develop 70 b.h.p., and its efficiency is proved by the fact that it only consumes a gallon of fuel over a distance of 10 or 11 miles. The power is conveyed through a fon ,,peed-and-reverse 6-earbox to the rear axle, which is of the
well-known Dennis worm-driven type.
The pump is located with its spindle coinciding with the centre line of the crankshaft, and is firmly bolted to a substantial cast-steel crossi-member. This, in turn, • is attached to special dumb-irons of the type which can he clearly seen in the illustration bearing descriptive references. The pump spindle is tubular, and allows an extended starting-handle shaft to pass through from the front to the claw on the forward end of the crankshaft. A -sleeve, which' is externally splined, is bolted io a flange on the shaft, and it carries a casting which combines the duties of a
clutch (internally) an d
dy n am o and fan-driving
Pulleys. The male member " of the clutch is directly connected to the tubular pump spindle, and engagement IF eEected by means of levers, which extend to the daah. board.
A direct drive for the' pump is thus effected, which, it should be noted, can he put into action or withdrawn without any reference to the movement of the machine or the driver's controls, operating, as it does, independently of the gearbox.
As certain of our illustrations show, a sprinkler head is placed at each side at the front, and in such a position that the "spreads" are in • full view of the driver and his mate; the heads are supported by the same stout cross-member that holds the pump, It should be mentioned that the Dennis sprinkling heads are provided with slits for the emission of -water, instead of perforations, as is more usually the case, and this arrangement is considered less likely to give trouble through the apertures becoming clogged. Each head is individually controlled and can be closed independently. The machine will spray to a maximum width of 45 ft.
The method of operation is quite simple. Presuming the tank to be full,
a two-way valve above and behind the pump must be set so that the water will flow to the pump, and when the engine is running the pump can be put into action so soon as it is required.
When the contents of the tank are exhausted refilling can be carried out ..sf:•om a hydrant, a bend and a length of hose being fitted at the rear of the tank for that purpose. If the water be drawn from an open source of supply, the three lengths of 21-in. suction hose, which are carried on the off side of the tank, can be attached to the end of the transverse pipe running behind the Pump. The position of the two-way valve is then altered, so that it has the effect of reversing the action of the pump, sand the air cock at the top is then opened.
Setting the two-way valve at the "filling" position automatically opens a 1-in, pipe, which communicates with a reserve supply of about 25 gallons of water accommodated in the .forward end of the tank. This is ample to prime the pump, and when water spurts from the air-release cock it shows that the operation of priming is completed. The pump is then engaged and filling of the tank proceeds. A tell-tale indicator beside the manhole indicates the level of the contents of the tank. Thó cspacity of the pump is such that the tank can be filled at the rate of 200 eallsns per minute.
The pump is of the same type as that used on the DenniS fire-engines. It is constructed entirely of gun-metal and is light in weight. Furthermore, it has
the advantage of being impervious to the action of sea-water.
Inasmuch as the pump is capable of delivering 175 gallons of water per minute at 100 ib. pressure, and correspondingly greater volumes at lower pressures, the machine can also be used in emergency as a fire-engine. There are four outlets, to which hose may Le attached, on the same pipe that feeds the sprinkling heads. These, naturally, are cloed when fire duties are being undertaken. The ability of the machine
to bring 900 gallons of water to bear as a first-aid to the combating of fire is highly important when outbreaks in suburbs and outlying villages are being dealt with. In such circumstances quidk action prevents the possibility of extensive damage. If water for fire
fighting purposes has to be taken from an external supply, the suction hose' is coupled up, and the closing of a valve in the main pipe leading to the tank results in the pump delivering direct through the proper channels.