Giant Machine to Test Bridges
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AN 85-ton vehicle designed to test the strength of road bridges was driven from Christchurch, Hants, where it was built, to a site near Winchester, last . week, after successfully completing its trials.
The vehicle consists of a specially adapted trailer and has been evolved by the Ministry of Transport with the help of the Ministry of Supply and the Military Engineering Experimental Establishment at Christcburch. It is believed to be the only unit of its kind in the world, and has been constructed entirely from scrap and used materials.
The main feature of the machine is a slab of solid concrete 35 ft. long and 7 ft. 9 ins, wide and 3 ft thick, weighing 50 tons. This slab is mounted on rails on a solid-tyred well-deck trailer in such a manner that it can be rolled along until nearly half its length overhangs the end of the trailer. A further load of 30 tons of ballast can be piled into a well in the top of the slab, and the weight on one bogie can be varied from 20 to 90 tons.
Tests on road bridges will begin next month. The machine is to be used mainly to test masonry arch bridges and in particular their ability to carry heavy industrial loads. Where there is filling between an arch and the road, no reliable basis for calculating the strength of these bridges exists and at present vehicles carrying abnormal loads have to make long detours to avoid doubtful bridges. The Ministry of Transport investigations are being undertaken to ascertain more exactly the loads which such bridges can bear.
SHIP-STYLE VENTILATION IN DUPLE COACHES
rOUR Duple Ambassador coaches J. were delivered this month to Wallace Arnold Tours, Ltd., Leeds, for Continental tours. They incorporate a number of interesting features. Twc fans in the bulkhead force air along ducts running along each side of the body. There is a control unit above each seat which enables passengers to switch the air supply on or off as they wish.
Venetian blinds are fitted to the roof quarter lights and the driver's sun visor is of transparent woven plastic material Interior body panels are of Formica Radiomobile wireless apparatus is fitted, One coach has a special root rack to take the luggage of 37 Ameri cans touring the Continent for 69 days "TAKING CARE OF A CAR"
THE latest edition of "Taking Care of a Car," No. 2 in the Modern Car Easy Guide series, is now available from booksellers at 2s. or from Temple Press Ltd., Bowling Green Lane, London, E.C.I. by post at 2s. 2d.
The easily followed text is liberally illustrated. For the owner-driver or small C-licence user, this book will be valuable if he himself chooses to do much of the routine service work to his vehicle.