Fuelling Round the Clock
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TWO oil companies are having to supply fuel and lubricants on site to more than 1,000 excavators, bulldozers, mechanical shovels, lorries and hoists which are being used on non-stop shifts by John Laing and Son, Ltd., and sub-contractors on the first 53-mile'section of the London-Birmingham motorway. The work, which is due to be completed in 19 months, involves building nearly 150 bridges and the movement of urn. cit, yd. of earth.
Laing's and many sub-contractors have appointed the Mobil Oil Co., Ltd.. as sole suppliers of all lubricants to plant engaged on the motorway, and of all fuels for section C, which extends from Gayhurst to Kislinghury, The Mobil concern have evolved a .distribution system that may become standard practice with contracts of this kind in the future.
Two temporary distribution depots have been set up. One at Charlton Cross, near St. Albans, is intended to serve sections A (PepperstockRidgernont) and B (Ridgernont-Gayhurst). The other at Collingtree, Northants,
deals with sections C and D (KislingboryDunchurch).
Collingtree is the main storage depot for all fuels and it has tanks to hold 20,000 gal. of petrol, 'dery and gas oil above and below ground. Lubricants are stored at Charlton Cross. Fuel is brought in bulk from' the refinery at Coryton, Essex. The depots are equipped for the maintenance of the vehicles based on them.
Four Bedford four-wheel-drive 950-gal. single-compartment tankers (ex Ministry of 'Supply) have been purchased to supply fuel to the plant working on, section C. Each has power take-off pumps to feed two sets of dispensing meters and hoses. Each hose is attached to an overhead boom with a swing joint to reach awkward places, and has a trigger nozzle.
Fuel can be supplied at the rate of 30 gal. per minute from each of the two hoses simultaneously. Because •of the conditions under which deliveries have to be made rnicronic filters are fitted to the delivery equipment of each tanker.
In addition, three Austin 3-ton fourwheel-drive lorries and two long-wheelbase Land-Rovers have been purchased to distribute lubricants to all points along the 53-mile route.
Deliveries have to he made across country. As much as 6,000 gal. of fuel is used daily on each of the four sections, Of this amount, 2,500 gal. comprises gas oil supplied to 40 to 50 items of earthmoving equipment. Some of the machines have a tank capacity of 125 gal., but this quantity lasts for only seven or eight hours.
The remainder of the fuel is delivered to pumps, generators, concrete batching plants and so on_ During each shift, 100 fuellings have to be made. Because of the intensity of work on the motorway refuelling has to be arranged to coincide with breaks, which requires most careful organization.
It is estimated that the following deliveries are required during each shift to the vehicles and plant engaged on section 'C alone: Gas oil, 960 gal. to 12 scrapers, 960 gaL to 12 tractors, 480 gal. to 12 excavators, 352 gal. to 18 concrete mixers, 96 gal. to six compressors and 320 gal. to 80 items of small plant; petrol, 600 gal. to 30-50 road vehicles; derv, 120 gal. to 10 road vehicles, and 400 gal. to 20 dump trucks.
More than 20 gradbs of lubricant haVe to be stocked, and when the contract is completed 4,000 barrels (140,000 gal.), in addition to greases and hydraulic fluids, will have been delivered.