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SERVICE ACCESSORIES..

30th November 1920
Page 17
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Page 17, 30th November 1920 — SERVICE ACCESSORIES..
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

IN THE FOLLOWING article it is intended to deal with a few accessories as they affect the garage owner and the user of commercial vehicles generally.The instances noted are not necessarily all-embracing nor even completely representative, but they are selected as instances of methods and appliances which will be found either time or money savers or both.

Petrol and Oil Supply.

The increased cost of petrol and the difficulties which every big user has to contend with in dealing with spirit makes necessary some methods of stocking, handling, and measuring out which shall be safe, speedy, and accurate. The restrictions as to storage are rightly severe, and safety and economy may be made to go hand in. hand if the job is done on uptodate lines. The old, irresponsible methods of handling in tins, with all the waste and loss of time, are antiquated and should be scrapped so soon as ever the demand is big enough to warrant the installation Of a proper storing, measuring, and delivering apparatus,

The Bowser System.

The oldest system of petrol supply from the storage to the vehicle tank, which has been used in this country, is the Bowser method, introduced by the S. F. Bowser Co., inc., at 32, Victoria Street, London, S.W.1. This system deals with petrol and also lubricating and other oils. • Two systems are adopted. In the ease of petrol the appliance consists of an underground tank, in which the petrol is at atmospheric pressure and absolutely secure against leakage of vapour or liquid. This was amply demonstrated in a recent case of fire-gutted premises where the Bowser petrol tank under the floor was found with its contents intact and unharmed—a sufficiently drastic test of the safety of the system. To maintain the air pressure in the tank at atmosphere and prevent either unintentional vacuum or dangerous pressure, an air pipe is extended from the storage tank to a height well above any danger of meddling or interference. The main feature of the system is the ingenious method by means of which the fuel is lifted, measured, and led to the car tank. The pump is worked by a rack and pinion and a rotating handle, and stops are attached so that the rack is stepped—and, therefore, the pump piston—at the point giving the required amount. The amount which will be delivered is determined, before pumping, by Lying the stop bar by a lever, working against an indicating dial, at the correct amount The pump cannot then draw or discharge more or less than the specified amount A counter in a glass case gives an added indication of the amounts withdrawn.

Modifications of'the machine are made for varying requirements—such as for use inside the garage, as a kerb supply outfit, and also as a portable supply appliance, when the petrol tank of 45 gallons capacity mounted on rubber-tyred wheels combines the whole outfit and can be readily moved about the garage. It includes a recording meter, a...discharge register, a filter, a lock to prevent unauthorized use, hose, nozzle, and connections, a strainer, and a separate lubricating compartment with similar type of pump and strainer, and an autograph register and slip.

In the case of lubricating oils the Bowser system is arranged in a variety of ways, to suit either the small garage or the big bus, tramway, or even locomotive depot and running shed.

The Anglo-American System.

A system which is now growing so much in popularity as to be continually noticeable on the road and in the suburbs is the green pump outfit of the An gl o-American Oil Co. dealing with Pratt's spirit.

This system ecmbines underground tank at atmospheric pressure, vent pipe, filling pipe and plug, and automatic self registering and self-measuring pump, and flexible pipe line to the vehicle tank, and is supplied to be fitted in the garage, at kerb, or as a portable appliance.

In the pump illustrated, which is the roadside pattern, fully protected against weather and damage, the quick return action pump delivers five gallons at one rotation, but pumps to deliver intermediate quantities, gallons, half-gallons, quarts or pints, etc., are supplied, so that the exact quantity called for can be accurately and quickly delivered.

Our illustration shows the roadside pump and delivery column, and the arrangement of the storage tank below ground.

The Beardmore Method.

In the Beardmore system of the Dowson and Mason Gas Plant Co.ntd., a suction and delivery pump on a standard with measuring scale is so arranged as to lift and.deliver from the underground tank the requisite quantity, the petrol never coming into contact with the atmosphere until it leaves the nozzle of the flexible hose to enter the vehicle tank.

In this system. the petrol is at atmospheric pressure, and a high air pipe, to relieve pressure when filling the underground tank and to admit air as the tank is emptied, is employed.

The Bywater system, controlled and operated by hydraulic pressure, is effective and offers certain advantages. For instance, no air enters the tank and no explosive mixture can be formed, whilst the water serves to collect all dirt from the petrol. The Steel Barrel Co.'s system is reliable and c24

popular. The bulk storage installations range in capacity from 300 to 3,000 gallons whilst the selfcontained plants, capable of holding from 80 to 2LO gallons, are also manufactured.

All these methods of dealing with the petrol pro blem are particularly suitable for commercial service. With a proper system of quantity booking the mileage gallon of each vehicle can be readily ascertained, and. the economy and saving of waste, either by evaporation or spilling and the safety

and rapidity of the system go a long way to counteract t h e disastrOus effects of the constantly rising of prices of spirit and the ex ce p tionally small margin of

profit upon which, in these days, it has to be handled. But handled it must be by every service and garage b u a i-n e s s, whether it pays or not. Only by care and economy and the selection of the right appliances and methods can a boss on this necessary part of the service be avoided.

Gauges and Fillers.

Important in the use of petrol on commercial vehicles is-the question of ascertaining the amount of petrol in the tank at any time, and of ascertaining this quickly and accurately. Opening of the tank for thia purpose should be avoided, and the use of sight glasses and otherslevices is objectionable. The simplest method which allows of accurate determination and yet gives no possible chance of leakage is that incorporated in the Simms magnetic petrol gauge. A horizontally pivoted needle unconnected with any mechanism swings round in a closed glass dial case and points to the quantity of petrol in the tank as indicated by gallon and division marks around the dial This is effected by means of a, bar magnet on the end of a vertically pivoted shaft, which is rotated by a float, which rises and falls as the petrol level rises and falls in a tubular casing which extends into the tank. A curved slot, shown in our illustration, provides the rotary movement of the bar as the float rises or falls. There is no mechanism to get out of order, and the needle indicates at once and at all times the actual amount of netrol in the tank, and yet leaves no possible chance for evaporation.

Waste in tank filling from the ordinary two-gallon cans is overcome by the use of one or the other of the filler appliances, which allow air to enter readily to displace the outgoing petrol and to enter easily and without causing bubbling and erratic exit of the fuel. One of the simplest of these is Pettett's safety filler. It consists of a curved spout about 0 ins, long, fitted with a standard screw collar for atta,chins to any two-gallon petrol tin. It is provided with a filter and a curved air intake pipe, the latter to allow of free entry of the air as the petrol is poured out.

One advantage of this appliance over others of similar description is that there is provided a means. by which the petrol will cease to flow when a predetermined level has been reached in the tank. This ensures that spilling over is avoided, and is of considerable importance when filling tanks in the -dark. This automatic cut-off continues to operate as the filler is removed from the tank, so that no petrol is wasted. This device is made by Win. Pettett, of West Pier, Brighton.

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