A Trailer for Radiography
Page 46
Page 47
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A Light Two-wheeled Trailer Equipped for X ray Photography, Specially Built for Guildford Veterinary Surgeon
A COMPLETE novelty in the way of light trailers is nearing completion at the Guildford Motor Body Works, Worplesdon Road, Guildford. It is a vehicle equipped for carrying X-ray apparatus and for developing X-ray photographs, and has been built to the special order of Mr. V. Berwyn Jones, M.R.C.V.S., Of Bromley, near Guildford, for use for veterinary radiography in connection with his profession.
Mounted On a Brockhouse two-wheeled trailer chassis, specially designed for the purpose, and equipped with automatic brakes and underslung springs, the body is built of Plymax and measures 8 ft. in length, 5 ft. in width and 6 ft. in height, from floor to roof, in the centre. It has a door at the back and an arched roof.
The interior equipment is the most interesting part of the trailer. On the right-hand side is fixed a bench, fitted with a wash-basin ; at the front are four photographic tanks supplied by Kodak, Ltd., the first being a washing bath and the remaining three smaller baths for developing and fixing ; at the rear end is a capacious drying cabinet, the top of which forms a further bench. In this cabinet is an electric heater and at its end is an electric fan, which impels a current of air through the cabinet over the heater. A drain-tap communicating with the outside of the body is fitted to the washing bath.
On the left-hand side another bench extends for two-thirds of the length of 1328 the body, and a low cushioned seat occupies the remaining space. Midway along the sides, under the benches, two 20-gallon water tanks are fixed, connected by a pipe and having a filler on the outside of the body at the near side. These supply two taps—one above the basin and one above the washing bath at a convenient height, for the film to he suspended from it. Each tank is fitted with a tyre valve, by means of which air pressure can be created within it by a foot pump, to force the water up to the taps. It is stated that sufficient water is available to maintain a running stream for 20 minutes.
Under the seat is accommodated a coil of electric cable, long enough for the end to be plugged-in to the house main. A fuse box and master-switch are screwed to the floor beside it.
A bayonet-type socket, a screw-in socket and two ordinary plug sockets are placed conveniently for illumination and for connecting up "X-ray instruments, and provision is to be made for transforming any main voltage above 110 volts to that required for the apparatus. A light-excluding ventilator is provided at the rear.
The X-ray apparatus, when not in use, will travel in special cases, for the accommodation of which there is ample space und¢r the benches, etc.
Much of the apparatus is of a fragile nature and can stand only a limited amount of vibration; for this reason particular care has been paid to the , suspension system, and the shackleanchorages are insulated from the frame by rubber pads.
The body is painted light green within and the outside is finished in dark green, lined and varnished. Its weight is 16 cwt. and the cost of the complete trailer is estimated at about £105. This figure does not, of course, include the X-ray apparatus, of which about 1200 worth will be carried.
We understand that Mr. Berwyn Jones intends to draw the trailer behind his car when visiting patients, so that he may be able to plug-in the lead at the house he is visiting, and develop the X-ray photographs, without delay, on the spot. He expects, in fact, to be able to have the finished print within 15 minutes of taking the photograph.
It would appear that this enterprising scheme should be applicable to X-ray work generally besides veterinary purposes, and we understand that a number of local doctors is already taking considerable interest in the trailer and will closely watch its performance.