Passing Comments
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ADRIVER was busy unloading rolls of paper from his oil-engined vehicle when his attention was called to a suspicious pool of liquid directly beneath his
machine. " 'i mate, you're losing petrol," called out the driver of a passing vehicle. " Ain't got none," came the reply from the driver of the oiler, who did not even take the trouble to raise his head. English—as she is Spoke in Transport Circles.
ACCORDING to Mr. McKinnon, Exide's chief engineer, a battery hydrometer is analogous to a clinical thermometer but even if time cannot be spared to take readings, operators should ensure that the plates
are fully immersed in the electrolyte. A battery's starting ability is dependent upon the area of active material exposed to the electrolyte, so that a low level tends to reduce the effect, but as the remaining fluid is of greater density there may be increased chemical activity. The result is that the immersed portions of the plates are overworked, and the dry parts of the plates may lose their electrical characteristics and may not regain them merely by topping-up. it Pays to Give Good and Regular Service to Batteries
Oxygen, Gaseous and A N average of 18,500 cubic Liquid, for Extremes 1-1. ft of oxygen is used
of Cold and Heat. daily in the Ford works at Dagenham. Stored in liquid form in a tank having an ultimate capacity of 47,000 cubic ft. of gas, it is made available in all A22
parts of the works by two mile of piping with 125 outlets. Among the operations for which the oxygen is used are tapping the blast furnace and cupolas, and metal cutting, welding and shrinking. For the last-named, liquid oxygen is kept in Thermos-t3.pe bottles, and the parts are submerged in the liquid, which has a temperature of 140 degrees C. below zero. This shrinking process is employed for inserting valve seats into cylinder blocks, also for cylinder liners in connection with the Ford engine reconditioning scheme.
Modern Motor EffirOMPLEX and severe, the ciency Largely Due to •-•stresses to which numerous Nickel Alloys
. • parts of motor vehicles are sUbjected provide designers with formidable problems. Crankshafts, connecting rods, pistons, cylinders, gears, axles, frames, springs,
etc., are only a few examples. To make matters difficult, weight must be minimized. Apart from aeronautics, it is probable that in no other branch of engineering is the strength-to-weight ratio so important. To solve these problems, to gain the needed strength, wearing qualities and so forth, without increasing dimensions and without introducing new manufacturing difficulties, the designer freely turns to nickel. Alloyed with steel, iron, aluminium, etc., sometimes with copper, chromium or molybdenum also, this metal_ is indeed valuable. There are few automobile parts in which it is not now quite generally employed. The metallurgist has certainly played a valuable part. GIVING the lie to slump rumours has become quite a practice amongst the notabilities in the motor industry. Lord Nuffield most emphatically denies that there is anything approaching a slump; in fact, from hio experience the reverse is the case. Lord Wakefield says that conditions all over the world do not bear Out any suggestion of a decline, but a few fainthearts can halt progress and turn fear into reality, whilst Mr. J. R. Alexander, a director of the Daimler Co., says that reports of wars in China and other outside disturbing factors alarm those who do not take the trouble to read of our own industrial activities and tie stable condition of our country as a whole. He gives a definite assurance that the opinion of British manufacturers is that the business outlook is good and sound, and suggests that people should go about their business with a cheery optimism that will ikill the bad effects of pessimists.
Leaders In Transport Industry Refute Slump Rumours .
Full Details of ExXPER1MENTAL work on perimental Work on 1—groad construction and the Roads. . • • maintenance is of vital interest to the industry, and all those who wish to learn of the latest developments in this connection should obtain a copy of the Seventh Annual Report for 1936-37 of the Experimental Work on Highways (Technical) Committee, price 2s. 2d., including postage, and obtainable from H.M. .Stationery Office or through any bookseller. It surveys the full-scale experimental work in chapters dealing with concrete, cement-bound macadam, tar and bituminous surfacing, thin surfacing coats, surface dressing and footpath construction in rural areas. For the first time it includes a diagram showing the many, aspects • of road design, etc., which need investigation. Another new feature is a concise review of all the essential information relating to some 60 experiments, set out in tabular form, together with the conclusions drawn.