Passing Comments
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Dangers Facing Mechanics
rOLOURED workers are less susceptible to skin irritation than whites_ American experience leads to a preference being shown for the employment of negroes on work involving exposure to various liquids, such as cutting oils, likely to cause dermatitis. Lubricating oil, grease and certain kinds of solvent used in garages are potential irritants. Washing the hands in paraffin and petrol has been the cause of boils. Another risk is presented by high-pressure grease guns, a shot of lubricant from which can penetrate the skin tissues like a needle.
Dr. R. C. Bell, of Edinburgh, reported such a case recently in which he operated upon a garage mechanic's finger and removed 0.75 c.c. of grease.
Duple Stage P.S.V. Show
BECOMING quite one of the events of the years between Commercial Motor Shows is the Duple Exhibition, which took place last week at the company's works at Hendon.
Naturally, Duple Motor Bodies, Ltd., being concerned exclusively with coaches and buses, the vehicles on view were in these categories.
They included three new luxury coach models, the Britannia, suitable for underfloor-engined chassis, and mounted as 41-seaters on A.E.C., Reliance chassis and 43-seaters on Tiger Cubs: the 41-seat Bedford Super Vega and a body of similar capacity on the Commer T.S.3.
An important feature of all these models was the interior finishing in plastics, giving the option of employing colours, as well as natural-wood finishes, which should retain their freshness throughout the life of the vehicles. All these coaches were of composite construction, but the managing director, Mr. G. R. White, announced that there would be an entirely new 41-43-seat metal-framed body, suitable for underfloor-engined chassis, available for delivery towards the end of 1956.
Examples of chassis of the latest types were also shown and numerous engine, component and accessory manufacturers contributed their share towards the exhibition. Its popularity was shown by the presence of some 400 visitors on the opening day.
Coaling Gold Mines By Road
rONS1DERABLE use of road transport is made for the delivery of coal to a number of gold mines on the East Rand. The vehicles are mostly owned by hauliers, who operate them on behalf of the Transvaal and Orange Free State Chamber of Mines.
The "lift '' was originated in the middle of 1954, mainly to ease the burden on the railways, it being then arranged that 1,000 tons per day should be delivered by rail from the Witbank area to one gold mine and distributed from this to 12 others in the area.
Up to June this year, 165,000 tonshad been carried by road. The present demand is, however, for only 1,000 tons a week. The coal is delivered in bulk by railway wagons to the distribution point and off-loaded. into hoppers and chutes, or is sometimes dumped onto the ground and raised by scrapers to an overhead filling point where. road vehicles can draw up. By this means a 10-tonner can be loaded in an average time of 5-6 min. At present deliveries are being made to six mines.
Amongst the vehicles employed are ,E.R.F, sixwheelers with twin front axles, hauling 'trailers.
Facts on Rubber for Designers
A MOST interesting booklet, "'Synthetic and " Natural Rubbers and their Uses," has been issued for the guidance of engineers and designers by Precision Rubbers, Ltd., Bagworth, Leicester, the shares &whom were-acquired last year by Melalastik Ltd., of the John Bull group
It is pointed out in this publication that the term "rubber," in its widest sense, includes a. large number of synthetic materials of which six types, each embracing several grades, are in common usage.
Whilst a knowledge of the principal characteristics of rubber has been acquired, by many technicians in the engineering field, it is felt that to many others, such material is aS Neoprene, Silicone Rubber and Perbtinan, are known Only by name. They are used for the production of components only after the adcli
tion of various chemicals. which determine to a large extent their properties.
It is the task of the rubber chemist to produce a formula for any particular application and, theoretically, an infinite number of rubber compounds can be prepared with any basic material.
The best method to ensure the correct type for any specific application is for the design engineer to provide full information about the 'application and operating conditions, these being followed by discus, sion between the two.
Brief details of the various rubbers and the chief applications for which they are suitable are included.
Membership Drive •
WAVING changed their name so as to represent " makers as well as operators of oil engines, the Diesel Engineers and Users Association, 56 Victoria Street, London, &WI (formerly the Diesel Engine Users Association), are making a membership drive. Gas turbines also come within the Association's purview.
Designers and engineers engaged upon the production of such units are now invited to join, as well as engineers in charge of oil-engine and gas-turbine installations.