CONVERSION TO COAL-GAS.
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Hints and Wrinkles to Garage Proprietors on Fitting Out.
Gas Trailers.
Contemporaneously with the development of the flexible container, the detached trailer is commanding increasing attention, it being recognized that under certain conditions this offers the most feasible solution to the problem of converting a car to coal-gas. It is an issue -which is more likely to affect private cars rather than commercial vehicles, but, at the same time, it is obvious that there are many instances in which it offers the solitary solution of the problem so far as it affects machines used purely and simply for business purposes. There is another aspect to be taken into consideration. It may he required to use the vehicle upon a route where re charging is impossible, and then the only way. out of the difficulty is to carry a reserve of 500 to 1000 cubic ft.. in a tithing container, drawing .upon this supply after the overhead container has been exhausted.
To meet this requirement, Andrew Barton Bros., of Beeston, have designed the two-wheel trailer shown in the accompanying illustration. A light wood
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frame, 10 ft. in length by 3 ft. 6 ins., is mounted upon a two-wheel truck well sprung and fitted with 710 mm. by 90 mm. pneumatic tyres. The side framing is continued to.a height of 3 ft. This body is lined with strong canvas to receive the cylindrical container, which measures 10 ft. in length by 7& ft. diameter, giving a capacity of about 250 cubic ft. The bag is anchored to the trailer by means of adjustaVe straps of webbing. A strong iron coupling connects the trailer to the back of the lorry: We understand that a trailer of this description is being used in connection with a motor mail van, enabling the 2-ton vehicle to cover 32 miles on one complete charge, and that it is giving every satisfaction.
On the next page is shown the Cox, standard trailer, which is likewise light, well sprung and shod with pneumatic tyres. The holder:measuring 10 ft. 6 ins. in length, has a capacity of 280 cubic ft. In our illustration the trailer is shown -hitched on to a 25 .11.p. eight-cylinder Vincent I-lollies touring ear, which, it is stated, covers 25 miles on one charge of the gas bag.
The Tolputt Co., Dover Road, Shef • field, have also evolved an idea in this direction. The container follows neat lines with coach and paint work to match the car. Detachability has been studied to facilitate severance from one vehicle and attachment to another as desired. The trailer being light, it can be readily wheeled by, one person and hauled to any gas station to be recharged.
Big Conversion Contemplated.
So satisfactory have been the tests which' have been carried out with coalgas, that it is highly probable the whole fleet of the Bristol Tramways and Carriage_ Co. will eventually be converted, thus effecting a big saving in the cost of running and an.important saving of petrol fuel for the air services. On the Bristol engine which is employed on these omnibuses, the S.U. carburetter is fitted, and by simply doing away with the heating pipe and inserting the gas nozzle, the alterations. to the carburetter have been reduced to the smallest proportions, but at the same time without preventing it being used for petrol..
Gas Bags for Ford Vans.
Rejax, Ltd. informs us that they are now marketing the Rejax gas outfit for Ford vans. This outfit is planned so as to give the greatest p:ssible capacity in view of the smallness of the Ford car and its fairly large engine. A complete set of fittings is provided, so that the owner, garage proprietor or mechanic can easily
carry out the installation. The fabric cf the gas bag is of high quality, and is regarded as being particularly durable. It is proofed on the outside as well as between the double layers of the material. The cost of this outfit for the Ford car is 18 guineas. .
Outfits are supplied for all other vans, for the purpose of ordering which a measurement form is issued by the company. The requisite size of hag and fittings can be supplied in from seven to ten days after receiving the order, the price charged being, according to d:mensions of the bag supplied. The address of the company is 4, Percy Street, Tottenham Court Road, W. 1.
Rural Gas Service.
In order to maintain transport and communication between Woking and the outlying parishes, the Woking Autocar Co., has inaugurated a gas-driven service with which the towns of Woking, Chobham and Ripley will be linked up. The type of bus employed for this duty is a converted Ford car, the wheelbase of which has been eXtended to receive a single-deck body with seating capacity for 12 passengers. The gas container of 180 cubic ft., sufficient for a 12-mile run, is carried on the roof, which in this instance has not had to be continued over the bonnet. The velaicle is so fitted as to permit driving upon either coal-gas or petrol, so there is no risk of the passengers becoming stranded through exhaustion of the gas reservoir. .It is intended to make three trips daily.
Gas Charging Stations in London.
The Soiith Metropolitan Gas Co. is installing standpipes with 2-in. connet;Lions at 'eleven stations in their lighting area for the porpo.se of charging flexible containers. The current price per 1000 cubic ft.-3s. ld. at time of writing— will be charged plus a filling fee of 6d., irrespective of size of container. The stations are as follow :—Gas Works 709; Old Kent Road ; Woolwich, 32, Thomas Street; Greenwich, 51, Norman Road; Lewisham, 230, High Street; Clapham, 58, Bromells Road; • Streatham, 372, High Road ; Vauxhall, Gas Works.; Kennington, the Oval; Rotherhithe Gas Works, Brunnels Road ; E. Greenwich, Gas Works, Blackwall Lane; Banksirle, Gas Works,
Pulham's Compression System.
Owing to thc interest which has been aroused by the description in our last issue of the compressed gas system evolved by Pulham and Co., of Bexhillon-Sea, we publish below photographic details of the mechanism. The illustration shows the nesting of the three cylinders on the conning board of the eightseater Fowl char 4-banes', together with the two end-plates into which the cylinders are spigcited. It will also be observed how the cylinders are interconnected at the two ends tr afford the gas an even flow. At lale one end eyliNders 1 and 2 are coupled up : at the other cod the coupling is 2 and 3., the gas being drawn off through the in. tubs at the opposite end of cylinder 3. The mounting of the drum-shaped reducing .valve upon the dashboard is also shown together with the connections of gas for reducing valve and air to carburetter inlet and induction manifold of engine.
In describing the Pulham system in our last issue we expressed the pressure of the gas in the cylinders as 150 lb. per sq. in. It should read 150 atmospheres : a pressure of 2200 lb. per sq. in.
Coal-gas Items.
Chelmsford Corporation Gas Committee has arranged to supply gas for motor vehicles at a charge of 5s. per 1000 cubic feet.
The Birmingham Gas Committee has decided to establish stations in the centre of the city to permit charging of gas bags carried by commercial and munition motor vehules.
The Tonlode Manufacturing Co., of Drogheda, Ireland, is in the position to supply compressors for installation in garages to compress gas for cylinders.
The firm of Flugel and Co., Ltd., 23a, Green Lanes, Landon, N.,-informs us it is in the position to supply reducing -valves for use in connection with the compression system. It has specialized in this field for many years, the valves having been used for reducing CO, gas compressed up ta 150 atmospheres or more.