DENNIS INTRODUCES A NEW FIRE PUMP. %
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The Maker's G-type Passenger Chassis Forms the Basis of the Latest Firefighting Product of the Dennis Works.• IN our last week's issue we made mention of the fact that Dennis Bros., Ltd., in displaying a range of its firefighting equipment on the occasion of the recent conference of the National Fire Brigades Association, at Portsmouth, had taken the opportunity for introducing a new type of appliance. When a concern such as Dennis Bros., Ltd., of Guildford, which holds an eminent position in the fire-brigade world so far as motor equipment is concerned, decides to introduce a new firefighting appliance, it can be safely assumed that the machine possesses a number of noteworthy features.
We publish an illustration on this page of the new motor-propelled pump and, at first glance, one is impressed by its low overall height, which undoubtedly contributes to the smart and compact appearance of the machine.
The chassis which forms the basis of the machine is a modification of a model that is already well known in the commercial motor. industry, this being the maker's 0-type, which was designed in the first place to carry a 20-seater bus or coach body. To refresh the memories of on; readers, it may be as well to mention that this chassis embodies in its design a four-cylindered monobloc engine which is set in the frame at a slight angle so that the transmission line through the four-speed gearbox to the wormshaft is straight, thus avoiding undue losses of pewer at the universal joints. The frame height is only 1 ft. ffi ins. and this feature enables the firefighting equipment 'to be carried at a low level.
The question of braking efficiency is particularly important in the matter of fire-engines, and in the Dennis 0-type chassis pressure on the brake pedal is augmented by a servo device, the braking power being applied on all four wheels, thus enabling the vehicle to be brought to a standstill very quickly.
An extension from the gearbox carries the drive for the pump which, as is usual; is situated at the rear of the chassis. The pump, which is constructed throughout of gun-metal, is made to the company's patent design B38 and it has an exceptionally high output in relation to its weight. It is of the multi-stage, high-pressure, turbine-type, which gives a constant pressure and has no small moving parts which‘ are liable to wear rapidly, or which require frequent lubrication.
A first-aid outfit forms part of the firefighting apparatus, and this is fed from the pump which, in turn, draws its supply of water from a 40-gallon tank. The machine is particularly well equipped and carries a 30-ft. Ajax ladder, together with two chemical extinguishers, one being of the soda-acid kind and the other of the foam type.
The electrical equipment is worthy of particular mention. Current from a 12volt dynamo charges a 60-amp.-hour battery, which supplies the self-starter, the horn and the lighting circuits. The last-named includes, in addition to the
usual tail, side and headlamps a fog light attached to the bumper bar, a green traffic light mounted on top of the dashboard, a lamp in the heel-board illuminating the controls, and an 18-candlepower lamp located at the rear for use when reversing. Moreover, a lamp is also fitted in the hose box and is auto, matically. controlled, a device somewhat akin to a burglar alarm switching on the lights when either of the side doors is opened.
As we have said, the outfit made its initial public appearance at the Fire Brigade Conference, at which it attracted considerable notice. The complete machine, with a full range of equipment, sells at the attractive figure of £988. Its pumping capacity is 250-300 gallons per minute. Pneumatic tyres are used on all wheels, twins being fitted at the rear.