Auxiliary filtration saves bus undertaking £96,000 a year
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BY PAUL BROCKINGTON BY using a Fram by-pass filter with a fine element in conjunction with a standard full-flow filter, a nationalized bus undertaking is saving £96,200 a year, said Mr. B. G. Curtis, technical director of Pram Filters Ltd., Treforest, Glamorgan, at a Press function on Tuesday.
Over the three years that by-pass filters had been fitted, Mr. Curtis stated, the number of engines reconditioned in a year had been reduced from 300 to 120, which had yielded a saving of £62,000, and oil-change periods had been extended from three weeks to nine months, saving £33,800 more.
It had been estimated that, during the normal vehicle life of 10 years, two reconditioned engines would be fitted (following on the original power unit) compared with seven reconditioned units formerly required.
The mileage covered before replacement of a crankshaft became necessary had been increased from 200,000 to 450,000 and the number of engine overhauls per week had been reduced from 8/10 to two. Staff engaged in overhauls had been reduced by 85 per cent. • Although a full-flow filter is greatly preferable to a by-pass type if only one filter is fitted, it is noteworthy that a filter element having a fine pore size can more suitably be used in the bypass because the large pressure drop involved does not reduce the amount of lubricant delivered to the bearings and so on.
During the function, Mr. W. J. Burnell, managing director of the company, referred to an anticipated merger of the parent American Pram Corporation with the Bendix Corporation, which would be decided on May 11. Various new products being developed by the company will be announced in August.
Scammell Trailer Centre; A Scam mell trailer centre has been opened at Ford and Slaters new Norwich depot giving operators 24-hour breakdown facilities. Thirty vehicles can be repaired at one time in the 14,000 sq. ft. workshop.