Mobile Column to Deal with Pit Emergencies
Page 42
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lUTOUNTED on an A.E.C. 11.3-litre In chassis and Cranes trailer, a selfcontained mobile column has been provided by the National Coal Board (Northumberland and Cumberland Division) to deal with shaft emergencies and, in particular, breakdowns of pithead winding equipment.
The mobile winder, which was inspected by a representative of The Commercial Motor during a demonstration at the disused Newburgh Colliery, Northumberland, is kept at Lynemouth, near Morpeth, and is always in readiness to proceed immediately to the scene of any trouble. The unit is Dieselelectric operated, the tractor carrying the oil engine and generator, whilst on the trailer is the mobile winding gear.
A similar unit with a Leyland tractor is employed in the Durham Division.
The tractor unit, which has a gross weight of 17 tons I qr., is 24 ft. long, 8 ft. 3 in. wide and the overall height above chassis level is 7 ft. 21 in. The operating unit is a six-cylindered English Electric which has a rated output of 195 b.h.p. at 1,250 r.p.m. It carries a shunt-wound generator with an output of 78 kW. at 320 volts D.C. at 1,250 r.p.m.
All the equipment is mounted on a skid under-base which is attached to the vehicle chassis. A fuel storage tank giving five hours' supply, is located beneath the generator.
The three-axled trailer is carried on Michelin Metallic tyres and is equipped with air brakes operated from the towing vehicle, a parking brake being provided in addition. Overall dimensions are: Length (without tow bar). 21 ft. 6 in,; width, 8 ft., and height 10 ft. 8 in. The gross weight with all equipment is 17 tons 7 eWt. 1 qr.
So that the trailer can be worked on colliery sidings (should it be impossible to approach by road) railway wheels are fitted behind the road wheels over the tops of the brake drums. Three heavy screw jacks are built in for stabilizing the trailer.
B32 When in use, the twit vehicles are electrically connected by means of trailing cables. The winder, which is controlled on the Ward Leonard system, is designed to sustain a rope end load of 2 tons at a maximum speed of 8 ft. per second for winding depths down to 3,000 ft. The winding equipment is complete with depth indicator, signalling and telephone equipment, oil pressure operated brakes and the various protective devices normally found on the larger type of stationary winding equipment.
PYE TRANSISTOR SETS rLAIMED to be the first produced v.—• outside the United States, a new vehicle radio set incorporating transis tors has been introduced by Pye, Ltd., Cambridge. Battery consumption of the Hi-Fi model, which costs £42 including purchase tax, is stated to be reduced by two-thirds. The Continental model, selling at £31 10s., has five wavebands, and the Popular, priced at £22 Is., is among the least expensive on the market.
The standard fitting charge is £3 plus £I 15s. for aerial.