NEW EQUIPMENT
Page 55
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and publications
Automatic washer
MANUFACTURED and distributed by A.V.W. Equipment Ltd. is a fully automatic self-service vehicle washing unit. For public garages it can be coin-operated. It will cope with vehicles ranging in size from Mini to mini-bus.
The Autogantry can be operated 24 hours daily unattended, and copes with up to 20 light vans (or cars) an hour. Operating cost (water, electricity and detergent), is minimal and can be as little as 2+d. a vehicle.
A vehicle remains stationary while the Autogantry, with its horizontal and two vertical rotating brushes, traverses it once in each direction. Sensory devices control brush movement and ensure constant contact on vertical and horizontal surfaces. Detergent spray is introduced on the first traverse and on the return, a clean-water rinse.
Made by: A.V.W. Equipment Ltd., 21, Young Street, Edinburgh.
Price: £3,800.
Power scrubber
AVAILABLE for hire from I.F.T. Ltd is an American-made concrete grinding machine —adapted for scrubbing workshop floors. Petrol-engine-powered, it has dual rotating heads containing three wire brushes.
A set will scrub 1,000 sq.yd. Degreasing crystals are available: lcwt will clean 200 sq.yd.
Available from: I.F.T. Ltd., Nugent Road, London, N19.
Hire charge: £10 a week; brushes 21s a set (of three). Crystals cost from £2 lOs to £3 2s per cwt depending on the amount ordered.
Painting simplified
THE DeVILBISS low-pressure hot spray system of product finishing is widely—in fact, internationally—accepted. Now, to help prospective users to understand the principles and simple technicalities involved, DeVilbiss has published a 16-page booklet, The Economics of Low-Pressure Hot Spray. Arranged in an easily assimilated form and well illustrated, the method is dealt with under six headings, including descriptions of the equipment and factual case histories. The booklet is a pocketable 8in. x From: The DeVilbiss Co. Ltd., Ringwood Road, Bournemouth, or any branch office— free.
Lightweight polisher
AN ELECTRIC polishing tool with a plastics body has been added to the Marron range of industrial tools. The Super Stork LAR2, it weighs only 71b and develops 1 bhp. Depth of the head is only 3.75in., so the LAR2 may be used in restricted spaces. Its overall length is 15in. It is available for all voltages. Made by: Marron Machines Ltd., 37 Queensbury Station Parade, Edgware, Middlesex. Price: £32 10s.
Underfloor vision safety screen for vehicles
AMONG the most tragic of road accidents are those involving young children. A Northern Ireland firm believes it has found the answer to many such accidents in the form of an invention which will be seen for the first time at the Dairy Show, Olympia, London, from 25-28 October.
The device: the Unimec underfloor safety vision screen, easily fitted to nearly every make of commercial vehicle. It enables the driver, before moving off, to see at a glance that the underside of the vehicle is completely clear of obstruction.
The device was invented by Mr. Austen Orr, a former dairy firm employee who was a member of a working party set up by the Northern Ireland Government to study the problem of accidents to children involving ice-cream vans, laundry and other delivery vehicles.
Perfect view
Mr. On produced a prototype mirror which was fixed underneath the floor of a van and which, through a small floor opening, gave the driver a perfect view of the ground underneath the vehicle.
The mirror screen measures 18in. by 4in. and is solidly constructed. When a driver enters the vehicle and sits on the cab seat his weight automatically lowers the mirror into position which gives a completely clear and unobstructed panoramic view of the underside of the vehicle and all road wheels.
It can be retracted into its original position by depressing a foot lever and during normal driving the mirror is concealed in a protective shell to keep it free from dust and road grime. In a few vehicles it may be necessary to fit two mirrors because of the position of the engine and in tests recently carried out the driver of a vehicle was able to identfly a coin which had been dropped immediately behind the rear offside wheel.
The mirror has been widely tested by commercial vehicle users with such success that it is now to be manufactured by the light engineering division of the Northern Ireland firm of Short Brothers and Harland Ltd. and pre-production models are being fitted to vehicles which will be on display at the Dairy Show at Olympia.
Inquiries have already been received about the device from Australia and the United States.
The underfloor vision screen is by far the cheapest (estimated cost fitted per vehicle about 120) device so far produced in this field, and can be installed on almost any class of delivery vehicle with ease.
Previous efforts to overcome the type of accident occurring with delivery vehicles have ranged over miniature radar to electronic beams but in cost and performance the new mirror is believed to be the best answer yet found.
It is expected that the device will be in full production early in 1968. It will be developed and marketed by Unimec Designs Ltd., Hampton Mews, 45 Quarry Road, Belfast 4.
Rapid steam
THE STEAMATIC 3000 (Mark 2) steam cleaner is an improved version of earlier models. It produces steam in 60sec; shutdown can be completed in 30sec. An integral tank carries enough water for the machine to be operated for 20min.
Overall dimensions: length 5ft. 2in.; width 2ft. 8in.; height 2ft. 8in.
Made by: Warwick Pump and Engineering Co. Ltd., Ferry Lane, Hythe End, Staines, Middlesex.
Price: £295.