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The Reliability of
Page 100
Page 101
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Electrical Apparatus
A Comprehensive Survey Showing the Important Part Played by Electricity in the Modern Commercial Vehicle
THE commercial vehicle of to-day depends for its successful operation to a big extent upon the standard of its electrical equipment.
The magneto, which once had the field to itself, now shares its position with coil-ignition systems. Widely used examples of both are the B.T.H., Simms, C.A.V.-Bosch, Delco-Remy, M-L, MareIli (marketed by Feeny and Johnson, Ltd.) and the Scintilla. There is little to choose between the two means for ignition—a statement borne out by the fact that conversion sets for changing both from magneto to coil and from coil to magneto are manufactured by such concerns as Scintilla, Ltd., and Simms Motor Units, Ltd. Impulsestarting devices are made by the B.T.H. and Simms concerns, and the Simms automatic-advance mechanism has been a boon to engine builders.
Little affects the running of a petrol engine, particularly if it be of the highspeed high-compression type, more than the choice of sparking plugs, but the problem is simpified by the fact that nearly all manufacturers issue a list of plug recommendations for all well-known engines. Such names as A.C.-Sphinx, Champion, K.L.G., Lissen and Lodge have become -bywords in road-transport circles. In this connection the Neot plug-terminal made by Benton and Stone, which is permanently equipped with a neon tube to give an indication of the behaviour of the plug while in use, is helpful, as it enables the functioning of all the plugs to be watched at one time. In the sphere of compressionignition engines the heater plugs made by the C.A.Y.-Bosch, K.L.G. and Lodge concerns are proving reliable.
The battery, which, in the past, was a unit guilty of causing its owner anxiety, has now reached the stage at which this accusation is no longer justifiable, provided that it receives the small amount of attention it demands. Accumulators for starting, lighting and ignition purposes, of reliability and efficiency beyond reproach, are marketed under the following names :-Alklum, C.A.Y.-Nife, D.P., Dagenite (National Accumulator Co.), Ediswan, Exide (Chloride Electrical Storage Co., Ltd.), Lucas, M.C.L., Pertrix (Britannia Batteries, Ltd.), Oldham, Smith, Tudor and Tungstone, etc.
Upon the efficiency of the dynamo depends the battery, and upon the efficiency of the battery depends the starter. A modern dynamo is capable of keeping a battery charged for all c50 ordinary requirements, special dynamos and large-capacity batteries being available for passenger vehicles. An interesting point in this connection is that users of oil engines are now finding in certain cases that less current is used for starting-up purposes than is required with petrol engines. The following are a few of the best-known dynamos and starter motors C.A.Y.-Bosch, Delco-Rerny, Marelli and Scintilla.
Although in certain cases the oil engine taxes the accumulator less than the petrol engine, for starting purposes, the custom of employing 24 volts by usingtwo 12-volt batteries in series is growing, the system employed usually being to run the batteries in parallel for all other purposes, switching them into series for starting.
It is interesting to note that the alkaline battery, such as the Alklum and 0.A.Y.-Nif.s, is gaining popularity by reason of its robust construction and freedom from sulphating.
The incidental apparatus employing electricity on commercial vehicles is considerable. For example, where petrol tanks are situated at a low level electrically operated pumps, such as the Autopulse and the S.U., are often employed in lieu of vacuum or similar systems. The electric-servo brake system, as used on the Pagefield lorry, in which a powerful solenoid exerts a pull upon the brake rod, is another instance. A solenoid is employed, too, in certain headlamp dipping devices.
A further use of electricity which comes to mind is the air heater, an interesting example of which is that made by G. C. Yokes, Ltd., in which air, before entering the carburetter, is drawn past an aluminium casting, finned on its exterior and containing an element Which raises its temperature as an electric current of low amperage flows through it. Such a device is, furthermore, a protection against frozen water jackets, for if the heater be connected up to the garage lighting circuit a safe temperature can be maintained so long as the vehicle is standing.
An article on electrical equipment would be incomplete without reference to lamps and bulbs, although to treat this subject fully is impossible owing to limitations upon space. But a few of the numerous concerns the names of which are familiar in connection with the production of lamps are :—Bluemel Bros., Ltd. ; Continental Electrical Equipments, associated with the Marchal anti-dazzle device and other products ; Cooper-Stewart Eng. Co., Ltd., of spot-light fame ; Flexible Lamps, Ltd., well known in connection with unbreakable rubber-bodied lamps ; General Electric Co., Ltd.; Lissen, Ltd., maker of bulbs of all standard capacities ; C.A.17,-Bosch, Ltd. ; J. and R. Oldfield, Ltd., maker of Dependence lamps of all descriptions, including foglamps and the interesting Doubleday lens anti-dazzle device ; Philips Lamps, Ltd.; S, Smith and Sons (Motor Accessories), Ltd., maker of the Autosearchlight ; and Scintilla, Ltd., producer of a wide range of lighting equip mcnt for all purposes, including roof lamps and bulbs, inspection lamps, spotlights and neat boxes of spare parts.
There is little need for the subject of electric warning devices to receive more than a passing mention here, as they have been described elsewhere in this issue.
Switches to-day receive far more attention than was devoted to them in the past, and the number of various types of switch on the market now is surprisingly large. Practically every manufacturer of electrical equipment now includes among his products carefully made switches, and a type becom
big more widely used is the master switch, which cuts out the battery from the circuit as near the positive terminal as is practicable. Such switches are marketed by Continental Electrical Equipments and the Autowire concern.
A.C. Sphinx Sparking Ping Co., Ltd., Bradford Street, Birmingham. Alklum Storage Batteries, Ltd., Waterside, Halifax. Autowire and Maintenance Co., 92, Earl's Court Road, Landon, W.8.
Benton and Stone, Ltd., Bracelaridge Street, Birmingham. Bluemel Bros., Ltd., Wolston, near Coventry. British Thomson-Houston, Ltd., Rugby. Britannia Batteries, Ltd., 233, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W.C.2.
C.A.V.-Bosch, Ltd., Aa0311., London, W.3. Champion Sparking Plug Co., Ltd., 83 Pall Mall, London, S.W.1. Chloride Electrical Storage Co., Ltd., Clifton Junction, Manchester. Clayton-Wright, Ltd., Hockley Street, Birmingham. Clear Rooters, Ltd., 79-81, Lombard Street, Birmingham. Continental Electrical Equipments, 143, Whitfield Street, London, W.1. Cooper-Stewart Eng. Co., Ltd., 136-7, Lang Acre, London, W.0.2.
Delco-Remy and Hyatt, Ltd., 111, Grosvenor Road, London, S.W.1. D.P. Battery Co., Ltd., 11, Victoria Street, London, S.W.1.
Edison Swan Electric Co., Ltd., Panders End. Feeny and Johnson, Ltd., Ealing Road, Wembley. Flexible Lamps, Ltd., 59, New Oxford Street. London, W.C.1.
General Electric Co., Ltd., Magnet House, Kingsway, London, W.0.2: Klaxon, Ltd, 36, Blandford Street, London, W.I. K.L.G. Sparking Plugs, Ltd., Putney Vale, London, S.W.15.
Lisscn, Ltd., Worple Road, Isleworth, Middlesex. Lodge Plugs, Ltd., Rugby.
M.C.L. and Repetition, Ltd., Poole Lane, Langley, Birmingham.
National Accitainlator Co., Ltd., 50, Grosvenor Gardens. London, &WA.
J. and R. Oldfield, Ltd., Warwick Street, Birmingham. Oldham and Son, Ltd., Denton, Manchester.
R. Si. Papelian, Ltd., Edgware Road, London, N.W.2. Pickavant and Co., Ltd., Quickko Works, Granville Street, Birmingham. Philips Lamps, -Ltd., 145, Charing Cross Road, London, W.0.2.
Ratax, Ltd., Willesden Junction, London, N.W.10.
Scintilla, Ltd., 16-21, Somers Street, Leeds. Simms Motor 'Units, Ltd., Percy Buildings, Grasse Street, Rathlonne Place, London, W.1. S. Smith and Sons (Motor Accessories), Ltd., Cricklevrood Works, London, N.W.2.
'Fyer and Co., Ltd., Ashwin Street, Dalston, London, Eli. Tudor Accumulator Co.,. Ltd., 2, Norfolk Street, Strand, London, W.0.2. Tungstone Accumulator Co., Ltd., Salisbury Square, London, E.C.4.
C. G. Yokes and Go., 95, Lower Richmond Road, Putney, London. S.W.15.