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Electrically Charged Paint Spray
A CHARGE of 90,000 volts is employed in the "latest electrostatic paint-spray installation at the assembly plant of Morris Motors, Ltd., Cowley. It cuts paint wastage to less than 2 per cent., compared with the 50 per cent, lost by the ordinary spray gun., The principle of operation is simple. The paint is pumped to a set of hemispherical atomizing heath which are rotated at 900 r.p.m. and charged at the voltage mentioned. Centrifugal force moves the paint to the outer edge of the hemispheres, whence it is flung through an electro-static field on to the article to be painted, which constitutes the nearest earth.
There are three of these heads on each side, and the work passes on a conveyor between them, allowing both surfaces to be treated. In effect, the article passes through a curtain of paint particles, so small that they are invisible until they settle on the meta!, giving the impression that a coat of paint has materialized from nowhere.
Apart from the great saving in material, this plant does away with the need for operators to wear gauze A28 masks and only one man is needed to supervise it. The equipment was invented by an American, Mr. H. Ransburg, and was installed at Cowley by Henry W. Peabody (Industrial), Ltd., who make these machines under licence.
Freeing Transport in Australia
A S a result of giving additional freedom to road 1-1 transport in Australia, heavy haulage to and from South Australia has been trebled. In fact, some concerns are dispatching five times as much freight by road as was previoufily the case.
An interesting estimate is that in direct services on inter-state routes, road transport can carry 100 cu. ft. for the same rate as the railways charge for 80 cu. ft. and shipping for 40 Cu. ft.
The effect of the relaxation is likely to be even higher in New South Wales and Victoria, where taxes of 3d, per tort-mile were formerly imposed, In the south, the South Australian Transport Control Board no longer require inter-state hauliers to obtain permits or pay fees.
adio Speech and Tape Outfit
'HE company who claim to be the only manufacturers in Switzerland of complete radio, tape and icrophone equipment for coaches are Radiowerk ani Wil (SG) S.A., of Anlagen, and some of the bides at the recent Swiss Show were fitted with eir products. The full outfit comprises a wireless t in which the valves and other parts which might, time, require attention can be lifted off as a neat tit, leaving the base. This set is coupled to a icrophone and the internal loudspeakers. Th langeover switching can also bring in a tape corder, so that passengers can be regaled with tisk or talks at any time or with the normal radio ogrammes.
The latest tape equipment, marketed in conjunction ith Grundig, can give four hours of uninterrupted usic. To the coach occupants this might he ther soothing or infuriating, according to their clinations.
xtension of Co-operation in Haulage ?
F is interesting to learn from Mr. M. W, Harris that he, in conjunction with Mr. H. L. Walker of hornaby-on-Tees and Mr. G. Gomm of Cardiff, is ideavouring to build up the membership of ssociated Road Transport Contractors, Ltd., 7. Sloane Street, London, S.W.1, whose hon. cretary is Mr. H. N. Inch.
Before nationalization, this organization, which was founded by Mr. Harris, who is managing director of Burrows Transport Ltd. and other concerns, comprised nearly 40 haulage companies, who worked on a co-operative basis, although each business remained an entity.
Those whose goods were carried may remember the shortened name of " Artco " for the organization. The objects were to provide special facilities between the members which would help all in their work; and hauliers who are interested in the revival should write to Mr. Inch.
For those whose facilities are considered to be suitable and adequate, there will be a• meeting at 3 p.m. on May 7 at Chelsea Cloisters, Sloane Avenue, London, S.W.3.
No Bad Language ?
nNE of the most interesting and novel exhibits in
the Birmingham section of the British Industries Fair, which will be held in May this year, will be found on the stand of Slip Products and Engineering Co., Ltd.
It will be an automatic interpreter which will present the case for oil-fuel additives in any of 10 languages. These will be English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Afrikaans, Russian, Arabic and Hindi. Each will be obtained by merely pressing the appropriate switch.