Gas Container Provisional Regulations
Page 25
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THE Minister of Transport has issued the Motor Vehicles (Gas Container) Provisional Regulations, 1940, dated May 15, 1940, at Id. The meanings of the terms used in these are:—
" Gas container," any container fitted to a motor vehicle or trailer for the storage of gaseous fuel to propel the vehicle or the drawing vehicle.
"Gas cylinder," a container for the storage of compressed gas.
" Compressed gas" indicates gaseous fuel under a pressure exceeding 15 lb. per sq. in. above atmospheric pressure.
" Pipe line" concerns all pipes connecting a gas container or containers (a) to the engine or mixing device for supply to the engine, or (b) to the filling point on the vehicle. " Pressure pipe line" refers to any part of a pipe line for the conveyance of compressed gas. " Reducing valve" applies to apparatus which automatically reduces the pressure of the gas passing through it.
Fitting and Construction Now, as to the regulations. Every gas container must be securely attached to the vehicle so that it is not liable to displacement or damage from vibration or other cause, and it must be so placed or insulated as not to ,he adversely affected by exhaust heat.
Every pipe line must be supported so as to be protected from excessive vibration and stress with no part subjected to undue heat.
Every pressure pipe line must be of solid-drawn steel, and no unsupported length may exceed 3 ft.
Unions must be conetnicted and fitted so that they will not be liable to work loose or leak, and must be readily accessible for inspection and adjustment. No union on a pressure pipe line or on a gas cylinder may contain a joint other than metal-to-metal.
Reducing valves must be readily accessible and must be constructed so that there can be no escape of gas when the engine is not running.
Every valve intended for a pressure exceeding 100 lb. per sq. in. must be of forged steel, brass or bronze, complying with a specification contained in a schedule to the regulations.
A valve or cock must be fitted to the pipe line so that the gas from the containers to the mixing device can be stint off.
In the case of a pressure pipe line, a valve is required between the reducing valve and the containers. This must be readily visible and accessible from outside the vehicle. A notice indicat
ing the position and method of operation of this valve must be fixed in a conspicuous position on the outside of the vehicle.
Every pressure gauge connected to a pressure pipe line must be free from liability to deterioration under the action of the gases employed. It must be arranged so that (a) in the event of failure, no gas can escape into the vehicle; (b) it is not possible, owing to leakage of gas into the casing of the gauge, for *pressure to increase to an extent liable to cause breakage of the glass; (c) in the event of failure of the gauge, the gas may be readily cut off.
Every connection for charging a container must be outside the vehicle, and, in the case of to.s.v. types, no such connection may be within 2 ft. of any entrance or exit.
More Precautionary Measures An efficient shut-off valve is necessary as near as practicable to the filling point, but where compressed gas is not used, a cock or efficient non-return valve may be used in lieu.
With compressed gas, an additional emergency shut-off valve is required adjacent to that near the filling point.
The gas-filling point must have a cap and where compressed gas is used this must be of steel with a metal-to-metal joint.
In the case of trailers, where a gas cylinder is carried, a reducing valve is required on the trailer. No pipe must be used for conveying compressed gas from a trailer to the vehicle engine.
Every part of a gas-container propulsion system must he so placed or pro. tected as not to be exposed to accidental damage. It must be soundly made of proper materials and maintained in an efficient, safe and clean condition. In addition, it must be designed and constructed so that leakage of gas is not likely to occur under normal working conditions, whether or not the engine be running.