Passing Comments
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A Missing Service
THE design of many machines and the operating of
works 'are largely dependent upon a constant supply of electric power, which avoids the need for heavy capital expenditure upon generating plant. Recent developments in certain machines and tools do, however, indicate that a source of power other than electricity is a growing requirement, and because it is missing as a general service, plant for obtaining it must be installed in many works. The missing service is the wide distribution of compressed air. The need for this was realized in Paris some 80 years ago when a company was formed to provide an adequate supply. From it have long been driven public and private clocks, and machines in houses and workshops all over the city. In the early days electric light, the current for 'which was obtained from dynamos driven by air motors, was installed in clubs, hotels and restaurants, the exhaust air from the motors often giving the incidental advantage of cooling the beer cellars. Many hydraulic lifts were converted to air-hydraulic operation with considerable economic advantage, and by 1920 there were 5,000 such lifts in use. Mains for the compressed air were extended to 450 miles in 1953 and are growing continuously. Nearly all are accommodated in the famous passage& under the streets of Paris, "which contain sewers and mains.
The existence of this service over so long a period has had a considerable effect on the development of pneumatic tools and equipment, ,and air-hydraulic applications incidental to the trend of much modern machinery are growing in small, medium and large industrial establishments.
The question is, would such a service pay in London and other large cities, particularly where thousands of garages have to provide their own compressing plant? A.30
Obviating the Menace of Dust
OME processes require the rigid exclusion of dust, as for instance, in the manufacture of miniature ball bearings and the thousands of small parts which make up into highly accurate instruments. In some cases such work is conducted in small glass-topped cabinets, which can have either an open front, through which the operator can put his hands, or closed with some suitable material, such as sheet rubber, with holes for the insertion of the hands.
Such cabinets are even used as an additional precaution where dust-free air is fed into the workshops under pressure, thus largely preventing contaminated air from entering.
An Unusual Tip
ACONTRIBUTION to the annual review of the Asphalt Roads Association by Mr. F. L. Wooldridge, M.I.C.E„ borough engineer and surveyor of Southampton, is of interest as it describes the ingenious way in which the collapse of a culvert, and the possible washing away of a main rOad, were prevented.
During recent floods at Lymington engineers of British Railways became most concerned at the breaking away of the footings of this brick culvert, which passes beneath the Tollbridge Road, and through which river water, controlled by tidal doors, discharges into the harbour. The employment of either brick or concrete for the remedial work was prevented by the floods, but it was suggested that asphalt could be dumped at the weak spot. As a result lorry loads of gravel asphalt were tipped from the parapet in such a way that they created a solid, waterproof mass immediately against the broken brickwork below the sluice gates. The operation took some 70 tons of material and proved to be a great success.
Courtesy—the Social Lubricant
THOSE who travel regularly by bus know how often
the conductor has to exercise self-control, frequently. coupled with a good sense of humour, in coping with a passenger who is " awkward " for one or more of a variety of reasons—possibly a row with his better half," alcoholic exuberance, a desire to smoke where he should not, that " Monday-morning " feeling, or, and one must admit that this is maddening, a" crawling" bus, the driver of which is endeavouring to adhere to his route time.
On the other hand, a conductor may have troubles of his own, and be in a touchy mood. Therefore, nobody's feelings should be hurt at the courtesy drive which has been inaugurated in various parts of the country, and which appeals to both bus crews and passengers to show consideration for each other.
The "Courtesy Special" decorated bus of the Southdown Company was put into operation on April 13 and it is believed, will run for a total of five weeks, covering a week in each of the five divisions of the Southdown area, whilst the slogan "Life is Brighter for Courtesy " is being displayed on posters in the buses and on notice boards, together with special codes of behaviour for all
involved in bus travel. , There's much to be said for the Retort Courteous.
. Are Additives Advantageous ?
FUEL additives are normally not greatly favoured by companies supplying petrol and derv, most expressing the view, that if these were really necessary they would be added at the source. Notwithstanding this, certain operators continue, apparently with some justification,, to employ various types of " proprietary " additive.
In this connection interesting news comes from E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Co., Wilmington 98, Delaware, U.S.A. They quote the experience of an operator running high-speed heavy-duty oil-engined trucks in cross-country service in the western half of the States. He found that the service life of injectors was doubled, and even trebled, merely by the use of 1-1 lb. of Du Pont P0A-2 per 1,000
gal, of fuel, at a cast of a fraction of Id. per gal. .
In oil-engined tractors there is also a: tendency for some fuels to cause injection sticking and filter obstruction, and, it has .been-.clairried that in one field test the addition of 1.5 lb of oil fuel .additive No. 2 (FOA-2) and 0.05 lb.' (a little less than an ounce) of metal deactivator (DMD) per 1,000 gal. of dery solved an injector-sticking problem in several different makes of tractor. Half the amount of additive ended injector sticking and filter plugging in a second test with a number of trucks working under similar conditions.