Sprinklers for Southern India.
Page 7
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
In spite of the average dampness of the British climate, there are many occasions on which road users and others appreciate the services of the street sprinkler, although, with the dustless surfaces now being provided throughout the country, these municipal machines are not quite so necessary as they were a few years ago. Memories of the really hot, dry summers and the dusty roads which prevailed then are sufficient to conjure up for those who have not actually been there an idea of the conditions which regularly prevail in Southern India.
Thanks to the introduction of modern European_ appliances, however, these conditions are becoming far more tolerable. The latest step which has been taken by a municipality ia this area is shown by our illustration of the Dennis street sprinkler, the photograph of which was taken while the vehicle was on its way to the docksfor shipment to Madura, a town of considerable importance within a few hundred miles of the equator.
The chassis is a standard Dennis 31tonner, carrying a tank of 450-gallon capacity. There is a manhole of largo size at the forward end, giving access for cleaning and inspection, whilst, internally, a part is partitioned off to form a reserve for priming the pump, which is of the Dennis turbine type driven from the forward end of the crankshaft, and providing 200 gallons per minute at 85-lb. pressure. This pump is also used for rapidly filling the tank, and it makes the vehicle a useful firstaid machine in the event of fire.
The sprinkler heads, which are situated at the forward ends of the frame side-members, are capable of giving a total spread of 50 ft. They are controlled independently from the cab. At the immediate rear of the cab is a pipe for swilling the near-side gutter with water.
For purposes of shipment the tank is removed and packed separately, and the suction hose is shown temporarily slung over the top, as its support brackets have been dismantled.
The equipment includes a detachable Cape-cart hood, lamps and tools.