AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

A Petrol-storage Installation for the Gamage Bell Motorcab Co., Ltd.

9th March 1911, Page 10
9th March 1911
Page 10
Page 11
Page 10, 9th March 1911 — A Petrol-storage Installation for the Gamage Bell Motorcab Co., Ltd.
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

The Steel Barrel Co., Ltd., of Uxbridge, supplies a 5,000-gallon Equipment.

When, some weeks ago, we had occasion to wander round the extensive Uxbridge works, where the steel barrels come from, amongst the many different contracts which were then in hand in the shops, we particularly noticed the huge rivetless tanks that were to form part of the petrol-storage equipment for the new home of the Gamage-Bell motorcabs in Pimlico. Our request to Mr. T. T. Heaton, the general manager of the concern, that, upon completion of this installation, we should be afforded an opportunity to examine the whole plant in situ, was readily granted. Last, week, therefore, upon due notification from the works that the interment ceremonies at Pimlico were about to take place, we sought out Mr. Horace Bell, the managing director of the Gamage-Bell Motorcab Co., Ltd., and under his guidance examined the plant, now finally in position in the as-yet-unfinished garage on Thames side. The Steel Barrel Co., Ltd., is, of course, quite used to these large installations, but even the officials at Uxbridge were unusually enthusiastic about the plant which they were then turning over to Mr.

Bell's care. This gentleman, too, is not unconscious of a share in the successful arrangements which have been made ; he has had his hands very full indeed since. the work was commenced upon the fine new premises in Commercial Road, S.W., and it is quite evident that he has given considerable personal attention to the whole of the details of the new building and of its equipment. Careful examination of the pipe lay-out, of the means which have been been taken to avoid unnecessary complication, and of the high-class workmanship that has been embodied throughout in the 5,000-gallon petrol-storage plant, enables us unreservedly to assign credit to the 'Steel Barrel Co., Ltd., who knew what to supply, and to Mr. Horace Bell, who knew what he wanted.

Opinion is apparently sharply divided amongst large owners of commercial vehicles as to the advisability of providing measuring tanks from which their vehicles' reservoirs may be filled. It is instructive, nevertheless, to note that two, at least, of the most-important owners of cab fleets simply fill the petrol tanks on their vehicles direct from stand pipes and rely upon measurement by dipping as each vehicle leaves the yard. We are told that considers: t ions of space, time economy and organization generally render this method the better one.

We reproduce a diagram, which reveals, both in elevation and in plan—although not to scale, of course, the method that has been adopted of grouping the storage units and the service pipes in the new Ga.mage-Bell plant. Four similar tanks, each of which is of 1,250-gallons capacity, are sunk in pits below ground, and these tanks are subsequently covered in with sand and ballast. The pipe lines are readily traceable. All the tanks are in parallel by virtue of a bottom connecting pipe of large lbore. An overhead gravity tank of 50-gallons capacity is nor

mally kept full of spirit by means of an electricallydriven rotary pump which draws from the bottom of the nearest tank. Overflow takes place, from thegravity tank, back into the underground reservoirs, whilst a head is maintained, by way of the long underground supply main, to all the stand pipes, each of which is fitted with a length of flexible hose and a

filling cock. As a stand-by to the power-driven pump, a semi-rotary hand pump of standard pattern is, as it were, in shunt with the main supply line, being put into or out of operation by means of suitably-placed stop cocks. Both the main and the auxiliary gravity tanks have long vertical vent pipes suitably protected by gauzes. Elsewhere in the system care is taken to provide fire-resisting gauzes wherever it is deemed necessary. From the foregoing description, it will be realized that the Steel Barrel Co.: when it is not hampered with special restrictions, installs a plant that is remarkable for its lack of complication. One other. outstanding feature is, of course, the manner in which freedom from leakage is ensured. Wherever it is practicable to do away with a joint, this has been done ; pipe lines throughout are welded, and flanges and screwed joints disappear ; everything that is never likely to need to be moved is welded into position. It is needless to add that the huge underground tanks, one of which we illustrated in our issue for the 19th of January, are rivetless. Both on account of the careful elimination of needless " trimmings," and by a comprehensive use of welded joints, the plant supplied by the Steel Barrel Co., Ltd., is commendable for its simplicity ; inspection of some such equipment as that just completed at Pimlico will convince those who are interested as to the nature of the workmanship ; as to its utility it is good' advice to "ask the man that uses one."

Tags


comments powered by Disqus