New equipment and publications
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Hoists in offices
Hoists and lifts in offices, shops and railway premises are to have the same safeguards as those provided for this equipment in factories under the Factories Act 1961.
This is the effect of regulations laid before Parliament on June 11 which come into effect on May 28 1969. They are Offices, Shops and Railway Premises (Hoists and Lifts) Regulations 1968, Si 1968, •No. 849 and The Offices, Shops and Railway Premises (Hoists and Lifts) Reports Order, 1968, S.I. 1968 No. 863.
Published by: HMSO priced at 1s 3d and 9d respectively.
Anti-smear solvent
Trico-Folberth Ltd. is now marketing a chemical solution known as Anti-Smear Solvent which, when added to the water in the windscreen washer reservoir, is claimed to clean the glass and restore its grease-repellent properties.
Marketed by: Trico-Folberth Ltd., Great West Road, Brentford, Middlesex.
Price: 6oz bottle 4s 3d; 101 sachet 1s.
Training Handbook
• The first British treatise of its kind, Industrial Training Handbook (edited by J. W. Barber) is to be published by Iliffe Books Ltd., 42 Russell Square, London, WC1, in the autumn.
The text is based on topics discussed on the eight-week full-time course for industrial training officers at the Portsmouth Regional College of Technology, where Mr. Barber is a
senior lecturer. The book is divided into five parts, the first three covering the training framework, preparatory considerations, training methods and techniques. The fourth part deals with training for specific jobs and the final section gives information on the relevant established organizations.
Thirty contributors, all specialists active in industrial training, have produced a balanced, comprehensive and integrated work of 410 pages with over 40 illustrations. The price on publication will be 70s: one month after 85s.
Wheel balancing
A new approach to wheel balancing, which eliminates the high capital cost of the equipment used for other balancing methods, is represented in the Teco system now available from Grantham Rubber Machinery Co. Ltd.
The Teco balancing system simply consists of a plastic circular tube, containing a number of steel balls and a certain quantity of fluid, which is fitted to—and left on—the wheel requiring balancing. Various sizes of Teco balancers are available to suit every type of commercial-vehicle wheel.
The wheel does not have to be removed from the vehicle and no expensive balancing machine or complicated calculations are necessary to find the amount of un-balance. The Teco rings are fitted onto the wheel by means of several clips and they are easily removed for fitting to other wheels if required but once fitted they require no further attention. When a tyre is changed, the ring can be removed for the tyre-changing operation and afterwards replaced.
When the rotational speed of the wheel reaches a certain figure, the metal balls move around the circular tube in such a way that they will always assume a position opposite to the out-of-balance force on the wheel. The rotating mass is therefore automatically balanced, and there will also be automatic adjustment to changes in the distribution of out-of-balance, caused by different loading and road conditions.
Marketed by: Grantham Rubber Machinery Co. Ltd., Grantham, Lincs.
Price: E26 a pair.
New drivers Handbook
• The TRTA has published a completely new edition of its commercial vehicle Driver's Handbook which explains in everyday language the law which a goods vehicle driver must know, and provides reminders on safe and courteous driving. It is available to TRTA members only, at 2s 6d (but with special prices for large orders).
Meanwhile the TRTA has printed a leaflet summarizing transport legislation 1968-9 covering some 20 subjects. This is available to TRTA members at 1s each and to nonmembers at 3s. The TRTA head office is at 1-11 Hay Hill, London, W1.
Tyre Guide
The AA has published a 20-page guide entitled What you ought to know about your tyres. Written by the Association's chief engineer Mr. Marcus Jacobson, the booklet includes a useful chart on the dos and don'ts of mixing tyres, and a current list of radial tyres available in the UK. Advice is also given on remoulds, cut-price tyres, storage and the life of a tyre.
Published by: The Automobile Association, Fanum House, Leicester Square, London, W C2.
Price: 2s 6d to members only, from any AA Office.
Testing car batteries
The latest edition of "Testing Car Batteries", its manual for garage use, has just been published by Exide Batteries division of Electric Power Storage Ltd. This 12-page pocket-size booklet describes how the condition of a car battery can be determined, and wornout batteries detected before an actual failure, through a series of simple tests. The tests describes involve the use of either a high-rate discharge tester and hydrometer or the Exide "Double-Check" battery tester.
In the first part of the booklet the correct use of the highrate discharge tester and hydrometer and the interpretation of the readings obtained is described; a diagnosis chart based on these readings provides a quick guide to battery condition.
The rest of the booklet covers the use of the Exide "Double Check" battery tester—a multi-purpose instrument which can be used as an alternative to the high-rate discharge tester and hydrometer.
Available from all Exide agents.
Continental handbook
The 1968-1969 AA Continental handbook is now available to members. In its 440 pages of text, details of each country are given in separate sections. Of major interest to the haulier will be the list of service stations. Published by: The Automobile Association, Fanum House, Leicester Square, London, WC2.
Price: 10s to members only, from any AA Office.
Alarm system
A portable alarm system which provides a warning if a vehicle is being tampered with or stolen, has been announced by Dell Quay Sales Ltd.
The self-powered unit is set to "alert" by means of a Yale key switch. When the alarm is set off by the displacement of doors, windows or panelling, either a bell or a flashing light is activated and the alarm signal continues to sound until the key is turned off. For security vehicles, the alarm system can be wired to activate a radio signal which can be monitored by the police but is inaudible to anyone else. In the case of open loads, a loop wire can be passed through valuable articles and, if cut, broken or by-passed, this causes the alarm to start.
The system comprises a central control unit housed in a weather-proof box measuring 9.25in. by 6.25in. by 3.5in. and is powered by a 12V battery. The unit has a low current drain (less than 70 micro-amps) and one battery has a life of up to 12 months. A light-sensitive switch detects the slightest movement of the lid protecting the control unit and warns of the interference.
Marketed by: Dell Quay Sales Ltd., ltchenor Shipyard, Chichester.
Battery charger
A newly styled, automatic battery charger which takes the guesswork out of battery charging and turns it into a fast service has been introduced by Westinghouse. The unit will give an 85 per cent capacity charge to a normal car battery in 60min and fully charges it in two to three hours more.
An electronic unit regulates the voltage intake, controlling it to a safe "gassing" voltage. There is no risk of overcharging, no chance of bodywork damage from gas-borne acid (the result of excess gassing) and batteries can be fast charged without the danger of undue wear.
A built-in polarity protector prevents current flow if the charger is wrongly connected and the equipment itself is protected against overloading by a magnetic circuit breaker. The unit operates on mains supply (200/250V single phase) and for rapid charging the rate is 80amp max at 6V and 50amp max at 12V. By depressing an engine-start button, the control circuit is overridden allowing a greatly increased output for a short time to start an engine and in this case. output is 200amp at 6V and 150amp at 12V.
Two to five 12V or four to ten 6V batteries can be charged through a distribution panel supplied for this purpose and this has been specially designed to permit charging at a rate not exceeding 10amp.
Made by: Westinghouse Garage Equipment Ltd., Hanham Rd., Kingswood, Bristol.
Price: £93 10s; distribution panel, £5.
Spray unit
An accessory introduced by Spraying Systems Co. of Illinois is the Multeejet spray unit which offers a wide selection of volume, spray angles and spray patterns.
Available in stainless steel or brass, the Multeejet fits all Spraying Systems' spray guns including Trigger Teejets and Gunjets. It is supplied with a choice of any of four interchangable spray tips—flat, full cone, hollow cone and solid stream, the required setting can instantly be selected by rotating a knurled ring after shutting off the spray. The settings are positive and leak-proof. A safety feature prevents accidental backspray to the operator.
The Multeejet spray unit consists of a glass-filled nylon retainer ring, tip holder and back-up plate with plated steel inlet assembly. The maximum operative pressure and temperature is 700 psi. and 180deg F; it weighs 4oz.
Marketed by: CT (London) Ltd., 27 Ashley Place, London, SW1.
Refrigeration brochure
A 10-page illustrated brochure on CryoGuard, the liquid nitrogen system for transport-vehicle refrigeration, has been published by Air Products Ltd. The brochure contains information about the application, installation, operation and running costs of the system and lists the technical data of a Cryo-Guard unit.
The Cryo-Guard system is designed for use in all types of insulated carrier, from large road and rail containers to local delivery trucks. The system vaporizes liquid nitrogen into the cargo space to produce a temperature-controlled nitrogen atmosphere. A cargo can be held at any temperature down to minus 20deg F and the selected temperature will be maintained to within 1 deg, even with frequent door openings.
The system allows high-density cargo packing, is completely automatic and, having no moving parts, is noiseless, virtually maintenance-free and extremely reliable.
Published by: Air Products Ltd., Coombe House, St. George's Square, New Malden, Surrey.
Sound-level meter
A sound-level meter claimed to provide a simple, robust and inexpensive means for the general and specialized measurement of sound and noise levels is now produced by Cosmocord Ltd.
IIt has been designed to meet BS require
continued on page 45 ments and is suitable for the measurement of motor vehicle noise (BS 3425:1966). "A" weighted frequency response is built into the instrument and the instrument which bears the model number SLM3 measures approximately 4in. by 8.5in. by 2.75in. including the microphone. It has fast and slow meterdamping capabilities which enable both peak and average levels to be recorded.
An output socket is provided for a pen recorder, and there are facilities for the checking and adjustment of the calibration level. The microphone capsule is removable and can be used with an extension cable. A wide range of accessories, including a protective leather case, is available.
Made by Cosmocord Ltd., Eleanor Cross Rd., Waltham Cross, Herts.
Price: £41.
Arc welding alloy
A manual arc-welding alloy designed to provide low cost hard surfacing over a wide range of applications, has been introduced by Dewrance Metals Ltd. The alloy—No. 192W—is a high carbon, high chromium alloy containing silicon and manganese. It is hard and tough and has good resistance to abrasion, impact and heat, and moderate resistance to corrosion.
The new electrode has a solid, low alloysteel core and an extruded coating which contains additional alloying materials which transfer to the weld metal during welding to provide a deposit of specified analysis. Welding characteristics permit position welding as well as downhand work.
The arc is easy to strike and can be held readily either short or long, depending on the application requirements. Beads are clean and smooth and require a minimum of finishing. Marketed by: Dewrance Metals Ltd., Great Dover Street, London, SE1.
Roofing section Aluminium extruded sections that lock together to form a roofing system of exceptional strength and which is light but strong enough to span 24ft with only simple end supports is announced by Midland Extrusions Ltd. It will cantilever to 8ft and is marketed under the name Spanfast.
Spanfast can be erected many times faster than ordinary roofing materials. No skilled labour is required: only the ability to insert bolts through the fixing angles and into the fixing devices being employed. The fixings can withstand loads five times greater than those encountered in normal service.
Spanfast is manufactured from aluminium alloy and possesses good weathering properties. As it is almost twice as thick as normal sheet aluminium roofing products, its life expectancy is very much greater and maintenance is nil. The eaves are sealed with p.v.c. eaves caps, permanently secured by a non-hardening sealant and integral metal clips. Made by: Midland Extrusions Ltd., Factory Centre, Kings Norton, Birmingham 30.
Price: Between 11s and 8s 6d per sq. ft. dependent upon quantity.