Cook with gas

Carrying Offshore Pipelines and Equipment New types of inflatable flotation bags developed by the Avon Rul?per Co. Ltd., can be used to transport pipelines or equipment ~cros~ stn~tches of water. So far they have been used for laymg pipe Imes on the seabed and for transporting large blocks of concrete used to form an offshore winching platfor~. They are equally suitable for floating bridge decks across rivers.

St~ndar? Avon flotation bags are of cylindrical shape with hemispherical ends and inflate to a pressure of 10 psi (69 kN/sq. m). There are two sizes-one with a buoyance of 5 OOO lb. (2,268 kg~ and one with a buoyance of 2,500 lb. (1134 'kg). T_he larger size. has an overall length of 9 ft. (2. 7 m) and a diameter of 52 ms (106.6 cm) while the smaller version has a l~ngth of 7 ft: (2.1 m) and a diameter of 34 in. (86.3 cm). Both sizes are fa~mcated from tough nylon fabric coated with Hypalon synthetic rubber compound. In addition to being impervious to water, Hypalon also has a high resistance to abrasion. Leak Detection Service to Industry Metal and Pipeline E':1durance Limited, MAPEL, have devel~ped a comprehensive mobile Leak Detection Service to assist Gas Boards, wate~ distribution authorities, pipeline contractors and owners m ascertaining points at which leakage occu~s. This service may also be applied to storage ~anks and stil!s,. refinery and processing pipework and all above ground pipework and containers. ~he vehicle mounted Flame Ionisation Gas Leak Detector ~~it for ~~e detection of town gas and natural gas which is 0 f ra sens1~1ve, takes a continuous the.buried system. Each leak is air sample near the surface recorded at the moment of d~tection, providing a permanent electronic record which gives the location and relative size of the leak.

The portable Leak Detector utilises the same principles of hydrogen flame ionisation and is used for the detection of leaks on buried pipe-lines inside buildings or at processing plants where access is restricted. The apparatus comprises a detector unit carried on the operator's back and a handheld probe. Leaks are detected by means of an audible signal or a. mete~ reading in the hand probe and similarly to the mobile umt a permanent record can be provided.

Ultrasonic Leak Detector The Dawe Ultrasonic Leak Detector Type 8901A has been ~esigned for the continuous monitoring of gas (air) leakages m any type of pressurised or vacuum component. It is mains operated and is intended for permanent installation in such as a production line.

This instrument will locate leaks by detecting the ultrasonic energy generated by molecular collisions when gas is forced through a small orifice. The ultrasonic frequencies involved (36 kH~ to 44 kHz) are well outside the audible range. Therefore the eqUJpment may be used in areas ofrelatively high noise level. fi ~~e equipment consists of two ultrasonic microphones t~ mg a. co~bining UI~it whic? in turn operates a meter and ~ger circUit. The trigger circuit r.ontrols a relay which activates both audio and visual alarm circuits. A set of relay contacts are. also built into the instrument for controlling external eqUipment. An output is available to drive a pen recorder thereby_ ~~intaining a. continuous record of leakage levels. The. sens1h~1ty of the mdividual detecting channels c~n be ad3usted mdependently so that alarm signals are triggered only at predetermined leakage levels.

by Joe Toff (Steering Wheel-Journal of Taxicab Industry) A look into gas-propelled taxis of the (near) future.

W. H. Cook & Sons Ltd., one of the largest taxi fleet operators in London, invited me to a test prototype gas-propelled Austin FX4 petrol-engined taxi. It is a new cab and fitted with a special reinforced tank for the storing of Liquified Petroleum Gas. This is placed in the boot (the spare wheel is re-sited in the front luggage compartment) and requires a separate refuelling system to the one normally used in the near side of the cab. The prototype is situated on the offside rear and feeds a 12! gallon capacity tank. (Propane fuel is measured by weight and not gallons.)

The liquid is converted to gas before reaching the carburettor and the driver can, by a flick of a switch mounted on the dashboard, revert back to the petrol supply if he so wishes. On the test run, I found the engine quieter on gas than on petrol, the acceleration was not quite so marked as with petrol, but this was due to the gas induction being economically controlled in the initial testing stage. It can, of course, be increased as desired. I pulled away in top gear and the cab responded without hesitation or pinking. In a stretch of slow (5 m.p.h.) moving traffic I never changed gear at all and there was no trace of reluctance to get going. At a speed of 40 m.p.h. it was smooth, responsive and relaxing.

In an interview with Director Vernon Cook, he told me: "The possibility of using liquified petroleum gas (Propane) as a fuel in taxi cabs has exercised our minds for the past four or five years. In the late summer of 1969, my Company, W. H. Cook & Sons Ltd., started investigations into the possibility of converting a cab for test purposes, and by September had one on the road (unlicensed of course). Having been very satisfied with the results, we approached the Public Carriage Office for approval to convert our fleet. In the event we were granted permission to operate twelve cabs on a trial basis for a limited period. Our subsidiary, Taxicab Repairs Ltd., carried out the necessary work and the first cab was passed for licensing on 17th March 1970. I should record that, throughout the discussions and examinations of the vehicle, theP.C.O. have been very helpful and co-operative. "The advantages of using this type of fuel are: economy, smoothness, and quietness of operation, and there being very little obnoxious gasses emitted by the exhaust. Authorities concerned in the problem of air pollution will be very interested in the latter advantage. In addition, LPG is safer in operation than petrol and, in short, is considered by Automotive Engineers to be the ideal fuel for motor transport. "It is not a new idea, having been used extensively in motor transport in the United States, Holland, Belgium, Italy, Germany and Japan for a number of years. It is estimated that 50 per cent of taxi cabs operating in Holland and Belgium, and all cabs in Tokyo operate on LPG. So far, in this country the use is limited to a few commercial operators. "We are confident that our test will be concluded satisfactorily and in the latter part of this year will commence to run all our cabs on LPG".

From Steering Wheel.