THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 1932.
THE CHINA
MAIL.
MOTORISTS THIS IS YOUR PAGES
REDUCING FIRE RISKS
WAYS IN WHICH FIRES
OCCUR
such
21
and fully insulated cables to sim-smothered with a coat by acting plify the wiring, and are also now quickly. making a practice of using fuses.in
Hot Exhaust Pipes.
THE LUXURY CAR in the low-price class - beautiful interior appoint- ments and upholstery - roomy, full-size Safety-Steel Bodies—ex- clusive Floating Power and 4- Wheel Weatherproof, Hydraulic Brakes and many other features not offered in care of its price.
CPLYMOUTOR
the principal circuits which melt If petrol drips upon a very hot when overloaded, so preventing a exhaust pipe It will evaporate with. prolonged flow of current should a out igniting, but a mixture of petrol short-circuit occur. These steps are and oil can be set alight in this all to the good, but nevertheless, way. The safest rule is, therefore, could be Improved upon by the use to keep the fuel well away from the!
the lines exhaust system, and another good device, a master switch on
up is to keep the engine clean ex- The extreme. intensity of a petrol tanks, pipes and fittings for the owners employ
Whenever the floorboards are re-ternally; then should a fire be blaze and the rapidity with which patrol system, and in the same way amongst whom must be numbered which we have suggested.
A car accumulator It can occur and spread are such the chances of electrical short-cir- H.M. the King. that a conflagration of this type is cuits should be minimized by using a specially designed to give a heavy moved for the replenishment of the initiated, it will not spread so quick- always vividly remembered by any-wiring of good quality, thoroughly flow of current such as a needed gearbox or other purposes, it is aly.
motor; and good plan to examine the wiring. To sum up, there will always be' one present. Luckily, ear fires so insulated, and by paying due atten- to operate a starter
if short-circuit which is usually clipped to a side a risk of fire so long as cars carry in which it is at-consequently, rarely occur, despite the large tion to the way
occurs, the wires in question over-member of the frame. The insula a highly inflammable fuel together number of vehicles in daily use, tached to this chassis.
tion, if damaged where clipped, with various means for its ignition.j that most motorists may go for
Another important point is that heat very rapidly.
two systems should At the present time, if such a may be bound with insulation tape. By taking reasonable precautions, years without seeing a catastrophe each of these
damage under the front wings, undoubtedly be minimised and of this kind and even less likely is embody a means whereby the driver fault occurs suddenly on the road-The wiring is also apt to suffer however, the likelihood of fire can it that they will themselves have can, at an instant's notice, cut off for example, if wisps of smoke, such an experience.
the supply. At one time an acces commence to emerge from under the where it is taken to the side lampa. equally important is it that one On the other hand, a highly com-sible petrol tap was found on almost instrument panel the only course Another point worth mentioning is should have at hand some means
such as a fog lamp, a fire should it occur. bustible fuel and a ready agent for every car, but since rear tanks be- which the owner can adopt is to stop that any new fitting acquired by the for the immédiate suppression of its ignition in the shape of electricame popular this useful fitting has the car, find a spanner of the right car owner,
It is size, get at the batteries and remove should not be wired up in a slipshod power are in such dangerous prox- become less frequently used.
The Ignition System. imity on cars of all types that it is true that a tap is usually fitted be the positive connection. If a master manner such as is often seen. foolish Indeed to dismiss the risks neath a vacuum tank, but, as a rule, switch were fitted it would only take
The electrical ignition system em- of fire as being negligible. For ex- this can only be reached after atopa matter of seconds to cut off the
ployed on the engine requires special ample, on cars which are neglected ping the car and raising the bonnet. supply of current in an emergency, it is common enough to find a num- This unfortunate, because it and, furthermore, the safety with safeguards owing to the very high ber of oints where a leakage of would be a very easy matter to pro- whith a car could be left in a garage voltage produced in the secondary probably clapse before this deve petrol is taking place, and at other vide an extended handle reachable overnight would be greatly enhanc-circuit of a coil or magneto. In the lopment takes shape, however, and, main, it may be said that the neces- in the meantime, we think that the points faulty insulation may render from the driver's seat, and, indeed, led by the use of such a fitting.
sary insulation is properly carried construction of a petrol chassis on available for this the
Single-Pole Wiring Systems. occurrence of a spark quite accessories are
In these days the single-pole wiruut ami is durable. Owners should, lines specially designed to mitigate Bakelite fire hazards is a subject worthy of likely at any time. With the essen- purpose. tial ingredients in readiness it needs)
Petrol Tap a Safeguard. ing system is the most popular, however. keep moulded but the right combination of clr-
When petrol is fed from a rear which means that if any wire comes fittings clean by an occasional wipe, close investigation. cumstances to initiate a fire.
tank by a pump there is not per- into direct contact with any metal so as to reduce the likelihood of a also necessary at Strong Tunks and Piping. haps the same need for an accessible parts of the vehicle a path is made spark leaping across the exposed the high-tension intervals to have *h Points
these, says top. but, nevertheless, such a fitting available for the flow of current. surfaces. It is The Motor, can quite well is an 'extra safeguard of value be- When one considers the extent be guarded against by the cause circumstances can be imagined the wiring system, and the number leads replaced, as their rubber in-
Another aspect of in which it might be essential to cut of electrical gadgets with which cars sulation is apt to deteriorate in the safety depends mainly
own quickness to foresee danger eventually may be forced to pass way in only nine of the American are now fitted, it is really surprising hot and oily atmosphere present be-efficiency of the brakes, and on his and in Germany, and all motorists million cars have been tested in this
neath the bonnet.
Of this number of cars tests against these standards at re- States. Are risks, however, is found in the off the supply of fuel owing, say, to
jand act to avoid it. Reverting to the petrol system, way in which cars are constructed, the ignition switch becoming in- that more trouble does not
These two points are the me-gular intervals.
2,000,000 required headlamp adjust- from this source.
In the United States efficient ment, 168,000 had faulty steering, and critics may rightly claim that operative. manufacturers are apt to pay all too! As regards the electrical system it Makers of electrical equipment the way in which the petrol is ac- little attention to this matter. is seldom, if ever, that one sees a notably Messrs. Lucas-have done tually stored is undoubtedly a matchanical and human factors in any
car, and standards for each are coming an important operation, and due to neglect or lack of adjust- Every care should be taken to pro- master switch embodied in the cir- much to minimize the risk by pro-ter of great importance. The tank test for the braking efficiency of a testing of car brakes already is be- and 886,000 had inefficient brakes, vide really sturdy vibration-proof] cuit, although a few discriminating siding the car builder with braided stout-gauge sheet metal, and should being drawn up in the United States during this year three and a halfment.
car owner.
፡፡
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GA PAULT
SOUTH CHINA MOTOR CAR CO-
Telephone 25644.
33, Des Voeux Road Central.
Telephone 25644,
DI
arise
should be a strong structure
be properly protected against dam-j age in the event of a collision.
Protecting the Tank
Naturally, it is impossible to en-: sure that a tank will not spill its contents in the event of a smash, but much can be done to render this catastrophe unlikely, whether the tank be secured to the dash or placed between the rear dumbirons. A stout wooden lagging will help to
while prevent local damage, heavier blow can be guarded against by using a protective reinforcement. Rear tanks are usually fairly well! protected nowadays by a bumper, s folding luggage grid or both, but more might well be done to protect! scuttle tanks.
1
Petrol pipes are often somewhat flimsy and in the course of time vibration fatigues the material, so that the pipe becomes brittle and is ear ia apt to snap off. When a being overhauled it is worth while to have the piping removed and annealed if it has seen long service. Much depends, of course, upon whe- ther the piping is properly support- ed so as to defeat vibration. On! racing cars flexible and leakproof metallic tubing is used for the petrol system.
used Care should always be in tightening petrol-pipe unions. Leakage at such points is often due to the pipe being bent or, alter natively, the cone which makes the joint may have become damaged. When either of these faults is pre- sent no amount of tightening will the other cure the leak, and, on hand, the screw. threads will pro-] bably be thereby damaged. Leak- age may also occur at the carburet ter float chamber, at petrol filter joints and at tape. Particular care, incidentally, is necessary when dis- connecting a pipe from a tap fitted to a scuttle tank; two spanners should be used, one to hold the body of the tap while the other is used) to unscrew the union nut Careless handling here will loosen the socket in the tank in which the tap in screwed.
Before concluding, two, other couses of fire must be mentioned, these being blowbacks through the carburetter and the hot metal of the exhaust system. The former fault is apt to occur when a cold engine is running on a weak mixture and will occasionally set fire to the petrol in the flost heamber. To deal with this contingency the driver should turn on the petrol and 266p the engine running fast, so draining the float chamber and stopping the fire. Alternatively, it can
Possibilities of Oll Engines. Should oil engines, using heavy fuels ignited by compression, ever become generally employed for private cars, the risk of fire would Years will be greatly reduced.
SAFETY FIRST.
In driving a
car a motorist's
on the
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THE NATIONAL MOTOR CAR CO.
71, 73 & 75 Hennessy Road, Wanchal.
Telephone.27914.
}
OFFER AN
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WIZARD CONTROL.
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Telephone 30228;
33. WONG NEI CHUNG ROAD, HAPPY
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