The Detroit times., 1914-09-19
BALTIMORE HAS
new MOTOR TRUCK
Electrical Commission Installs
Combination Truck to I'm
prove Service

The electrical commission OF tine
city Of Baltimore has placed In ser
vice an unusual type OF motor truck.
which, due to genius OF the commits
sion, performs an astonishing num-
Der OF duties In the maintenance or
the municipal conduit system. THIS
motor truck combines vehicle fer
transporting repair crews and sup
plies and embodies pumping stu
tion, a lighting plant, a repair shop
and wireless equipment, enablin 3
the commission to keep In constaI Z
touch with the truck.
Perhaps the most striking feature
Of this machine Is the fact that the
wireless equipment. unlike any other
portable set, enables the crew to ~
ceive messages while the truck is be
ing driven along the streets. The q p
pearance Of the machine gives no sug-
gestion Of its great utility In conduit
maintenance, but when ready for &C.
ton II is capable Of pumping 12.0D
gallons Of water per hour from q
flooded conduit, and II win furnish a
flood OF light for inspection and re-
pairs. to say nothing of carrying all
the necessary, paraphernaiia.
The body was constructed In cob
formity with plans devised by t'se
electrical commission for the best
accommodation OF the different pieces
OF apparatus ar.d II possesses several
noteworthy features. Hinged en-
trance doors. one on each side, gresrt-
ly facilitate the operation of the
equipment, while hinged double doors
in the rear provide ready access
to various enclosed compartments
used as repositories for suction hose
and other paraphernalfa. The. over
hanging hood also forms locker
compe rtment which Is used for the
storage OF boots and waterproof
clothing.
Just in the rear OF the drivers seat
il mounted gasolinedriven centrf
fugal pump which IL capable or ex-
hausting water from manholes at the
rate Of 10000 gallons per hour. For
the sake Of economy the pump Is not
driven by the 30-horsepower truck en-
CINE, but Is directly connected to an
independent four-horsepower gasoline
marine engine.
The pumping engine, however, Is
cooled from the same source as the
larger engine, that Is, water IL pump
ed from the bottom Of the truck rad
iator after circulating around the cyl
inders Of the truck engine. BY this
method Of cooling the cylinders OF the
meSine engine are always kept warm,
which, OF course, greatly facilitates
starting. especially in cold weather.
The suction Of the pump Is con-
nected through a printing device to
three 3-inch brass gate-valves by
means Of an iron pipe line suspended
under the body. These valves are
located one on each side Of the body
below the side doors and one In the
rear, so that q hose connection can
be obtained, regardless OF the loca-
ton of the manhole. without violat-
ing any OF the trafic regulations.
The valves are set at an angle OF
az degrees with the street bed in or
der to avoid unnecessary bends In the
suction hose The discharge side OF
the pump Is connected to 3-inch
flexible metal pipe which can be
turned through an angle Of $50 de-
grees for the purpose OF exhausting
the water In the most advantageous
direction. When not I'm use this pipe
Is hooked to the under side Of the
running board.
The pumping engine also operates
small dynamo which. In addition to
furnishing ignition for the marine en-
CINE, supplies suficient current for
Illuminating manholes. BY the aid
Of the portable lamps which can be
plugged In on the dynamo current,
duct chambers may be examined for
a distance of so feet to determine the
nature and cause OF distractions In
the conduits.
The most unusual and interesting
feature OF the outfit. however. IL the
wireless equipment. through the
agency Of which the department keeps
In constant Communication with It's
trouble crew. so that all emergency
calls can be handled with the great
est dispatch before serious damage
can ensue. The truck serves 40 q
receiving station only.
The antsnna r. suspended immed-