The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-09-17
Activities of Bridgeport
 and State Autoists

closed commandments used as reposi- tories for suction hose and other par- aphernalia. The overhanging hood also forms a locker compartment which is used for the storage of boots and water-proof clothing
 Just in the rear of the drivers seat is mounted a gasolipe-driven centri- fugal pump which is capable of ex- hausting water from manholes at the rate of 12,000 gallons per hour. For the sake of economy the pump is not driven by the 80 Horsepower truck engine. but is directly connected to an independent four Horsepower gaso- line marine engine.
 The pumping engine, however, is cooled from the same source as the
 larger engine, that is. water is pump ed fro mthe bottom of the truck ra- diator after circulating around the cylinders of the truck engine. By this method of cooling the cylinders of the marine engine are always kept l warm. which, of course, greatly faci lI- tate starting. especially in cold Weath- CT. The suction of the pump. is con- nected through a DriIning 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 a hose connection can Ib6 sODfa1nS0, 5f68aGo1eSS or IA6 1OCe1- ton of the manhole, without y1olat- ing any of the traffic regulations.
 The valves are set at an angle of 45 l degrees with the street bed in order 1 to avoid unnecessary bends in the sue ton hose. The discharge side of the metal pipe which can be turned kthrough an angle of 180 degrees for the purpose of exhausing the water in the most advantageous direction.
 When not in use this pipe is hwoked to the under side of the running board.
 The pumping engine also operates
 a small dynamo which, in addid on to
 furnishing ignition for the marine en- I zine, supplies sufficient current for iI- 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 fifty feet to deterAaine l the nature and cause of obstructi ons q in the conduits-
 Il The most unusual and interesting I feature Of the outfit, however, is the
 wireless equipment. through the 'i agency of which the department keeps in constant communication T with it's trouble crew, so that all It emergency calls can be handled with damage can ensue- The truck serves s as a receiving station only.
 The antenna is suspended immedi-
 ateIy under the roof of the car and II was made of approximately 425 feel of No. 14 stranded, rubber insulated
 copper wire which was laced back and
 forth until forty wires were obtaipai J with a separation of one inch. The q aerial is therefore inconspicuo11s and we'll protected.
 fl A series of rigid tests proved con
 cIusively that the equipment is en-
 tirely practical and that excellent re
 suits can be obtained, through the ai6
 of a simple code of signals withouH lresorHng to the employment of train. ed wireless operators It was also
 demonstrated that direct earth con lnection was unnecessary, inasmuch al
 the iron framework of the chassi. Iserves admirably as g. counter poiss tground, thereby enabling the trucl to receive while in motion
 During all the preliminary tests the truck never failed to intercept an. message sent to it within a radfu Of ten miles Of the sending station -sl and even under the most unfavprabI }, ,Iconditions with the truck runnin; at full speed and blanketed by tai b11ildings of steel construction, no diff 1cuIty was experienced. in reading tn I'm eSsaR es