Page:Motors and motor-driving (1902).djvu/117

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THE MOTOR STABLE AND ITS MANAGEMENT
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any special tools &c. which are rarely required, such, for instance, as a grindstone, also large reservoirs of oil. This basement has a door which leads into the pit. It will now be seen why the pit is made so deep, since it can be entered without obliging anyone to stoop, the doorway leading into it being the usual height, viz. about six feet seven inches. In order to reach the cars conveniently two trestles are provided in the pit, across which are placed also some narrow planks, and there is a small pair of steps for reaching this platform. There are a spare set of trestles for a different height, in case the level should require to be altered. At the entrance door a piece of stone runs across the threshold, about two inches above the floor line, to keep any water from flowing out. The concrete bottom of the pit slopes towards a point where a gully is situated. Consequently any water in the pit flows towards this gully and drains off.

The floor of the motor-house itself requires no gully, because it inclines slightly towards the entrance doors, so that when it has to be washed down the water flows to the outside. Of course the pit can be entered from above if desired.

Plans of the motor-houses at Broomhill are here shown to scale, since it will render the description clearer, and show all the arrangements at a glance (see figs. 1 and 2). There is also a picture of the motor-houses taken from a photograph in fig. 3. The fifth house is not seen in this picture.

The motor-house is illuminated by means of electric light, connectors are placed in the walls on either side, and also in the pit, for portable electric lamps which are most necessary for making examinations. One of the best forms of lamp and lamp-holder which have ever been devised is that made by the Edison and Swan Company, and intended for the examination of the interior of barrels. The shape of the lamp and the nature of its protection are such that it can be inserted between all parts of the machinery where a couple of inches of space exists. There are also the safety lamps using benzine supplied by Messrs. Carless and Lees, which can be used