Installation and Acceptance of Postal Engineering Plant

The paper covers primarily the period between the placing of a contract for postal engineering plant and the introduction of this plant into live service following acceptance testing and ‘confidence’ trials. There is, in addition, some reference to the immediate post-commissioning period. The procedures described relate, in the main, to the traditional method of equipment and building provision whereby the two aspects are dealt with under separate auspices. However, reference is made to an alternative approach, known as a ‘package deal’, whereby building and mechanization are provided under a common contract.

Paper 8: Small Computer Procedures as Tools for Structural Designers

The system of simplified computer procedures described is intended as a basic structural design tool for designers and draughtsmen. An example is given of how to estimate the beam-mode deflection of a production vehicle body. The degree of accuracy obtained is shown by comparison with rig test results. Data preparation and processing times are also discussed.

Session 9: Bulk Mail Conveying: Twin-Band Rising Conveyor

It is often necessary to convey and elevate objects of widely varying characteristics in a confined space with random load conditions. The twin-band rising conveyor is essentially a steeply inclined belt conveyor which carries and controls articles on inclines of up to 60°. In order to control satisfactorily articles handled on such a conveyor, a continuous and weighted cover band, which is driven in synchronism with the conveyor belt, is employed. A horizontal toe band, which may be manually or automatically loaded, is used to aid efficient introduction to the articles between the carrying and weighted belts.

Report Paper 3: Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication of ‘O’ Ring Seals

This report gives details of a theoretical analysis of the lubrication of ‘O’ ring seals. Under dry contact conditions the pressure gradient at inlet to the contact zone is infinite, and an iterative solution has been developed to determine the inlet sweep of pressure under conditions of elastohydrodynamic lubrication. The exit film thickness and pressures have also been determined for conditions of variable outlet viscosity and pressure gradient. Typical results for an ‘O’ ring are given for a standard seal section.

Paper 26: Techniques of Improvement

Management's task is to ensure that the enterprise will deliver products which will satisfy the customer. A main requirement is reliability of performance and hence freedom from unexpected failure. To achieve this, management must deploy adequate engineering resources throughout all the activities concerned with the evolution of the product from concept to satisfactory service. An engineering background helps management to preserve the wider viewpoint that is often lacking in specialist areas. It is essential that there shall be effective communication and collaboration between all departments, a need that is well described today as ‘systems engineering’. The paper also examines prevailing difficulties and suggests remedies.