Re: REALITY CHECK TIME!

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>Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 00:05:46 -0700 (PDT)
>From: Brian Burger <yh728@victoria.tc.ca>
>Subject: Re: REALITY CHECK TIME!
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>On Fri, 19 Jul 2002, Edward Lipsett wrote:
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>>Upon reading that line, my immediate question is "Why is it possible
to do
>>so?" An interlock would cost maybe US$10 and solve any safety problem.
>>This is a common design philosophy error in designing industrial
machinery
>>of all kinds. 
>>
The hatch is built into the ramp and the track was built in the late 
1950's and early 1960's  when
reasonable safety did not extend to dummy proofing a hatch door. I will 
also say that in use with the
US and German Armies I never did see the hatch open on any M113 when the

ramp went down.
The driver had to turn around to release the ramp lock and  a quick 
glance at the
ramp was  natural. What I was more worried about was dropping the ramp 
on someone which was
more likely with the dead vision area behind the track.

As a side issue every German track that I came across "in position" had 
it's "standard issue" case of beer
under the ramp ready to be expended as needed (usually at night when 
things quieted down). I had to
get by with my case of coke which kept me going  (I am a carboholic) in 
a less social manor.

Scott Siebold

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