How It’s Made London Taxis
Summary
TLDRThe iconic London black cabs, known for their robustness and accessibility, are meticulously crafted with hydraulic presses forming chassis components and spot welding assembling the body. Equipped with a 4-cylinder turbo diesel engine, these taxis feature an 8.5-meter turning circle for easy maneuverability. The manufacturing process, from chassis assembly to painting and final testing, takes approximately two weeks. London's taxis, not always black, are designed for wheelchair accessibility and can accommodate five seated passengers, offering a unique transportation experience.
Takeaways
- 🚖 The iconic London black cabs are internationally recognized symbols of British culture.
- 🏗️ The modern black cab was first introduced in 1948 and currently, there are around 20,000 operating in London.
- 🔧 The cabs are designed to be robust, capable of withstanding approximately 50,000 km of driving each year.
- 🛠️ The manufacturing process involves heavy machinery, such as presses that can exert up to 800 tons of force to shape the chassis.
- 🔩 The taxis are assembled with a cruciform structure, providing strength and durability to the vehicle.
- 🚗 They are equipped with a 4-cylinder direct injection turbo diesel engine for reliable performance.
- 💺 The design accommodates passengers with reduced mobility, featuring a flat floor and high roof for easy access.
- 🖌️ The taxis undergo a meticulous painting process, with an anti-corrosion coat, primer, and multiple layers of paint for a polished finish.
- 🔍 Quality control is严格, with inspections for paint defects and water leaks, ensuring each cab is watertight and ready for service.
- 🔄 Despite their size, London black cabs have a tight turning circle of 8.5 meters, allowing for easy maneuverability in the city.
- ♿️ The taxis are wheelchair accessible, with features like an access ramp and fold-down seats for inclusive transportation.
Q & A
What is the significance of the black cabs of London?
-The black cabs of London are internationally recognized British icons and are considered by many as the best taxi system in the world. They are also a tourist attraction in themselves.
When were the modern Black Cabs first introduced in London?
-The modern Black Cab was born in 1948.
How many black cabs are there on the streets of London today?
-There are about 20,000 black cabs in the streets of London.
Why do the cars need to be robust in the London taxi system?
-The cars need to be robust because a taxi can easily be driven 50,000 km each year.
What is the process used to form the steel panels for the taxi chassis?
-Operators position steel panels into a press which uses hydraulics and air pressure to fold them. The press can apply up to 800 tons of force to form each chassis component.
What type of engine does the taxi use and how is it installed?
-The taxi uses a 4-cylinder direct injection turbo diesel engine, which is hoisted in with the gearbox.
How are the components of the taxi's body assembled?
-Welders assemble the components of the taxi's body using a spot welder, which clamps the sheets together and concentrates electric current into a small spot to melt the metal and form the weld.
What is unique about the design of the taxi's interior for passengers with reduced mobility?
-The taxi's interior is designed with a completely flat floor and a high roof, allowing passengers with reduced mobility to easily enter and exit the vehicle.
What is the purpose of applying an anti-corrosion coat and a gray primer to the taxi's body?
-The anti-corrosion coat and gray primer are applied to the taxi's body to protect it from corrosion and to provide a base for the final color paint.
How is the taxi's paint job checked for quality after it is applied?
-Each painted car moves to the polishing room where technicians check for any dirt, runs, dry spray, or other paint defects under bright lights, and then carefully polish the car.
What is the mandatory turning circle for the taxis and why is it important?
-The mandatory turning circle for the taxis is 8.5 meters curb to curb, which allows them to easily perform u-turns despite their large size.
How long does it take to build a single taxi and what is the final step before it hits the streets?
-It takes about 2 weeks to build a taxi. The final step before it hits the streets is a thorough testing process, including water tests, brake tests, and a driver test at different speeds.
Outlines
🚖 Manufacturing London's Iconic Black Cabs
The script details the production process of London's black cabs, which are renowned worldwide. It begins with the historical context, mentioning the modern Black Cab's inception in 1948 and the current fleet size of around 20,000. The script then delves into the manufacturing process, highlighting the robustness required due to the high annual mileage. It describes the use of hydraulic and air pressure to form steel panels into chassis components, capable of withstanding up to 800 tons of force. The assembly of the chassis with a cruciform structure is explained, followed by the installation of the engine and other mechanical components. The body construction involves spot welding of sheet metal, and the script emphasizes the accessibility design for passengers with reduced mobility. The painting process, including anti-corrosion coating, primer, and final color application, is outlined. The script also covers the final assembly, testing, and the unique features that allow these taxis to navigate London's streets effectively.
📢 Engaging with the Show's Audience
The second paragraph shifts focus from the manufacturing process to audience engagement. It invites viewers to share their thoughts on the show and suggest topics for future episodes. The script provides a website, www.howitmade.com, where viewers can interact with the show's creators. This segment serves as a call to action, encouraging viewer participation and feedback, which is crucial for the show's continuous improvement and relevance.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Black Cabs
💡Hydraulics
💡Chassis
💡Turbo Diesel Engine
💡Spot Welder
💡Anti-Corrosion Coat
💡Paint Application
💡Polishing
💡Water Test
💡Wheelchair Accessibility
💡Turning Circle
Highlights
The black cabs of London are internationally recognized British icons.
London taxi system is considered by many as the best in the world.
A taxi ride in London is more than transportation; it's a tourist attraction.
The modern Black Cab was introduced in 1948.
There are approximately 20,000 black cabs operating in London.
London taxis are designed to be robust, with an annual mileage of up to 50,000 km.
The manufacturing process involves hydraulics and air pressure to form steel panels.
The press used can apply up to 800 tons of force to shape chassis components.
Welders assemble the chassis by joining side rails with a cruciform structure.
The taxi is powered by a 4-cylinder direct injection turbo diesel engine.
The body components are assembled using spot welding with copper electrodes.
The taxi's design allows for easy entry and exit, especially for passengers with reduced mobility.
The body is coated with anti-corrosion and primer before being painted.
Not all London taxis are black; some are painted in other colors like yellow.
The polishing room is equipped with bright lights to check for paint defects.
The 'For Hire' sign is bolted to the roof with a rubber seal to prevent water leaks.
The front windshield is carefully placed using rubber suction pads.
The taxis have a mandatory 8.5-meter turning circle for easy maneuverability.
Each taxi undergoes a water test to check for leaks around the glass and doors.
The taxi is designed to accommodate wheelchairs with an access ramp and fold-down seats.
It takes approximately two weeks to build a single taxi.
The show invites comments and suggestions for future topics at www.howitmade.com.
Transcripts
[Music]
with curved lines and classic styling
the black cabs of London are
internationally recognized British
icons many say the London taxi system is
the best in the world and for many
London visitors a taxi ride is more than
just Transportation it's a tourist
attraction onto
itself the modern Black Cab was born in
1948 to today there are about 20,000
black cabs in the Streets of London
because a taxi can easily be driven
50,000 km each year the cars need to be
robust to start operators position steel
panels into a press which uses
Hydraulics and air pressure to fold
[Music]
them the Press can apply up to 800 tons
of force to fold and form each chassis
component once they get their thre
dimens shape the Supple panels become
stiff side
[Music]
rails welders then Assemble two side
rails with a cruciform to create the
chassis assembly they clamp the side
rails firmly in place before welding
them
[Music]
the taxi uses a 4 cylinder direct
injection turbo diesel engine which is
hoisted in with the
gearbox then they connect the radiator
hoses and pipes to the
engine the axles Wheels suspension and
exhaust system are now in place
to build the components of the Taxi's
body welders assemble sheet metal using
a spot
welder the device has two copper
electrodes that clamp the sheets
together and concentrate electric
current into a small
spot forcing a large current through the
spot melts the metal and forms the
[Music]
weld now it's time to assemble the
Taxi's sides and
floor since the floor is completely flat
and the roof is high passengers with
reduced Mobility can easily enter and
exit the
taxi the body has been covered with an
anti-corrosion coat and a gray primer
before the car gets its final color a
worker inspects it for any surface
damage infrared lamps warm the body
shell to 50° C to make make paint
application
easier not all London taxis are black
they spray this one with yellow paint
later they will apply a shiny clear
coat each painted car moves to the
polishing
room the bright lights allow the
technicians to check for any dirt runs
dry spray or other paint defects as they
carefully polish the car
[Music]
a worker bolts the higher sign to the
roof a Rubber seal prevents water
leaks they carry the front windshield
with rubber suction pads and carefully
put it in
place they seal the rubber sides to
ensure they are watertight
the body is covered with plastic casing
to protect it from damage as it's
hoisted down onto the
chassis although these taxis are large
and roomy their mandatory 8.5 M curb to
curb turning Circle allows them to
easily perform
[Music]
u-turns a driver tests the car at
different speeds changing gears and
testing the ABS G
[Music]
brakes each taxi also under go a water
test they check for leaks through the
glass and around the
[Music]
doors with an access ramp and fold down
seats it's easy for wheelchairs to board
the
taxi the taxi offers enough space for
five- seated
passengers it takes about 2 weeks to
build a taxi then it's off to navigate
the street of
[Music]
London if you have any comments about
the show or if you'd like to suggest
topics for future shows drop us a line
at
www.how itm made.com
[Music]
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