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Aviation History
1917
1917 - 1104.PDF
OCTOBSR 25, 1917. • 1 RESULT SHEET OF 48-HOUR ENDURANCE TEST-UNION GAS ENGINE COMPANY. Propeller pusher No. 1, Pilch 4 ft. 8 ins., diameter 8 ft. 1 in. Date .. .» May- Run number »»' ;. Duration hours ,»\ •"";%• Pressures. -Barometer .. .. in Hg. •Circulating water, lbs. sq. in. Lubricating oil lbs. sq. in. Temperatures (° F.). Outside air Circulating water, inlet .. Circulating water, outlet .. Lubricating oil, final Gasoline. Standard oil of 58° Baume : Gallons .. . • hour Lbs. .. h.p. hour Oil. Wolfshead of 300 Baume ; Gallons .. .. hour Lbs. . . h.p. hour Power. Revolutions per minute . . Torque .. . .lbs. ft. Brake horse-power Overall thermal efficiency 'to be such that satisfactory service Would be given by this power plant, that the quality of the Workmanship throughout Was of a very high order, and also that the best of material .had been used throughout the engine. The above is substantiated by the following points :— 1. Vibration.—All nuts outside of those on the cylinder yoke tiold-downs were not cottered on. These were not tightened •during the test, and all of these were tight as much at the end as in the beginning of the test. 2. The engine parts were well lubricated and in good shape, and there was little evidence of undue wear. Although a high oil pressure of 90 to 100 lbs. was earned throughout the run, no serious oil leaks developed, and that from the camshaft - around the rocker arms was practically negligible. 3. Quality of workmanship.—The crankshaft Was set up '. fairly stiff, and at the end of the test this was checked up. , Due to static friction, the crankshaft could not be revolved by applying pull on crankpin. Once, however, the shaft rotation was started by applying pull at a greater leverage, it could be kept revolving easily by mechanic exerting force on pins. This speaks well for workmanship in the initial align- ment and fit in the bearings. 4. Quality of aluminium castings.—The Wrist pins, rocker pin bearings, were machined in the aluminium castings and upon inspection the material was found to be of the highest quality. 10th. 1 • • ".- <5 30.30 74- 62. 140. 155-5 101. 10.5 0.505 0.25 0.015 1348. 484. 123-50.249 nth. 2 7 80. 62. 146. 126. 96. 10. 0. 0 0 - 1361. 473- 122. 0. .10 9 557 64 038 5 ,220 13th. 3 S_ 30.26 98. 59- 138. 154- 98. 0.590 0.40 •0.024 ^62.' 118. 0.213 14th. 4 6 30.20 7-5 IOO. 58. 140. 158. 99-5 10.6 0.540 0.21 0.0125 1347. 478. 122 .6 0.228 I5t 6 30. 58- 142. 158. 99. 10. 0. 0. 0. 1337' 483- 123. 0, 5 75 543 250148 .227 i6t 6 7-94. 57- 142. 158. 94. 10. 0. 0. 0. 1334- 468. 118. 0. 2S 62 537 20 0123 7,213 6 30.18 6.25 92.5 58. 144. 161. 92.5 ro.7 0.580 0.30 0.02 1325- 452. 114. 0.210 18th. 8 8 30. 6. 87. 59- '43- 159. 95- 10. 0. 0. 0. I337> 468. 118. 0 18 26 6S560 33 023 10 .220 Aver 30. 7- 90. 58. 140. 1S7- 95- 10. 0. 0. 1341 • 472. 120. 0 21 7 27 0124 .222 5. The bearings throughout were in excellent condition. The scraping marks were still in evidence in crankshaft bear- ings, showing the load was well distributed and that high- grade bearing material was used. 6. The cylinders showed slight wear as the grinding marks were not obliterated. These were well lubricated. The valves were not warped, did not show' excess heat indication, had good bearing surface, and the Wear of the stems was slight. This shows good carburetion and good scavenging. Also, that compression was satisfactory was borne out by well worn surface of rings, small evidence of blowing by, and small deposit of carbon. The latter, together with absence of heat, shows the cooling of the cylinders and pistons was O.K. 7. The box-shaped upper crankcase gives rigidity and strength also. In casting the strain will tend to be equalised due to its special construction of compartments with con- necting walls, thus, perhaps, ensuring a high quality of casting. The castings of other cases were inspected and bore out this conclusion, as the material was clean and of uniform density, taking into account that aluminium alloy was used. 8. The engine was easily and quickly dissembled. Adjustments and alteration.—The only adjustments made during the test (between runs) were cleaning spark plugs and adjusting gaps to 0-018 in., and cleaning of distributor race- way of carbon deposit. —' ~..:_~" THE R.N.A.S. AND SUBMARINES. SOME iurther striking episodes, taken from the Admiralty records, of successful attacks by R.N.A.S. aircraft on German submarines have been published as follows :— " One of the coastal airships, of a type familiar to visitors at seaside resorts, was recently on patrol, and sighted a steamer in distress. On descending to investigate closer, it was found that she had been torpedoed by an enemy submarine, but was'capable of being towed into harbour. Accordingly the airship summoned assistance by wireless, and until it arrived hovered protectingly round the crippled merchantman. No signs of her late assailant were visible, and in due course the steamer was taken in tow by tugs and headed for harbour. The aerial escort accompanied the tow, and about an hour later sighted the conning tower of a submarine about five miles to the south-eastward of the convoy, apparently •manoeuvring for another shot. " The airship instantly signalled by wireless the position of the submarine to all men-of-war in the vicinity, and swooped down to attack. The submarine saw her coming, and dived, VTut too late to avoid this glittering Nemesis from the skies. Two bombs were dropped simultaneously in front of the swirl of his descent; a violent explosion ensued, followed by oil and air bubbles in ominous quantities. Shortly after a destroyer arrived and investigated with sweeps. The airship, returning to herbase for a further supply of bombs and petrol, was overtaken by the following aerial signal : ' You've undoubtedly bagged him.' " On a subsequent occasion this same airship, while flying in company with a west-bound convoy of merchantmen, sighted the track of a torpedo, and a moment later observed a great column of water shoot up alongside one of the steamers. A submarine, relying on the state of the sea for concealment, had with great daring dived beneath the armed escort and torpedoed her victim under their noses. The weather at the time was bad and rapidly getting worse ; the airship shot down and along the residual track of the torpedo at a speed of 9° miles an hour, and at the end of the track sighted the outline of a submerged submarine, which, her deadly work done, was leisurely proceeding westward. The airship'turned and released her bombs while she hovered above the sinister green cigar-shaped shadow, and the explosion was followed by a vast evulsion of air and air bubbles. A calcium flare was dropped to mark the spot, and armed patrol vessels, summoned by signal, made assurance doubly sure with explosive charges. The airship returned to her base in the teeth of a head gale, and landed with the wind blowing 45 miles per hour." HO4.
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