FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1932
1932 - 0969.PDF
FLIGHT, SEPTEMBER 23, 1932 ISKa T-rvAufitPi R.A.E. AUTOMATIC OBSERVER Mk. I THE Automatic Observer has been •^ designed for use in aircraft to produce a cinematograph record of the simultaneous readings of instruments employed for performance tests of air craft. This condition cannot obtain when the readings of individual instru ments are taken by an observer. Full-scale research work on spin ning also requires simultaneous read ings, for the reaction upon a pilot during a spin renders it difficult for him to concentrate on the accurate reading of instruments and give close attention to the controls. The fact, too, that all readings on the Automatic Observer are taken simultaneously and automatically, also allows the pilot to concentrate more on Navigation, with an increase in the steadiness of airspeed and altitude. Maintenance with this instrument is simplified by the use, as far as pos sible, of standard instrument parts, and all units can be quickly replaced. The apparatus consists of a metal instrument box containing the follow ing units : —Revolution Indicator, cali brated 600-3,600 r.p.m. Airspeed Indicator, calibrated 50-250 k.p.h. Altimeter, calibrated 0/4,000 m. Watch. Two Cross Levels. Thermo meter (used only to correct readings of instruments affected by changes of temperature). A spare airspeed indicator, calibrated 60-400 k.p.h., and an altimeter cali brated 0/11,000 m., are supplied, and are interchangeable with the instru ments fitted. Instruments calibrated in British units are supplied as required. The units are, in most cases, speci ally designed for the purpose, and are arranged so that the various dials and scales are in a plane, and are photo graphed through a glass front by means of a cinematograph camera securely supported above the instru ment box. An automatic motor-driven timing switch, controls the trigger of the camera through a solenoid, which takes its electrical supply from a 12-volt battery, which it is assumed is avail able. The glass front, airspeed indicator and revolution indicator unions, as well as the caps for the four illuminat ing bulbs and the watch winding stem, are provided with rubber joints so that the whole instrument box acts as the static chamber for the airspeed indicator and altimeter. All electrical connections are made by means of plugs and sockets, which cannot be reversed. A small heating grid is built into the tunnel to prevent any condensa tion on the glasses which would obscure the instrument dials. The camera is a standard com mercial, spring-driven cinematograph type, fitted with a special 25 mm. focal length F. 2.8 lens. The film spools carry 30.5 m. of standard 35 mm. wide cinematograph film, and the spring drive operates 15.25 m. of the film at one winding at a constant speed of 16 pictures per sec. when run freely. An indicator is provided on one side of the camera case, which in dicates at any given time the length of film which has been used. The driving spring of the camera is con trolled by the trigger. An interrupter switch controls the illuminating lamps and the solenoid, which in turn operates the camera release trigger and is designed to give a contact of short duration, approxi mately every 5, 10, 15 and 30 sec, with a setting index. Each contact energises the solenoid for a sufficient length of time to obtain a burst of three or four exposures of the film, one or more of which is properly ex posed, depending upon the length of contact and the position of the camera shutter. So long as the inter rupter switch is running, the pilot or observer is relieved of any further action in connection with the Auto matic Observer. For ease of ranging and initial calibration, the airspeed indicator, revolution indicator and altimeter scales are divided into 200 units. These scales of readable to 0.5 of a division, which corresponds approximately to 15 m., 1 k.p.h. and 10 r.p.m., while the watch scale may be read to 1/5 of a division, which corresponds to 1/5 of a sec. The cross-level scale is approximately 1 deg. per division, and this is easily read to 1/5 of a deg. Overall dimensions:—210 x 190 x 545 mm. For transit purposes the apparatus is packed in a felt-padded partitioned box. This box is provided with hooks, and is suspended by shock-absorber cord in an outer packing case, measur ing 785 X 585 X 480 mm. Gross weight (including camera and spare instruments), 49 kg. Smith's Aircraft Instruments, 185, Great Portland Street, W.l, have the sole selling rights of the Automatic Observer. THE MONEY FLARE AS a device for obtaining illumina- _ tion during night flying opera tions the Money Flare has been in use since 1916. The sketches which accompany this description readily explain the operation entailed in using it. The apparatus consists simply of the flare, which has a handle attached for lifting it with a long hook, a pail to contain paraffin, and an extinguish ing cover. The two centre sketches show the flare in flaming activity with the lid of the paraffin pail acting as a handy tray, and also in inactive state on the left the flare is being returned to the paraffin pail, which will extinguish it and re-charge it with fuel simultane ously. The fourth sketch is the ex tinguisher cover, which will extin guish the flare instantly. When saturated with fuel, the flare absorbs about 1| gallons. It is ignited with a naked flame and burns for half-an- hour with a maximum flame and then slowly diminishes for another hour. Although the flare which has absorbed 1^ gallons will not burn right out under that length of time, it is the practise to re-fuel it at regular inter vals of between 45 and 60 minutes to maintain an average brilliance of illumination. Although the Money Flare provides a naked flame, it can be moved about the aerodrome to meet a change of wind without the necessity of taking the precaution of extinguishing it, the long hook being the suitable instrument for the pur pose. An advantage of the naked flame is that it is usually more easily seen in the air than any other kind of light, and it also serves the useful purpose of indicating the direction of the wind. Money Flares are manufac tured by Money's Patents, Ltd., Ill, Dalston Lane, E.8 (telephone Clissold 1456). S. & M. TYCOS ALTIGRAPH pROM Short & Mason, Ltd., comes A an announcement of their S. & M. Tycos Altigraph Portable Model, de signed to meet the needs of the civil aviator, professional or amateur. Not only altitude is recorded by this con venient instrument, but time and the duration of flight, too, and to make the record of a flying performance as complete as possible there is provision The two centre sketches show the Money Flare inactive and active. On the right is the extinguisher-cover, and on the left the flaming flare is being immersed in the paraffin pail for re-charging. 905
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
