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Aviation History
1932
1932 - 1043.PDF
FLIGHT, OCTOBER 13, 1932 Vhe Industry PNEUMATIC CUSHIONS DNEUMATIC upholstery is the latest * style of upholstery which, in the form of cushions, recommends itself for use in aircraft. Its application for vehicles has so far mainly been •confined to cars and motor-cycles, and in this respect it has answered well. Except possibly in very rough -weather the airman is not sub jected to the violent up-and-down movements that are inflicted on the motorist over rough road surfaces. The airman certainly requires some thing soft and comfortable to sit upon, but in rough weather he chiefly requires measures like the safety belt which will prevent him being shot out of his chair. Nevertheless, as he does need a •cushioij for seating comfort, there is no reason why it should not be a very suitable one, and the pneumatic cushion produced by Paxon, Ltd., is an excellent sample. As its chief springing element is common air, it essentially conforms to the necessary degree of lightness for an aircraft com ponent. The Paxon Air Cushion com prises four parts. First there is what may be termed the rubber bag, with a valve attached for inflation. For the top and sides of this bag a non- extensible rubber material is used, but, conversely, a very elastic rubber is employed for the bottom. The top and bottom are anchored in the full width by means of two or more non-extensible ribs or reeds, forming intercommunicating air chambers by which the air is distributed. When the cushion is under load the elastic rubber at the bottom expands, but the top and sides of non-extensible Tubber do not expand. This has the effect of preventing any recoil when the cushion is sat upon. It also results in no sagging, rolling, or " bottoming." The airman is supported on a commodious pocket of air all the time, extending from the bottom of his spine to the back of his knees. Contributing to the comfort obtained is part two, a wooden bottomless frame with its inner sides tapering, in which the air bag is supported by resting on rubber strips. These strips register with the reeds in the air bag and permit the elastic rubber bottom to expand vertically downwards in the frame when subjected to load—or shocks. The third part of the Paxon cushion is a case for containing the air bag and bottomless frame. This is upholstered in a suitable material to match the upholstery of the air craft (if any) or as desired. The external appearance of the complete unit is then similar to ordinary spring- type upholstery. The principle in volved in the Paxon design is derived from the theory that the air in a pneumatic cushion should be free, so that when under load it will follow the line of least resistance. By this it means that the cushion is not compressed under load. The displacement of the air caused by the weight of the body is automatically compensated by the expansion of the bottom of the cushion, which takes the vertical movement downward in the frame as described. The address of Paxon, Ltd., is 70, Grafton Street, W.l (Museum 7577). REID-SIGRIST TURN INDICATOR IF the natural association of the Turn *• Indicator with " blind flying " had received as much publicity as " blind flying " has had in our Press lately, it would have merely met with justice. As it is, " blind flying " is no doubt interpreted by the public as sticking a hood over the pilot and leaving him to try his luck at an aerial blindman's buff. The Reid- Sigrist Turn Indicator is now, one is glad to say, widely used, both in the Royal Air Force and in Civil Avia tion. A simple yet comprehensive description of this instrument is con tained in an illustrated booklet issued by Reid & Sigrist, Ltd., Canbury Park Road, Kingston-on-Thames. The contents also cover the technique of instrument flying and the training of airmen to fly by instruments. The Reid Pitch Indicator is described summarily, an instrument which is designed to be used in conjunction with the Turn Indicator when flying by instruments. PROTECTION OF ANODICALLY- TREATED DURALUMIN THE problem of the adequate pro-1 tection of anodically-treated Duralumin surfaces has engaged the attention of technical experts for some considerable time. We are now in formed by Nobel Chemical Finishes, Ltd., the manufacturers of Aircraft Dopes and " Belco " Finishes, that as a result of lengthy experiments with a large number of varying types of material they are now able to offer a new type of Primer which has given exceptionally good results on anodic- ally-treated Duralumin. This is a " Dulux " Primer and is made on a synthetic base and has excellent properties of adhesion, flexi bility and toughness, as well as resist ance to atmospheric conditions. It is bright yellow in colour and gives very good priming in one coat. If the finishing colour is not important, two coats of this Primer can be used with excellent results. It is under stood that after the six months period of exposure called for by the Air Ministry Specification D.T.D.62, the panels treated with this Primer were all in excellent condition. " Belco " Finishing Coats are recommended for use over the Primer. The value of this material for use on seaplane floats and flying-boat hulls will be appreciated when it is known that one coat of the " Dulux " Primer followed by two coats of " Belco " give excellent protection, as has been proved by severe tests which included not only exposure on a weathering rack with intermittent spraying at three-hour intervals with sea water, but also constant immersion in sea water. Further particulars may be obtained from the manufacturers, whose address is Slough, Bucks. TWO-PLY STAINLESS STEEL T"HE Ingersoll Steel & Disc Co., of Chicago, announce a com mercially successful two-ply stainless steel. This new metal, to be known as Ing-O-Clad Stainless Steel, is pro duced by a patented process from the composite ingot. The process assures a perfect bond between the stainless steel surface and the carbon steel back, and the aviation industry will find the new metal applicable where corrosion resistance, strength and finish are desired. Ing-O-Clad may be deep drawn, stamped, welded, formed and polished. OLYMPIA EXHIBITS YV7 E pass on a readers from welcome to our K.L.G. Sparking Plugs, Ltd., to visit their stand (424) at the Motor Show (October 13-22). The company are not permitted to exhibit their plugs designed for aero engines, but the comprehensive range of K.L.G. car plugs should be equally as interesting. The exhibits on Stand 341 of Well- worthy, Ltd., will be their piston and scraper rings, slotted oil-control rings for controlling oil consumption, Sim plex patent piston and oil-check rings (they are the sole manufacturers in this country of this fully patented ring, which overcomes excessive oil EXTENSIBLE RUBBER The Paxon Air Cushion. 971
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