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Aviation History
1933
1933 - 0884.PDF
FLIGHT, OCTOBER 26, 1933 ESAVIAN HANGAR DOORS m Track T^ » ELEVATION 1 I I —mg 1 i !T~~" •.'1 iiiii '.f i TOP GUIDE Sketch showing the principle of the Esavian hangar doors ; above, the construction of one of the units, and, below, the " concertina " method of folding. "Jir\ EFOKE 1918, the doors of large hangars were, from I -*v many points of view, unsatisfactory. Opening .ILCy and closing were operations usually requiring dexterity and great strength, and often a gale necessitated extensive repairs. In the early part of that year, however, the Educational Supply Association, Ltd., designed and constructed for the Air Ministry a set of doors 25 ft. high, covering an opening 100 ft. in width, which could be opened and closed with surprising ease in all weathers. Some of these " Esavian " doors were fitted to a hangar at a well-known Service aerodrome. Soon after their erection the CO. reported to the Air Ministry that, as the result of a violent storm, all the hangar doors at the aerodrome, except those of the " Esavian " type, had been blown down! So much for strength. That the doors are durable is proved by the long life of those fitted to the large hangars at Ford Aerodrome. These were installed in 1918. When the Ford Company- took over the buildings in 1931 they found them in excel lent condition. The 32-ft. doors at Henlow, and those at numerous other R.A.F. stations (over 10 miles of door equipment was supplied in 18 months) tell a similar story. Their use at Heston and Speke is evidence enough of their reputation among modern aerodrome authorities. The feature which makes these doors of special interest for use at modern civil aerodromes is their ease of manipulation. A set of teak doors, about 19 ft. high, can be opened by- one man as fast as he can walk. For larger doors, sa> 30 ft. in height, a patent winding gear is employed. The success of these doors must be attributed to the use of the " sliding post " arrangement. This entails the use of a sliding upright, to which is fixed a large bottom runner fitted with ball bearings. This runs on a metal track, and is fitted with twin top guides, also with ball bearings. The leaves, which fold to one side of the track and not across it, are attached to the upright in pairs, as shown in the diagram. The entire weight of the structure is carried on the bottom runners, the top runners acting solely as guides. The taller types of door are made to stand corrugated against wind pressure, and special stays, shock absorbers, buffers, etc., are fitted. To prevent the doors being opened from the outside, a lever fastener with pawl and plate is fitted. The leaves may be panelled, panelled match- boarded, or part glazed, according to individual require ments. A small wicket is included in the design to act as a passdoor. The large hangar is by no means the only item on the up-to-date aerodrome to which Esavian door- may be applied to advantage They are ideally suited to the small "lock-ups," which are be coming increasingly common on ^ „ aerodromes used by private owners. Esavian windows am- llfehfc- -- " Ix>K8'a " tvPe doors are wi suited for use on club-house verandahs, while garages, parti tions and telephone boxes are • few more items which soon conn to the mind. These hangars, on a Service aero drome, are fitted with the Esavian folding doors, which are show both open and folded. Imperial Airways Increased Earnings compared with a profit for the previous year of £10- *^ THE Directors of Imperial Airways announce that, when £101,756 was deducted for obsolescence, for the year ending March 31 of this year, profits were dividend is increased to 5 per cent., compared witn V £52,894, after allowing £171,683 for obsolescence, as cent, of a year ago. 1082
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