FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1933
1933 - 0980.PDF
FLIGHT, NOVEMBER 9, 1933 * NEW PLUG DETACHER A NEW double-purpose quick detacher, combining in one ** tool all that is necessary for the removal and dis mantling of a plug, has been designed by the K.L.G. Co., of Putney Vale. This tool comprises an ordinary box spanner, with one end of suitable size for removing a plug from the engine, and the other of a size to fit the gland nut of the plug. Welded around this latter end is a steel disc with a ring of eight equally-spaced holes near to its outside edge. On top of this disc is mounted a second disc with a hexagonal hole in its centre to accom modate the hexagonal nut of the plug body. It is also free to rotate on the spanner. This disc is also per forated. Thus there are two discs, one above the other, one fixed the other free, both perforated with holes. When the plug has been inserted in the box spanner, the gland nut of the plug engages with the hexagonal hole within the mouth of the tool, and the hexagon nut of the plug body fits the hexagonal hole in the movable disc. The gland nut can now be unscrewed by the tommy bar, using the holes as a means of leverage. The vernier arrangement of the holes ensures that one pair must always be in the right relative position for obtaining this leverage. ALUMINISING /""•OATING with metal by spraying is not an untried ^* process, and as far back as November 22, 1929, we described the method in which this was carried out. Since that time many improvements have been devised, and Metallisation, Ltd., of Pear Tree Lane, Dudley, now spray aluminium for many aviation uses. One of the most important is the protection of exhaust pipes and manifolds. For this purpose the aluminium is sprayed on by a " pistol." The aluminium wire which passes through this pistol is fused by a gas blow pipe flame, which in turn is surrounded by a cone of compressed air. The resulting fine spray of molten metal adheres to the surface of the article being sprayed, when that has been roughened, as is the case when the manifolds have been sandblasted to give a coarse open structure to the steel, and then inspected to ensure that every particle of scale has been s s s removed. After being sprayed they are heat treated at temperatures above 750 deg. C, and during this treat ment the aluminium alloys with the steel, forming a coating composed of a gradation of iron-aluminium alloys. As these alloys are easily oxidisable they become covered with a film of alumina which is one of the best protections known against heat. Where necessary the inside of exhaust pipes can also be treated by means of an extension nozzle on the pistol. Exhaust systems have been protected in this way for: •— Armstrong-Siddeley's, Hawker's, Pobjoy's, Rolls-Royce, Supermarine's, Blackburn's, Spartan's, Westland's and Short's, while Fairey's and Boulton & Paul's have pistons for treating their own products. The process of spraying can be applied for other pur poses than for exhaust pipes, and can be used with other metals than aluminium. Many aero engines have their aluminium alloy castings coated with zinc as a protection against corrosion, and other similar uses are being examined. Wireless sets and magnetoes can also be coated for screening purposes, and the steel parts of aero drome equipment, as, for example, the floodlights and searchlights, can be made corrosion-prove by coating with zinc. CELLON AT OLYMPIA •"THOSE attending the Motor Transport Exhibition *• (Olympia) should visit the stand of Cellon, Ltd., which is No. 307 in the Gallery, and make a point of seeing the new " Cerrux " synthetic finishes. These materials, which have synthetic resin for their base, are already being used in very large quantities for aircraft construction. The output for the Cellon works at Kingston reached a record for the post-war period in October this year. Naturally, after the war, when the demand for aircraft dope diminished, the company explored new fields, and the demand for their cellulose lacquers necessitated building new works at Kingston. So great has this demand become that the average output for the last three months has approximately been the same as that for the year 1918, when the demand for aircraft dope was at its highest. IMMORTALISING THE R.A.F. //""||r-,0 this day there are people who regard the R.A.F. II as a Service not comparable in national import - III ance with the Navy and Army. We would refer these diehards to the Royal United Services Insti tution, which has constantly endeavoured to make the R.A.F. section of its Museum in every way as comprehen sive as the splendid section devoted to the other Services. The title " R.A.F. section " is somewhat misleading. Gifts and loans in any way connected with the development of modern aviation in any of its phases are welcomed by the Museum, although, unhappily, the space available does not permit the exhibition of objects of great bulk. There are exhibits of great sentimental, historical, and instructional value. The old R.F.C. banner carried at the Commemoration Service held at the Albert Hall in 1917 to the first seven Divisions in France hangs on the wall. An extremely interesting and valuable exhibit is a model depicting the first time an aircraft, in this case a balloon, was used to co-operate with ground forces. The occasion was the Battle of Fleurus, fought about 150 years ago. Zeppelin relics form quite a large collection. We hope, however, that these will not increase to undue proportions. The collection of models is steadily growing. The majority of these are presented by the manufacturers of the prototypes. The Secretary tells us that a model of a modern heavy bombing type is urgently required. The Handley Page " Heyford " would look most impressive. Such modern machines as the S.6B, " Hart," " Fury," " Vildebeest " and " Atlas II " are represented, and (is this prophetic?) an " Auto giro " model is shown among a group of Army Co-operation types. This machine, of course, was extensively used during the recent Army manoeuvres. In the Naval section there is a model of the complete Fleet at Jutland. Tucked away in the midst of squadrons of battleships, battle cruisers, cruisers and flotillas of destroyers is the old seaplane carrier Engadine, Close at hand is a model of H.M.S. Courageous. This is the finest model of its kind that we have ever seen. It is not a huge highly-polished " shipbuilder's " model, but is, we think, about a yard long. So complete is it that even the elevating gear and other gadgets on the H.A. guns are all present, and scale-model Fairer " Flycatchers," S.F's, and a " Ripon " are ranged on the deck. This model should be studied in conjunction with a large drawing by G. H. Davis showing the ship in cross- section. A model of H.M.S. Royal Sovereign carries a " Flycatcher " on " B " turret. The H.M.S. London model has a catapult turntable fitted, but soon, in order to bring it up to date, a catapult complete with seaplane will be mounted. Aircraft armament is represented by twin Vickers drum- fed guns of post-war design, mounted on a Scarfl wind balanced mounting, and a collection of British and Frencn bombs ranging from the small practice type to a fourteen hundred pounder, which is ranged against the walls. The delight of small boys is the cockpit of -an aeroplane com plete with controls and instruments. On moving the controls a small model suspended overhead performs appro priate movements. What cannot be represented by actual exhibits or models is shown by pictures, and some excellent coloured enlargements of FLIGHT photographs. We would sincerely recommend anyone interested in our fighting forces, past or present, to visit the Museum in Whitehall, and would urge those who possess anything of i^tere which has a connection with the development of military aviation in particular, to see that it is preserved therein. 1136
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
