FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1934
1934 - 0751.PDF
JULY 19, 1934. FLIGHT. 753 THE INDUSTRY KING'S CUP " INDUSTRY " SUCCESSES TTEMS which played their part in bringing Fit. Lieut. J- Schofield's Monospar S.T.io (two Pobjoy " Niagaras ") to victory in the King's Cup Race included Shell Aviation petrol, Aeroshell " Heavy " oil, B.T.H. magnetos, Claudel- Hobson carburetters, K L.G. plugs, Brico piston rings, Hidu- miriium and Magnesium castings, Smith's instruments, and wooden airscrews manufactured by the Airscrew Co. The under-carriage shock-absorber legs were made by Aircraft Components, and the tyres and brakes were Palmers. Teca- lemit greasers were used on the under-carriage. Cellon dope for the fabric and Rumbold upholstery in the cabin gave the machine a most attractive appearance. An Air Log and Reid & Sigrist turn and bank indicator were fitted. " Tommy " Rose's mount, the Miles " Hawk Major " ("Gipsy Major "J, used standard National Benzole mixture similar to that which can be obtained from any " National " pump, Castrol oil, B.T.H. magnetos and Claudel-Hobson car- buretters. ' Finished writh a special Titanine doping scheme, the appearance of this machine attracted much favourable comment. In his " Gipsy III " engined " Moth," Mr. Lipton, who came third and won the Siddeley Trophy, used Pratts Stanavo petrol, Castrol oil, B.T.H. magnetos and Lodge plugs. For the fourth consecutive year every engine entered for the King's Cup- Race used Hoffman ball or roller bearings. The Pobjoy engines of the winning Monospar used reduction gears manufactured by the Power Plant Co., Ltd. A WEATHER PROPHETD R. MANFRED CURRY, known to many of our readers as the author of thfe books " Wind and Water " (and of the film of the same name), " Aerodynamite," "Racing Tactics," and " Beauty of Flight," has constructed a novel instrument by means of which, it is claimed, the weather can be foretold with the greatest possible certainty. This inven- tion has been brought into being with the co-operation of the leading meteorological stations at home and abroad. Whereas the barometer comprises only one factor, that of the atmospheric pressure, Curry's Weather-Prophet bases its forecast on two factors—the atmospheric moisture and the direction of the wind. The hygrometer—a chemical material, indicates the degree of moisture in the air by change of colour. Each of five colour grades corresponds to a change of aboul 20 per cent, in the degree of moisture in the air. Of the five comparison colours, blue, for instance, denotes an atmospheric degree of humidity of 0-20 per cent., and bright red one of 80-100 per cent. Further, a compass is provided, bv means oi which the direction of the wind may be ascertained. A POCKET WFATHER FORECASTER: Dr. Man-fred Curry's "Weather-Prophet," described above. The chemical indicator is affected some eight to fifteen hours before a change of weather sets in. By this means the weather for the next day may be forecast. In using the instrument the dial should be turned until the colour of the indicator matches approximately that on the disc below. Secondly, the direction of the wind should be ascertained. Next the dial should be turned with the indicator within the range of the comparison colour until the direction of the wind appears at the small window on the disc. If the wind is so slight that its direction cannot be determined, the point of the indicator should be set on East in the case of fine weather, or West in the case of bad weather. The weather forecast may then be read in the window on the left of the dial. Instead of " rain," snow " should be read in winter, and " fog " in autumn and spring. The most reliable results are obtained when the Weather- Prophet is placed in ,a well-ventilated room or at an open window. In summer the instrument may be kept in the open air. In this case, however, it reacts to the humidity of the night, and should not be read early in the morning The instrument cannot be used in a he>ated room, and must not be exposed to the direct rays of the sun. At .present the instrument is not yet on the market, but will shortly be sold by opticians at a very moderate price, and the agent in London is W. B. Unland, 72, Leadenhall Street; London, E.C.3. "ROBOT" SAFETY SWITCHR ISK ol fire resulting from a crash is minimised by a new device, the invention of Capt. H. N. Salmond, C.l.E.R.I.M. (Retd), which cuts off automatically the cur- rent to the ignition and lighting circuits. The " Graviner " Safety Switch, as the device is known, may be fitted to cars and aeroplanes. In the event of the overturning of a car, or violent impact, the switch cuts off the supply from the dynamo and battery and switches off the magneto, if fitted. The wires are thus dead and cannot spark Moreover, the engine is at once stopped and the possible discharge of hot, flaming exhaust gases into petrol-laden atmosphere is avoided. The device is known as the "Graviner" Safety Switch because its contacts are controlled by a pendulum which works accord- ing to gravity in the case of overturning, and inertia in the case of impact. Bumps and slight impacts cause the pendulum to swing, but not sufficiently to make a change in the cir- cuit. A violent collision, however, causes the release of the switch contacts. In the case of the car "tilting to an angle of 45 deg. the force of gravity has the same effect. For use in aircraft a modification is introduced to restrict the movement of the pendulum so that the switch .operates only in the event of a crash or overturning on the ground and not during aerobatics. The device is contained in a steel box measuring 3i x 3| x 4in. It is being manufactured by Siemens Bros, at their Woolwich Works at the rate of 200 a week for use in cars. The price is ^3 3s. Tests are being made at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough. BRITISH MATERIAL ABROADL AST year the Air Log Co., Ltd., despatched two " Air Logs" to Bucarest for fitment to two machines of an experimental squadron of the Roumanian Air Force. Some six months later the company were informed that the instru- ments had functioned perfectly for more than 65^) flying hours, and this was followed by a letter from the Directeur Technique of the Sous-Secretariat IVEtat De L'Air stating that they were pleased with the performance of the instruments, and were placing a trial order for fifty. These, it is understood, will be fitted to fifty machines recently delivered by the National Aircraft Factory (P.Z.L.) of Warsaw. - STAFF CHANGES AMONG recent interesting changes in the staffs ot well-known aviation companies we learn that Capt. P. D. Acland will in future represent the Westland Aircraft Co.,with office in Bush House London W.C.2 (Temple Bar 2101). Majoi W. G. McMinnie'i has resigned his position with Armstrong Siddeley Motors, Ltd. Grp. Gapt. R. J. Barton has resigned his chairmanship of the board of Pobjoy Airmotors, Ltd., and Short Bros, will be represented on that board in future. Mr. H. D. Boultbee, lately designer to British Klemm Aeroplane Co., Ltd., has also taken a position with Pobjoys. Mr. A. H. Caple has resigned his position with the Cirrus Hermes Engineering Co., Ltd., and joined General Aircraft, Ltd. ...... ... .
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
