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Aviation History
1934
1934 - 1223.PDF
NOVEMBER 15, 1934. FLIGHT. 1225 MATERIALS, COMPONENTS and EQUIPMENT Aeroplanes are far more complicated structures than most people realise, and the number of trades which play their part in their construction is very large: this section gives an idea of the magnitude of the British industry. Engine Components •TN keeping with most modern engineer- -*• ing practice, engine designers are re- lying more and more on firms who specialise in the supply of particular parts of engines made to the maker's de- signs. For example, we have the Wey- bridge Engineering Co. supplying cam- shafts, airscrew bosses and hubs, gudgeon pins, etc. Then there are people like Wellworthy and Brico, whose carefully designed piston rings prevent undue consumption of oil and main- tain the cylinder pressure. The elimina- tion of friction has led to the use of ball bearings in many parts of our modern aero engines, and those made by Ransome and Maries are even used for supercharger work, where the bearings may run at 30,000 r.p.m. Another well- known maker in this line is the Hoff- man Manufacturing Co., whose needle roller bearings are widely used where there is no room for a roller bearing o£ the more usual type. After overhaul, aero engines, like any other engines, must have their cylinder-head gaskets and other joints carefully made to ensure many hours of unfaltering service. One of the best-known materials for this pur- pose is Walkerite, supplied by James Walker and Co., of Woking, and in most works such packings are usually treated with Hermeticoll, a compound specially prepared for the purpose by the Patent Motor Products Co. Sparking plugs are vital factors in the satisfactory running of aero engines, but (Left) Lodge sparking plug. (Right) Sims magnetic fuel gauge. those supplied by Lodge or K.L.G. arenever expected It) give trouble. Like- wise, magnetos now usually functionwithout attention for many hours. Among those frequently seen are B.T.H.Scintilla and Watford, the latter being made by Rotax, at Willesden.The same firm, incidentally, supplies electric starters for engines, thus reliev-ing the pilot of the necessity of turn- ing the airscrew by hand. Carburettersare mostly designed for specific engines, and the "Gipsy Six " engines, whichput up such a phenomenal performance The Rotax electric enginestarter. For fuel supply : The Rotherhamair-driven pump. recently, utilised those made by Claudel- Hobson. When flying over desert- countries where dust is encountered in large quantities it is always advisable to have some form of air filter as that supplied by Vokes. Most aeroplanes nowadays have theirfuel tanks below carburetter level, and Wellworthy piston rings. therefore use a type of fuel pump,such as that made by the A.C.-Sphinx Sparking Plug Co. The use of a fuelpump necessitates many connections and unions in the fuel pipe line, of a typewhich can be obtained from Kolherham and Sons. The fuel itself is generallycarried in welded or riveted aluminium or light alloy tanks designed to carrythe greatest quantity in the smallest spitce. Many good examples of thiswork have appeared from Gallay, Ltd., of Willesden. In order that the pilot cansee how much fuel there is in these tanks, various kinds of level indicators havebeen designed, one of the best-known examples being the Simms magnetictype. Radiators, of great importance in military aircraft where so many water-cooled engines are used, are more often than not made by Serck. Petrol and Oil THE needs of aero engines in thematter of fuel and oil vary con- siderably. Firms like Shell-Mex andB.P., Ltd., National Benzole, and Pratts, with their long experience knowthis well, and supplies of their fuel are to be found wherever peoplefly. Others confine themselves to pro- ducing the various grades of oil which arenecessary, and among these may be men- tioned C. C. Wakefield, Silvertown Lubri-cants, Germ Lubricants. W. B. Dick and Co., Alexander Ruckham, and Varnum Hoffman needle rollerbearing.
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