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Aviation History
1952
1952 - 0661.PDF
14 March 1952 301 THE INDUSTRY Air of Comfort "THOSE who read our recent notes (January 25th) on the equip- -*- ment of the Bristol 175 will have been impressed by the very comprehensive nature of the air-conditioning equipment installed. Humidifiers form an important part of such installations; and that they call for carefully thought out design is apparent from a description of those which the General Electric Co., Ltd., are supplying for the Type 175 or Britannia fleet. Steam from the electrically heated boiler of the unit may be fed into the cabin air supply at any convenient point, and a 2-in dia. steam pipe is provided for making the necessary connection. Water is pump-fed into the boiler through a float chamber which automatically maintains the correct level by actuating a micro- gap switch in the feed-pump circuit. If a failure in the feed causes the level of the water in the float chamber to fall, a second micro-gap switch cuts out the heating elements. The humidifier unit is intended to be controlled by a humidistat so as to come into operation when the relative humidity falls to 25 per cent, and to cut out when it rises between 60 and 70 per cent. The boiler, with a capacity of approximately ij gal, has ten pocket-tubes mounted in a removable plate. Each tube accom modates one 750 W cartridge-type element, thus giving a total loading of 7.5 kW. The design of the unit is such that by vary ing the number of heating elements, any desired loading up to 7.5 kW may be arranged. Also, by increasing the overall length of the unit slightly, the total loading may be increased to ro kW. The latest G.E.C. cabin humidifier, described here. Heaters for supply voltages ranging from 112 V to 250 V A.C. or D.C. can be accommodated. The quantity of steam generated by the 7.5 kW unit is approximately igi lb/hr, while for the 10 kW loading about 26 lb/hr is produced. The humidifying unit weighs 32 lb, and its overall dimensions are 18J in long by iof in high. Light-alloy Quality Control A NEW system of metallurgical quality control, recently intro duced into this country, enables two men to carry out in one hour an analytical process that formerly was a day's work for six. It is now possible to complete an accurate analysis for up to 13 elements in less than four minutes. In the production of high-grade aluminium alloys, the alloying elements must be controlled to close limits. Previously the time factor has made it necessary to verify the composition after the metal was cast; if it failed to meet specification requirements it had to be rejected for re-melting. With the method now in operation at the T.I. Aluminium, Ltd., foundry at Resolven, near Neath (South Wales Aluminium Co., Ltd.), the speed with which results are obtained permits the checking of tie metal in the furnace before it is cast. In operation, therefore, the exact analysis of every slab or billet is known prior to casting, assuring continuity of quality and smoother production flow in the rolling and extrusion mills. The new technique depends on the use of a complex apparatus known as the A.R.L. Production Control Quantometer, which is an electronically operated form of direct-reading spectrograph. The three principal components are a source unit for excitmg an arc, or spark, from the metal to be analysed; a spectrometer for measuring the relative intensities of the light wavelengths existing in the arc: and a recording console giving direct interpretation. NEW POSTS AT BELFAST: As we recorded last week. Short Bros, and Harlond, Ltd., have recently made a number of staff re-appointments. Mr. P. S. Lewis, A.F.R.Ae.S. (left) becomes superintendent of research and development; and Mr. R. Beaney, A.F.R.Ae.S., formerly assistant designer, takes charge of the experimental department. Mond Nickel Fellowships THE Mond Nickel Fellowships Committee invites applications for five Fellowships of average value of £750 each for 1952. These Fellowships will be awarded to selected candidates of British nationality, with degree or equivalent qualifications, to enable them to obtain wider experience and additional training in industrial establishments, at home or abroad, of a kind to fit them for future employment in senior technical and administrative positions in British metallurgical industries. Each Fellowship will cover one full working year. Applicants will be required to state details of the programme they wish to carry out. Particulars and forms of application are available from : The Secretary, Mond Nickel Fellowships Committee, 4 Grosvenor Gardens, London S.W.i. Completed application forms are required by June 1st, 1952. For Inner Cleanliness A NEW additive for use with aviation petrol was recently discovered simultaneously by two teams of Shell scientists working independently in Britain and America. The additive is a chemical—tricresylphosphate—and is so effective in countering lead deposition that (it is suggested) non-scheduled spark-plug changes may be cut by as much as 90 per cent. Tetra-ethyl-lead is a normal constituent of most aviation petrol, for it effectively raises the octane rating of basically lower-grade fuel. It is not, however, generally realized that the amount of lead passing through a large piston-engine is considerable; for example, the tetra-ethyl-lead consumed in a 1,200 h.p. engine during 1,000 hours' running is the equivalent of about half a ton "of metallic lead. Most of this is, of course, exhausted with the products of combustion, but nevertheless some remains and causes fouling. The use of tricresylphosphate will, it is thought, increase the life of plugs and valves many times over. All that now remains, it seems, is to discover some means of reclaiming the valuable lead from the exhaust gases! AT THE HUB: GjC. E. Pinto, Air Adviser to the High Commissioner for India, recently visited the Bristol Aeroplane Company's works. Seen here discussing a Type 171 rotor head in the helicopter department are (left to right) Mr. E. Thursby (B.A.C.), VV/C. Hickey and WC. Lai (Assistant Air Advisers), C C. Pinto and Mr. Colin Harvey (B.A.C.).
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