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Aviation History
1953
1953 - 0028.PDF
28 FLIGHT, 2 January 1953 THE INDUSTRY Westland Director Retires f FROM Westland Aircraft, Ltd., it is learned that Mr. Arthur Davenport, F.R.Ae.S., has retired from the company's board after a long and continuous association with the Yeovil factory. In 1915 he was transferred by Petters, Ltd., from the oil engine side to the new aircraft division, which later became Westland Aircraft. In 1919 he was appointed chief designer and in 1944 technical director. During his long and distinguished career Mr. Davenport has been associated with well-known civil and military types such as the Widgeon, Wapiti, Autogiro, Lysander, Whirlwind, Welkin, Wyvern and helicopters. Mr. Davenport, who is now 61 years of age, does not propose entirely to sever his connection with Westland Aircraft; he plans to continue as a consultant to the company. Pre-forming Fibreglass Plastics THE use of glass fibre as reinforcement for plastic mouldings is no more than seven or eight years old, but in that time the technique has been accorded considerable priority in its develop ment. Glass fibre is generally agreed to be the most efficient reinforcing material that has yet been commercially used for this purpose; it affords excellent mechanical properties to the finished moulding and has hardly any disadvantages. The fibre can be introduced in the form of unwoven yarn, as a chopped mat, or as woven Fibreglass cloth. Although the yarn is cheaper than the other two forms, it cannot be readily used in a moulding of complex shape; the glass-cloth, although having excellent properties and conferring a smooth and uniform finish to the moulding, is, unfortunately, relatively expensive. A demonstration was recently given by Ashdowns, Ltd., of St. Helens, Lanes, of the use of chopped mat, which aims at obtaining the best of both worlds. The technique is as follows. Fibreglass yarn is cut into uniform lengths of about 2in, which are then deposited evenly (although with a random orientation) upon a metal grid having the approximate shape of the final moulding. This deposition is carried out in a Turner Atherton machine, in which the chopped mat is attracted to the metal grid by suction. The cycle is electrically controlled and a very uniform deposition thickness is obtainable. Oc completion of the cycle, suction is removed and the "pre form" is sprayed with a binding emulsion and baked. The pre form is then placed in a press, where it is moulded to the finished dimensions with the required amount of polyester resin, inorganic filler and pigment. The finish of the resulting moulding is of a lower standard than that obtained with woven-fibre reinforcement or with no reinforcement at all; but very high mechanical strength is obtained at an extremely competitive production cost. The process is eminently suitable for the mass-production of intricate shapes to close tolerances, and the material withstands heavy blows without deformation, and exceptional impacts merely cause local crazing which can be perfectly repaired by the application of a little resin. Although the Turner Atherton machine has been in use only a very short time, it appears likely to have considerable LONG SERVICE by members of Simmonds Aerocessories, Ltd., was rewarded by presentations made recently before a large audience in the works canteen at Treforest, South Wales. Here Mr. L. C. Oxford (joint managing director), right, is seen handing a "15-year" award to Mr. R. Betty. In all, 500 awards were given, for periods up to 15 years. The Turner Atherton machine (see "Pre-forming Fibreglass Plastics")- significance in the manufacture of reinforced mouldings for the aircraft industry. Complex section ducting, radomes and suppressed aerials on aerofoil sections immediately come to mind in this connection. Lucas Progress SPEAKING at the recent annual general meeting of Joseph Lucas (Industries), Ltd., Mr. A. B. Waring, the chairman, said that there had been a very substantial increase in the demand for electrical and mechanical control devices for aircraft and gas turbines. Lucas had designed and supplied equipment for most of the new military aircraft. In addition to equipment for such aircraft, the company was supplying specially developed equipment for gas-turbine-engined civil aircraft, including the Comet, the Viscount, and the Britannia. As was well known, these aircraft had opened up an entirely new era in civil aviation, and their export potential was most heartening. The increasing traffic carried by airlines showed no sign of dimi nution in its rate of growth, and for this reason the company looked with considerable satisfaction on all business obtained for the supply of equipment for civil aircraft. British Standard for Pren Cables IN a recent paragraph on this page referring to the publication of British Standard E.21, Electric Cables for Aircraft (Glass and Polychloroprene Insulated), a note was added to the effect that Pren cables are made by British Insulated Callenders Cables, Ltd. We now learn from Mr. D. B. McKenzie, chairman of B.S.I. Committee ACE/6, Aircraft Cables, that "Pren" is not in fact a registered trade name, but an M.o.S. designation, and that the undermentioned firms also manufacture cables of this type:— Craigpark Electric Cable Co., Ltd.; W. T. Henley's Telegraph Works Co., Ltd., Johnson and Phillips, Ltd.; Liverpool Electric Cable Co., Ltd.; Pirelli-General Cable Works, Ltd.; Rists' Wires and Cables, Ltd.; Siemens Bros, and Co., Ltd.; and St. Helens Cable and Rubber Co., Ltd. IN BRIEF The London office of Thos. Firth and John Brown, Ltd., is now at 11 Hamilton Place, Piccadilly, W.i (Grosvenor 8781). * * * A new bulletin issued by Sharpies Centrifuges, Ltd., Wood- chester, Stroud, Glos., and dealing with the company's range of laboratory centrifuges, uses functional-colour illustrations to explain the operation of the various types. * * * A brochure from Kent Alloys, Ltd., Temple Manor Works, Rochester, Kent, gives illustrated examples and data on the wide variety of castings which the company produces. Materials include aluminium, magnesium alloys, Elektron magnesium- zirconium alloys, cast iron, and copper and zinc alloys. * * * A range of "Harrisflex" stud-type anti-vibration mountings specially designed for use in scientific instruments and light machinery is illustrated in a new leaflet from Howard Clayton- Wright, Ltd., Wellesbourne, Warwickshire. Basically of rubber bonded to metal, the mountings can be loaded in any plane and in any combination of torsion, shear, compression or tension.
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