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Aviation History
1953
1953 - 1696.PDF
850 FLIGHT, 25 December 1953 THE INDUSTRY TURNING THEM OVER: A Petbow high-duty ground-starter unit ministers to an Avro Vulcan at Woodford. This starter is wade by Petbow, Ltd., of Sandwich, Kent. The Alvis Year IN the chairman's statement accompanying the Alvis directors' report, presented at the annual general meeting on December 8th, Mr. J. J. Parkes stated that the output of the Leonidcs engine had steadily increased, and that nine engines of this type were flying in various aircraft at the S.B.A.C. Show. He added that the majority of the helicopters which assisted in the Dutch flood rescues were fitted with Alvis engines. The company's accounts, presented at. the meeting, showed a net profit of £65,849 after taxation. Controlling Compressor-bleed Air A RANGE of reducing valves for controlling air tapped for ancillary duties from gas-turbine compressors has been intro duced by the Hymatic Engineering Co., Ltd., of Redditch, Worcs. Known as the PS.48 series, these new valves can, it is stated, stabilize inlet pressures of up to 200 lb/sq in at constant ad,ust- able outlet pressures of up to 35 lb/sq in within temperature limits of -40 to +250 deg C. Pressure control is achieved by balancing air pressure, via a piston, against an adjustable spring-load. As the piston is not packed a small leak is unavoidable, but a vent connection is provided to allow the leakage air to be piped away. Compact and easily installed: the new Hymatic reducing-valve. A simple but effective means of balance and compensation ensures that the outlet pressure_ is almost unaffected by varia tions in inlet pressure. It is claimed that in most cases a fuel- tank pressure can be held to plus or minus 0.25 lb/sq in from the nominal setting for flows up to at least 15 cu ft/min of free air, even taking into account unavoidable pipe-losses be tween valve and tank. This is achieved by arranging for the reduced pressure at the valve to rise with increasing flow by an amount approximately equal to the pressure-loss in the pipe line to the tank. A valve from the PS.48 series is suitable for duties where contamination with gas-turbine fuels is likely; the casing, it is stated, is pressure-tight, so that there is no risk of fuel leakage into the surrounding aircraft structure. Constructed mainly of light alloy, the PS.48 weighs 1.4 lb complete. A valve of this type was used in the Hawker Hunter which recently held the world speed record. Cable-end Standards '"THE following British Standards in the aircraft series have -•- recently been published by the British Standards Institution: SP.101-104: Turnbarrels, tension rods and swaged cable-end connections (UNF threads) for aircraft; SP.105: Swaged cable- end assemblies (UNF threads) for preformed steel wire rope for aircraft (suitable for use with British Standard W.9 wire rope); SP.106: Swaged cable-end assemblies (UNF threads) for pre formed non-corrodible steel wire rope for aircraft (suitable for use with British Standard W.ll wire rope). Nos. SP.101-104 have been prepared to provide a range of aircraft cable-end connections with Unified threads comple mentary to those with B.A. and B.S.F. threads covered by BS. SP.33-39. The two new specifications for cable-end assemblies with Unified threads are complementary to SP.53 and SP.54, already published, relating to assemblies incorporating B.A. and B.S.F. threads. Copies of the new Standards are obtainable from the sales branch of the Institution, British Standards House, 2, Park Street, London, W.l, price 5s each. Successes by Marconi Apprentices AT the apprentices' presentation day held recently by Marconi's 1 Wireless Telegraph Co., Ltd., at their Chelmsford works, eighty-one apprentices were presented with monetary awards for outstanding work and on the completion of various courses. A Marconi craft apprentice can become a student apprentice, and six achieved this distinction this year. Moreover, a student apprentice can by diligent study become a university graduate, and two have been awarded B.Sc. degrees at London University this summer through part-time study. Speaking at the presentation, Mr. E. R. Lewis (education and training oScer) mentioned as an example of the achievements of a particu'arly successful apprentice the honours gained by student apprentice R. G. Munro, who has been awarded a Technical State Scholarship by study at Mid-Essex Technical College; this will take him to the University of Durham. Last year he won first prize in the junior draughtsmanship class of the Physical Society Exhibition, whose awards are competed for by many important organizations; this year he gained the premier prize, the Sylvanus P. Thomson award for the best entrant in the crafts manship and draughtsmanship classes. Encouragement to the apprentices to widen their interests and to realize that leadership required a broad education was given in a speech by Sir Ronald Nesbitt-Hawes, chief of education administration of the English Electric group of companies, of which Marconi's is a part; and Mr. R. E. Burnett, principal of Marconi College, said that the apprentice had help from his parents, foremen and charge hands, technical college, and the education department, but must bear in mind that it was on himself that his ultimate success depended. Some 800 guests, including parents and fellow-apprentices, watched the presentation of awards by Mrs. F. N. Sutherland, wife of the company's general manager. IN BRIEF King Aircraft Corporation, Ltd., have issued a new loose-leaf catalogue of their aircraft components. Bound in a sturdy imitation-leather cover, it contains installation and other data on cowling fasteners, pipe clamps and other fittings. * * * Typical app'ications of Bakelite Laminated for (a) aircraft components and (b) jigs and tools are illustrated in two leaflets from Bakelite, Ltd., 12-18 Grosvenor Street, London, S.W.I. * * * Recent Burgess Micro Switch Developments is the title of an informative, illustrated folder issued by Burgess Products Co., Ltd., Micro Switch Division, Dukes Way, Team Valley, Gateshead 11. * * * We regret to learn of the death, after a short illness, of Mr. Frank Hartt of J. Stone and Co. (Charlton), Ltd. He had many friends in the industry for some 34 years, particularly in business con cerning aluminium and magnesium-alloy castings. - * * * Mr. John A. Clark and Mr. Michael W. Clark have been appointed directors of the Plessey Co., Ltd. Mr. J. A. Smith, formerly a director, has retired owing to ill-health. It is also announced that Mr. W. F. Cross has been appointed joint secre tary with Mr. E. H. Ouston. * * * Turner and Newall, Ltd., have acquired a controlling interest in the firm of Glass Fabrics, Ltd., Dungannon, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland. The latter firm will continue to manufacture their extensive range of glass-textile products, but will now work in close co-operation with Turner Brothers Asbestos Co., Ltd.; of Rochdale, who, from January 1st, will be responsible for the sales of all Glass Fabric products. Turner Brothers Asbestos Co. Ltd., are well known in the aircraft industry for their "Durestos'' moulded materials, as used in plastic-wing construction.
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