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Aviation History
1954
1954 - 2322.PDF
20 August 1954 A NEW AIRCRAFT BATTERY IN the design of aircraft batteries there is now a tendency— officially encouraged—to standardize on a minimum number of sizes and capacities. This applies to batteries for both mili tary and civil types and to American as well as British aircraft. Now producing (under an Air Ministry development contract) a battery conforming to the most popular of these new standards is Varley Dry Accumulators Ltd., of By-Pass Road, Barking, Essex. The firm is an old-established one which, since 1937, has been manufacturing batteries of a patented form of construc tion. This method, very briefly, depends on the use of extremely thin plates which are in effect compressed into, and supported by, their separators. The result is that highly porous plates can be used, with a considerably enlarged total surface, conferring consequently improved electrical-efficiency, particularly in the delivery of heavy currents, and^a lower internal resistance. These advantages, state the manufacturers, permit the produc tion of batteries which can be either (a) smaller and lighter than conventional types, yet of equivalent capacity with improved electrical efficiency, or-to) of the same size, but achieving very much higher capacity without any increase in weight. The new 24-voir Varley aircraft battery is, in fact, claimed to have the lowest weight/energy ratio ever achieved in lead-acid battery construction—a consideration particularly important in jet aircraft, as the starting of gas turbines makes very heavy demands ofl batteries. Designated Type 24.19/25, the new Varley has a capacity of 20 a.h. at the two-hour rate and weighs only 38 lb filled. Base dimensions are 9 15/16in wide x 7 ll/16in deep, and the height is 6 l/8in. The plates and separators are assembled in two 12-volt monobloc moulded con tainers made of shock-resistant polystyrene, and these two units are housed in a polyester/glass wool outer case. Terminals can be either of the prong type conforming to B.S.I. 2G.131 or of a modified Cannon double-pole type. The Varley, it is claimed, can withstand excessive line-voltages better than conventional types of lead-acid battery, and has less tendency to "run away." There is also reduced risk of damage through over-charging. AIRLINES in some of the more remote areas abroad regularly ** carry mixed passenger and cargo loads—"mixed" being the operative word, for the passengers find themselves sharing the cabin with the oddest assortment of articles, small and large, occupying space made* by the removal of seats, or even piled on any seats left vacant. In other parts, passengers are less uncritical and would feel affronted to find themselves travelling in something resembling a luggage-van. Nevertheless, traffic sometimes demands that freight shall be carried in passenger compartments. How to do so in the least obtrusive manner has long been a problem for operators. Bins or containers can be used, but this involves re moval of seats, an inconvenient process when the composition of the total load is not known well in advance; and, unless folding chairs are installed^ it also means the leaving behind of seats that may be needed on later stages of the route. An ingenious method of overcoming this difficulty has been evolved by Latex Upholstery, Ltd., of 41 Lonsdale Road, Lon don, W.ll, who have designed the "Kargo Pak"—in effect, a container that literally sits on the seat and rests its "feet" on the floor. Actually, and unlike a human passenger, it can comfortably sit on two, or even three, seats at the same time. The makers state that B.O.A.C. have used Kargo Paks with S.B.A.C. SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS 'HE Society of British Aircraft Constructors has issued the following details concerning successful candidates for its uni versity and educational grants (these grants are awarded annually to ^elected personnel in the Industry):-^ he Society's standing committed on education has granted second-year scholarships to W. P. 'A. Harris and J. E. Wingate, Knabfe at the College of Aeronjtfftics. ' he following candidatesywere awarded the three 1954 Uni- •*p«ty Scholarships: RJPfAyers (Handley Page, Ltd.), N. Birch vis niton Paul AircraftyLtd.), M. R. Williams (Bristol Aeroplane J-0. Ltd., engine division). These three students will be going to 11 ollege of Aeronautics. ; !'e boys were awarded educational grants and will serve »P '"nticeships with the companies indicated: M. D. Chamber- &•) vde Havilland Engine Co., Ltd.), B. J. Fines, R. F. H. Owston E. Pryce (de Havilland Aircraft Co., Ltd.), R. De Saeger -Royce, Ltd., subject to acceptance). The battery is fully aerobatic; it has been subjected to tests on a g-testing rig maintained by a well-known aircraft manufacturer, and has also been tested by the R.A.E., Farnborough, prior to official approval by Rolls-Royce, Ltd., and a number of aircraft constructors. One of the latter was Vickers-Armstrongs, who (as The new Varley aircraft battery. we reported in January) sent Viscount G-AMAV to Scandinavia last winter with the primary object of trying out the cold-weather starting performance of Varley batteries. The 24.19/25 battery has been specified by Vickers-Armstrongs for the Vickers Vis count and by the Bristol Aeroplane Co. for the Britannia. The Viscounts for Trans-Canada Air Lines and for British West Indian Airways are now being equipped with these batteries. It has also been adopted by the Air Ministry for a number of Service aircraft in the bomber, fighter, advanced trainer and helicopter categories. satisfaction over a period of six months and that, employing them on some 90 per cent of their regular services, have found them to increase deadload earning capacity by between 10 and 15 per cent. The Kargo Pak, which can be supplied in colours to match aircraft interiors, is made of 12| oz continuous-filament nylon cloth, which gives an optimum degree of strength, lightness and fine resistance. It is bonded by lengths of lyin webbing each of which is stated to be capable of taking a 900 lb load, and is closed by two flaps secured by 800 lb Harley buckles; two side flaps, drawn over the main flaps and secured by press-studs, give a neat finish. The usual method is to load the Kargo Pak in situ and, when loading is completed and the flaps secured, it is fast ened in the seat by means of the normal passenger lap-strap, which is passed through two loops in the webbing bonding. So that it may "sit" on two seats at once, the Kargo Pak is provided with a gusset which fits over the seat armrest; the triple- seat type has two such gussets. An additional type also has ex tending gussets to give additional capacity. Capacities of these various types range from 2H to 24| cu ft (0.6 td 0.7 cu m) and their weights from 7f to 10 lb (3.5 to 4.5 kg). For stowage, a Pak is contained in a nylon bag, measuring about 16in x 16in x 5in, provided with a webbing handgrip. STANDARDS YEARBOOK "D ECENTLY published is the British Standards 1954 Yearbook, •*•*• which fist no fewer than 2,500 British Standards current at March 31st, 1954, and gives a brief description of the subject matter of each. A comprehensive index simplifies reference. The usual information on the membership of the Institution's general council, divisional councils and indastry standards com mittees is given, together with the names of representatives on the main special committees and advisory committees. Particulars of the work in hand by all the industry standards committees are also given. British Standards under which the Institution's certification trade marks are used are 'isted beneath the following headings: Electrical; building; plastics; bedding and furniture; personal safety; miscellaneous. Copies of the Yearbook, price 12s 6d, may be obtained from the British Standards Institution, British Standards House, 2 Park Street, London, W.l- Cargo Incognito
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