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Aviation History
1955
1955 - 1292.PDF
406 FLIGHT, 2 September 1955 Accessory Developments.. compass system for heading control; stand-by magnetic compass. Very advanced techniques are apparentthroughout the system, and some of the main components are wholly new. It isundoubtedly the most advanced example of systems engineering yet available forcivil use. Sperry Gyroscope Co., Ltd. The latesttype of electrically driven gyro horizon is the H.L.6. This unit, which in militaryform is styled Mark 3C, provides all the features of the well-known H.L.5 togetherwith the addition of a fast-erection system, power-failure warning and a roll cut-outin the erection system to reduce turn errors. The H.L.6 has already received A.R.B.approval for 1,800 hr inter-overhaul life. Developments are also continuing inseveral other types of flight instrument. An ever-increasing range of instrumentsynchros and electronic components is now being developed for both manned aircraftand guided weapon systems. In particu- lar, a range of instrument synchros hasbeen developed in collaboration with the R.A.E. and these are now available formany applications. For servo-mechanisms, a number of small tacho-motors, both a.c.and d.c, have been developed, and other products include mass-balanced relays andh.f. motors. Another new departure for Sperry is thedevelopment of an integrated power-con- trol system to co-ordinate the three modesof manual control, automatic control and autostabilization. The aim is to reducethe multiplicity of components and the complexity consequent upon the use ofthree separate systems. This develop- ment is well advanced and is associatedwith one new aircraft project. It is, how- ever, of a flexible nature, and capable ofapplication to varied requirements. Sperry have also taken up the licence-manufacture of the hydraulic pumps and motors of Vickers, Inc. of Detroit. Someof the equipment is already in production in Britain, and all is of a proven nature.The equipment ranges from 4 h.p. fixed- displacement motor units to variable-delivery pumps with a capacity as high as 20 gal/min. Teddington Aircraft Controls, Ltd. Anew temperature control valve (Type FOW/A/1) has been developed for use ina guided-weapon heating system, and is designed to shut off the airflow should theair-temperature exceed a predetermined value. The valve element is a plate sol-dered to a bellows, which can be seated on a ring seal according to the deflectionof a bi-metallic sensing rod. Another new product (picture p. 404) is the Wellworthy-Ricardo supercharger. Type FMA electro-pneumatic gate valve,intended for compressor-bleed systems in which electric actuation may be consideredundesirable. The gate is operated by a pair of pistons, of unequal diameter, which areconnected with the through-put air up- stream of the gate. A solenoid valve whichbleeds the larger cylinder allows the force on the smaller piston to overcome that ofthe larger and so cause the gate to move. The FMA will operate on a minimumpressure of 5 lb/sq in and under ambient temperatures between —55 and 200 degC; it can handle air at 350 deg C and weighs approximately 5 1b 4 oz. Type FKT is an afterburner controlunit. It is arranged to sense pressures at a stage on the engine compressor and atthe reheat burner and, at a predetermined ratio of these pressures, to operate an in-tegral throttle which controls the flow of air to the turbine driving the afterburnerfuel pump. Teddington have also de- veloped a variety of wholly pneumaticcontrollers, which can be used for govern- ing cabin-air temperature or pressure.Some units embody several valves in one housing, and the more complex types incor- Western Manufacturing EROJ actuator. porate sequencing of these valves. Anotherdevelopment is die miniaturization of the amplifiers used in some cabin temperaturecontrol circuits, the original thermionic valves being replaced by magnetic equip-ment. Development continues upon a wide range of other valves, switches andcontrol equipment. Triplex Safety Glass Co., Ltd. Wind-screens heated by an electrically conduct- ing layer of gold, roughly 0.0000002inthick, are now in full production for vari- ous types of aircraft, including night-fighter Meteors. Up to 1,000 watts per square foot can be accommodated andgold-film glass is now available in sizes up to 38in by 24in.Bullet-proof, bird-proof and pressure- resisting windscreens are in productionby Triplex for such aircraft as the Vis- count, Hunter, Victor and Valiant.Vickers - Armstrongs, Ltd. Accessory developments include a variety of im-proved furnishing equipment, including seating and chemical closets, together withseveral advanced cocks and valves. Of the latter the A5494 valve and A5339 cock aretypical. The former is a non-return valve for handling air at up to 350 deg C, and ismade in heat-resistant stainless steel. The valve plate, which is spring-loaded againsta knife edge, can withstand pressures up to 120 lb/sq in. The A5339 cock is a recenttype of fuel cock, operated by a Western Manufacturing electric actuator of smallersize than usual. In lin B.S.P. size it weighs only 3.03 lb and is notably compact. Venner SZ/6/12 missile accumulator. Venner, Ltd. The illustration showsthe SZ/6/12 lightweight silver-zinc accu- mulator made up into the form of a powerpack for driving the heaters and rotary transformers of guided missiles. Manyother, and larger, types of silver-zinc accumulators are in production, includingthe H40/24 used in the Gnat, where it supplies both the general electric systemand the powered controls. An unusual development is a self-contained emergencylighting unit now in use on all T.C.A. Viscounts. Intended for roof or wallmounting (but also capable of being used as a portable lamp), the set incorporates aVenner accumulator giving one hour's illu- mination automatically should the mount-ing suffer a predetermined acceleration in any direction in the horizontal plane. Several new patterns of time-delayswitch, crash switch, and code sender have also been developed. Wellworthy, Ltd. Although widelyused in other spheres, the Wellworthy- Ricardo supercharger is still experimentalin relation to the aircraft industry. Illus- trated on this page, it is a fixed-displace-ment unit, with two banks of seven double-acting pistons actuated by a single,non-rotating wobble plate. The pistons, which are reciprocated by rods centralizedin long guides, do not contact the cylinder walls but have a small clearance and aresealed by labyrinth grooves. Both cylinders and pistons are of light alloy, withoutliners. Western Manufacturing (Reading), Ltd.A range of standard electric actuators is steadily being expanded, with differingthrusts, speeds, strokes, attachments and plug outlet positions. The final standardrange will be made up of units which can be so assembled as to give virtually anyperformance required. It is expected that this procedure will not only simplify store-keeping but will also reduce purchase price. So far the range is restricted to linear actua-tors with not more than 1,000 1b thrust; other units are being added, together witha range of rotary actuators. One of the latter is illustrated. Westinghouse Brake and Signal Co.,Ltd. Pioneers of metal rectification, this company have recently developed a newform of rectifier construction which makes possible a much more compact unit for anygiven rating. The new units are contact- cooled, losses being dissipated by directconduction instead of by the normal con- vection method. Other new developments include high-voltage tubular rectifiers in various types of construction, and, for D.C. power sup-plies, an aluminium-based rectifier has been developed with much lower weight/power and volume/power ratios than have the Westalite series of rectifiers at presentin use.
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