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Aviation History
1958
1958 - 0797.PDF
FLIGHT, 13 June 1958 813 THE INDUSTRY Low-friction Load-carrying known as manufacturers of castors, trollies and asso-dated equipment, Autoset (Production), Ltd., of Stour Street, Birmingham, 18, have recently evolved an ingenious friction-reducing device for use in conveyor systems and similar applications. It is, in effect, alarge-diameter ball which can revolve freely under extremely heavy loads. The Autoset device in section. The central table is entirely surrounded by small balls, which can circulate across it in any direction. The principle is illustrated in the accom-panying sectional drawing. The load-carry- ing ball—typically of lin diameter—isretained by washers and nylon and felt seals in a mild-steel cup. It rotates against anumber of smaller balls (e.g., of A in dia- meter) which recirculate over and under a concave-convex tablecontained within the cup. In the course of development tests, state the makers, four ofthe devices were mounted in a floor frame and a cast-iron plate placed upon them and loaded to a weight of 8 cwt. It was foundthat friction was so low that the load could be moved with ease in any direction by finger pressure on the edge of the plate.The system—which is the subject of a world-patent application —can also utilize a main-load roller instead of a ball, though inthis case only uni-directional motion is possible unless a tapered roller is used. Fittings to carry loads of 300 lb, 700 lb and one tonare now in course of production. After a period in the training school, Dunlop apprentices (see news item below) enter the service school, where Service and civil personnel receive training in stripping, fitting and maintenance of aircraft equip- ment. Seen here is Christopher Cooke, a first-year apprentice engineering draughtsman. Dunlop Apprentice Training /CATERING at present for 180 apprentices at Coventry and a^ further 20 at Dudley, the Dunlop apprentice training scheme is now to be extended to include many more entrants of "A"level and above. Approximately two-thirds of the apprentices— most of whom come direct from school between the ages of 15 and16—are from secondary modern schools, and about a seventh from public schools, though no formal distinction is made. Selectionis by interview and tests, evidence of practical interest being looked for; in the case of boys over 16 the possession of a goodG.C.E. at "O" level is expected and at "A" level in appropriate science subjects for boys of 18. Except in the case of graduatesand others with high academic attainments, for whom special arrangements are made, the course lasts five years; and by the endof it the trainee will have received a thorough grounding in mechanical engineering and specialized in some particular activity,such as draughtsman or metallurgist. He will also usually have obtained a qualification such as the Higher or Ordinary NationalCertificate and City and Guilds Final or Intermediate in machine shop engineering. C.J.C. Policy Change A CHANGE of policy has been announced by C.J.C. Develop-•£*• ments (Portsmouth), Ltd., who as from March 31 have joined a small group of which Cope, Allman and Co., Ltd., ofBirmingham, is the main company. C.J.C., who specialize in machining high-tensile steels and high-strength aluminium alloys,remain a private limited company—with the same board and no additional directors—within a public liability company. Thechange in policy has been effected "in order to consolidate the financial background and to enable C.J.C. to expand and to quotein the commercial market, having the additional support of the group." Plastics Vade-mecum THIS year's edition of the British Plastics Year Book* has beenthoroughly revised and is now divided into eight sections. Three are devoted to classified lists of manufacturers and sup-pliers of materials, finished products and equipment; a fourth contains the world's largest list of trade and proprietary namesconnected with the industry, covering materials as well as finished goods; the names and addresses section lists nearly 4,000 firmsassociated with plastics (grouped under countries); there is a Who's Who of the industry; the review of patents issued during theprevious year has again been included; and a new feature is a set of tables, giving comparative properties of plastics materials. * British Plastics Year Book 1958: A Classified Guide to the Plastics Industry. Iliffe and Sons, Ltd., Dorset House, Stamford Street, London, S.E.1, 42s (postage Is 9d). IN BRIEF Mr. M. H. Tarbitt has resigned his appointment as contracts manager of the research and engineering division of E.M.I. Elec- tronics, Ltd., in order to join Andec, Ltd., Bennet Road, Reading, as commercial manager. Before going to E.M.I., Ltd., in 1949, Mr. Tarbitt held a commission in the Essex Regiment. * * * Mr. L. A. Fullagar, one of the technical directors of McLellanand Partners, consulting engineers, retired recently after having been associated with the firm for 34 years. Two senior members,Mr. P. F. Grove and Mr. J. V. Peacock, have been appointed technical directors. * * * The British Aluminium Co., Ltd., announces that Mr. J. W.Bennett, lately president of Atomic Energy of Canada, Ltd., has been appointed general manager of the Canadian British Alu-minium Co., Ltd., in succession to Mr. P. T. Ensor, M.B.E., who is returning to the United Kingdom in July to take up other dutieswith the British Aluminium Co., Ltd. * * *Speaking at the a.g.m. of British Timken, Ltd., on May 29, Sir John Pascoe (chairman and managing director) said that theturnover in special bearings supplied to the aircraft and associated industries by Fischer Bearings Co., Ltd.—the company's mainsubsidiary—had been appreciably higher than in the previous year. He added that this market was at present "in a state of someuncertainty owing to the transitional stage through which the aircraft industry is passing." A major portion of the cabling in the Blackburn NA.39 hasbeen supplied by British Insulated Callender's Cables, Ltd. Some of the cables are standard aircraft types while others have beenspecially developed, including high-temperature cables and sub- miniature multi-core cables for the electronic equipment. To be contracts manager for Flight Re- fuelling, Ltd., from July 1, Mr. Charles Greensmith, A.F.R.Ae.S., will assist Mr. Michael Cobham, who has to date com- bined the duties of commercial director with those of contracts manager. For- merly publications and advertising man- ager, Mr. Greensmith will continue to be responsible for advertising. A booklet entitled Noral Stress-relieved Plate has been pub-lished by the Northern Aluminium Co., Ltd., Banbury, Oxon, as a guide to the thick, high-strength stress-relieved aluminium alloyplate now being made by the company for the aircraft industry. The publication provides designers with information on pro-perties, sizes, manufacturing tolerances and inspection standards.
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