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Aviation History
1961
1961 - 1123.PDF
FLIGHT, 17 August 1961 225 pump exhaust stack. This heat exchanger is a cross-flow unit with454 tubes arranged as a matrix carrying the hot gas, the LN being passed to and fro four times before escaping in gaseous form.The GN then passes along a 2in line to the K tank. GN Gaseous nitrogen is the basic working medium for thevarious vehicle services, propellant valves and pressurization and purging functions. Before launch GN is supplied from the PCUthrough the main probe connections, at a pressure of 3,0001b/sq in. During the starting sequence the supply is switched to the airbornestore housed in six stainless-steel spheres arranged in two rows of three strapped against circular rubber seatings in the propulsionbay. In flight, the GN provides the following chief services: a constant small bleed on the manifold regulator; purging of theLox-pump seal; expulsion of the lube-oil; gearbox pressurization; and operation of the gas-generator blade valves, Lox and K mainvalves and de Havilland valve systems. Working pressure of the bottles is 3,000 down to a minimum of l,0001b/sq in, and the mainde Havilland and Rolls-Royce solenoid banks maintain a constant delivery pressure of 75Olb/sq in under all conditions. Electrics Three main systems operate at 115V, 2.4kc/s; 115V,400c/s; and 28V d.c. the latter controlling the main solenoid banks. All power generated on board is supplied by batteries andinverters. The original missile had an HTP-driven APU. Hydraulics Engine gimballing is accomplished by a 3,0001b/sq insystem using DEngRD.2487 (EEL.3) fluid. The system is energized by a Dowty Vardel pump mounted on each turbopump gearbox,and linear actuation jacks are employed. Lube-oil MIL-L-6086B Grade L is stored in a 20gal Bristolwelded-steel sphere in the propulsion bay, at a pressure of 75Olb/sq in. GN pressure feeds the oil at about 3gal/min to each of the twoturbopump gearboxes. A total-loss system is adopted, the scavenge oil being discharged overboard. Although it is well known that the scientific backbone of BlueStreak stems from Farnborough, it may surprise many Londoners to know that the bulk of the design effort has been carried out inthe heart of their city. The design has been centred at Conquest House, Theobalds Road, WC1, and at Welkin House, CharterhouseSquare, in the City. The former Propeller Company's Hatfield Test Site includes a "battleship-tank" rig for flow testing, a stand holdinga complete vehicle for all static tests apart from thrust-chamber firing, and a very rigid stand in which complete vehicles can besubjected to vibration testing and compatibility trials with the launcher. Autopilot and control-system design were handled by theformer Propeller Company, the electronic work being based at Hatfield and Stevenage. Airframes are manufactured by D.H.Aircraft at Hatfield, and the complete vehicle is assembled at Stevenage. D.H. Aircraft also make most of the specialized valves,some detail parts coming from the Northern Group of factories in the Bolton area. Component testing and electronic manufactureare centred at Stevenage, but gas-generator and turbopump testing is done at Hatfield. Most of Rolls-Royce"s design and manufacturing effort has beencarried out at Derby. All the earliest research, and the first engine static firing, were handled by the RPE, Westcott, but for completeengine and vehicle static trials the Ministry of Supply (now MoA) has built the Rocket Propulsion Establishment at Spadeadam, nearCarlisle, which is managed by Rolls-Royce on their behalf. This great £22m facility, which was fully described in our issue datedSeptember 16 last, includes a Lox plant by British Oxygen Gases with an output of 50 tons of Lox and 60 tons of GN per day. There Stevenage (top right) is the centre for Blue Streak assembly. Tank sections and propulsion bays for a number of vehicles can be seen before and after joining Spadeadam (above) is a huge Ministry of Aviation establishment for the static testing of complete Blue Streak vehicles. The photograph shows a Blue Streak, pressurized and stretched in its handling frame, being elevated in Stand Al; the handling frame is lowered and removed before firing- It may be seen that the externally stiffened bay above the tank of this vehicle is that of the original missile Hatfield (right) is the location of the prime contractor's principal test site. The propellant and pressurization towers are visible on the right, the launcher and airframe structural tower on the left, and in the foreground is a fuel-rich exhaust from the static testing of a gas generator
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