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Aviation History
1964
1964 - 0577.PDF
340 INDUSTRY International... FUGHT International. 27 February , Giving it the Nod Decca Radar have deve- loped an electro-hydraulic nodding control for their HF.200 height-finding radar, so that both the sector and rate of nod can be modified under electrical control, the nod- ding action itself being produced by a hydraulic system. This avoids the problems in nodding-angle sector adjustment and rate found with plain mechanical nodding gear. The hydraulic system is one by Vickers Sperry Rand Ltd. The aerial itself is moved by a hydraulic cylinder, power being supplied by a 7J h.p. enclosed electric motor driving a Vickers Detroit constant-delivery pump. An im- mersion heater in the fluid reservoir and space-heating in the motor compartment keep the fluid at constant temperature. The aerial nodding angle is automatically limited to that required in relation to the range derived from the azication display. Reversal of movement of the aerial is almost instantaneous and its rate of move- ment virtually constant over the nodding arc. Limit switches, stops and shock absorbers are fitted to allow for electrical failure. The aerial may also be inched to a required angle by hand-pump to facilitate testing and adjustment. High-speed Snow Clearance That the snow-removal problem facing an airport operator may well attain its most serious proportions in the earliest stages of a storm, and that therefore every minute counts if the airport is to be kept open, is a very valid point made by Rolba Ltd in publicizing the newest and most powerful snow-clearing machine in their range, the Snowblast R-2200A. Performance figures quoted are a maxi- mum cutting speed of 30 m.p.h. and a clearance capacity of up to 2,200 tons of snow an hour. This weight of snow, say Rolba, would be found on a 10,000ft x 150ft runway covered to a depth of 4in, taking the weight per cubic foot as 8.81b The R-2200A has a four-wheel chassis on which is mounted a body containing the propulsion engine—a 220 b.h.p. Cummins diesel driving to all four wheels via a torque convenor—and a 335 b.h.p. Cummins diesel driving forward via a two-speed gearbox to a saw-toothed helical cutter mounted beneath the driver's cab. The cutter drive also operates a high-speed impeller (situated behind the cab) into which the cut snow is thrown, to be blown out through an ejector chute. The snow is cast to one side some 110ft clear of the vehicle, and in such a way that the driver's view remains unob- structed. In any case the windscreen has a The Rolba Snowblast R-22OA snow-clearing machine des- cribed on this page rotary panel to provide clear vision however severe the snowstorm. Design refinements include hydraulic control of the vertical height of the cutter head, giving a cut to a maximum of 3in below the surface on which the wheels are travelling, and so facilitating the clearance of traffic-compacted snow. Now being introduced to Europe, the R-2200A is a product of Rolba's American associates, the, Snowblast Corporation, of Denver, Col, and is in use at the John F. Kennedy International Airport and other major US airports. Rolba Ltd, a subsidiary of Rolba AG of Zurich, also market a range of smaller snow-clearance machines of various types, a number of which are in use at airports and constructors' airfields in this country. The British company—whose offices are 88-92 Rochester Row, London SW1 (Victoria 4980)—is now having a factory built at East Grinstead, Sussex. New MD for General Precision Systems Formerly manager of the aircraft equip- ment division of English Electric, Mr J. C. King, MSC, MiMechE, FRAes, has been appointed managing director of General Precision Systems Ltd, of Ayles- bury. Mr King succeeds Mr W. Makinson, MSC, FRAes, AMIEE, who resigned to become joint managing director of the Pullin Group. Solartron Forms New Division The Solartron Electronic Group has formed a new transducer and data products division to handle development and sales of strain- gauge and rotating-cylinder pressure trans- ducers; amplifiers; the Solartron high-speed printer; and standard data-logging systems, of which there are now over 100 instal- lations. The development of specially tailored and non-standard data-logging systems continues in a separate division. Product sales manager of the new division is Mr R. J. Halford, who joined Solartron from Hilger and Watts in 1960 as a sales engineer for data-logging systems. A Honeywell Move The Manchester office of Honeywell Controls Ltd moved earlier this month from Northenden Road to a new modern block in the civic centre at Wythenshawe. The full new address is Honeywell Controls Ltd, Civic Centre, Wythenshawe, Manchester 22 (Mercury 3214-20, Telex: 66509, Cables: Minnreg, Manchester). Under the direction of Mr W. R. Owen the office provides complete sales and service facilities for Honeywell's aviation industrial and domestic products. USA Tacan for Mirages The RAAF is to obtain Tacan receivers worth £A500,000 from International Telephone and Tele- graph Corp for fitting in the Dassault Mirage Ills to be built under licence in Australia. Tacan ground equipment has already been obtained. Jet Engine Overhauls at Miami Air 1 Carrier Engine Service, which has operated a piston engine overhaul base at Miami International Airport for some years, is to build a 50,000 sq ft commercial jet engine overhaul base on a nearby 15 acre site, with space reserved for future expansion. The new facility will employ about 200 people and will have separate assembly and dismantling lines, with specialist workshops and a full engine testing section. The existing piston-engine plant will continue in operation. UTC Probing Hybrid Engines Hybrid rocket propulsion, employing a solid fuel and a liquid oxidizer and combining many of the advantages and eliminating dis- advantages of both solid- and liquid-fuel rockets, is to be the subject of continuing research at United Technology Center, Sunnyvale, Calif. The USN has awarded UTC a contract which brings to Jl.lm the value of hybrid propulsion R and D contracts UTC has received. Forecasting Engine Performance Designed to monitor and predict engine performance, the Aerolog system developed by the Norden Division of United Aircraft is now being evaluated on scheduled Sights by PAA, installed in one of the airline's heavy jet aircraft. The Aerolog provides both visual information during flight and permanent records of engine performance; by providing engine "trend" data, it permits air and ground crews to make adjustments or repairs before malfunctions develop. The Aerolog computer converts such input signals as temperature and turbine ; speed to a performance number and displays this to the flight engineer, and is \ said to improve flight safety, reduce operating costs and improve service , reliability. Germany German Orpheus Production The 100th Bristol Siddeley Orpheus 803 turbojet to be built in West Germany came off the pro- duction line at Kldckner-Humboldt-Deutz s Oberursel factory recently. The 5,0001b- thrust engine is the power unit used in the Fiat G-91 lightweight strike fighter also built under licence in Germany f<; the Luftwaffe. The Orpheus licence agreement was signed in April 1959.
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