1934-09-29 — Page 2

Page

A Pioneer In Aeronautics

time other

At the Smithsonian Institution,, Washington, a order to comme- morate the centenary of the birth of Samuel Pierpont Langley, who. Was secretary of the Institution from 1887 until 1906, on August 22, a special exhibit devoted to his activities and honours will be

the Süme unveiled. At through the Press and means, attention will be called to his achievements, and it is also intended to publish a special me- moir reviewing his work and giv- ing brief quotations from some of his writings. When Langley be- 1887, the secretary in Smithsonian Institution already included the United States Na- Monal Museum, the National Gal- lery of Art and the Bureau of American Ethnology, and to these. Langley added the Astrophysical' the National Observatory and

though Park But. Zoological Langley will always be remember- ed as an able administrator of a his institution, world-famous greatest fame came through his remarkable ploncering work in all of which was aeronautics. carried out at Washington

came

A Tour of Europe Langley was born on August zz. 1834, at Roxbury, Massachusetts. end counted among his forbears some of the most distinguished ren who,

Who Have served that state Brought up in surroundings cal- culated to stimulate his interest in science and literature He passed through the Boston High School and then gained a training in civil engineer.ng and archites. ture. But it is evident he was in astronomy more interested

han in building, and after a tour of Europe in 1864, during which ne visited many scientine and ob- servatortes, he definitely gave up the practice of engineering and became an assistant in the Har- * Kard Observatory. A year at Har- vard was followed by a year at he Naval Academy, Annapolis; and in 1867, at the age of 33, he was made director of the Alleg- heny Observatory and professor of physics in the Western Univer- sity of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh. Hitherto he had published noth- ing of note, but from 1896 on- wards there came from his pen a very long, series of scientific pa- pers and books written in a style at, once simple. and lucid, "which gained for them a wide circle of. readers Hs principal interest- during his twenty years at Pitts- burgh was the study of the sun, and his invention of the bolome- ter an eléctrical thermometer of extreme delicacy, made it pos sible to explore the Irift-red por- tion of the solar spectrum, to de- termine the temperature of the moon, and to attack the problem of solar radiation. He made se- veral excursions in connection with total solar eclipses, and with his assistant, James Edward Kee-

1.

"Aerodromes"

By the age of Arty Langley an international gained. had reputation and

January

1887, he WBS appointed as- sistant secretary of the Smith- son an Instition. In the sum- mer of that year he served as president

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 29, 1934-

ENGINEERING AND BUILDING

NON-FERROUS

METALS

AIRWAY ILLUMINATION

of the American Ass Progress In Research Night Flying Not Neglected

cation for the: Advancement of Sclence, and in November, on the death of Spencer Fullerton Baird, the second to hold the office of secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, Langley was appoint- ed his successor. The year 1887 also seems to have marked tha beginning of his great interest in the problem of human. flight. ther believed in by few and rid!- culed by the many. The first fruits of Langley's investigations, which were all carried out in the true scientific spirit, was his vol- ume "Experiments in Aerodyna mics," published in 1891, This was followed by his book, The Enter al Work of the Wind," of 1893. Having determined some of the fundamental princip for de- signing a heavier-than-air flylig machine, he proceeded to con- struct power-driven models. which he called ""aerodromes," from two Greek words meaning

この

the

Although comparatively young in-years, the British Non-Ferrous Metals Research Association has now become frinly established. and the work it is doing is fol- lowed with close attention not only in this country, but in me- over the tallurgica) circles all

world. Aga dirert result of the Association's researches a number of valuable new materials have been made available to industry during the past few years. Pro- minent among these are the ter- hary alloys of lead for cable sheat hing and water pipes, and the aluminium-brass condensertube alloy. That the Association is in no way resting on its laurels, but on the contrary, is actively pur- suing its wide and continually deve- expanding research and lopment programme, is amply shown in its recently published Yourteenth annual report, cover-

air runners. By 1895 he had builting the year ending December 31, light petrol-heated,, ash-boiler. steam engine's suitable for his his models, and with two of "aerodromes" made successful ex- periments. On May 6, 1896, aero- drome No. 5, catapulted from a houseboat at Quantico, on Potomac. flew 3,000 ft.; and on November 28, the same year, No. d flew a distance of 4200 ft. These were the first sustained free fights of power-propelled hea-

machines vier-than-air made.

ever

ser-tube corrosion; and on the ef- fect of frost on water pipes are being actively continued. Of the new researches which are being planned, mention may be made of an investigation into the effect of macrostructure on the working properties of brass and other non-ferrous metals and alloys, which is to be commenced during the present year. Two researches are also to be underta ken, the one on the corrosion of copper (copper water-service pipes; c.) and the other on the removal of bismuth-from-copper.

other

Very Economical” Lack of space prevents us from referring in any great detail to recent results obtained in the course of the Associations resear-

hes but it may be mentioned? that an improvement in the soundness of aluminium pistonsi and crankcases, for aircraft and for high-speed, motor-cars, has been found possible as the result: of a simple method, for the re- moval of dissolved" gases in alu-

ler (1857-1900), afterwards dir-minium during casting, which has

ector of the Lick Observatory, he made an expedition to Mount Whitney, in California. At Pitts- burgh he also took a large share in inducing the railway com panies of the United States to adopt a uniform system of stand- ard time by which the Contin- ent is divided up in number of zones, the time differing by one hour from some to zone.

been developed by the Association. The method, it is stated, is one which can be aplled in the foun- dry to any aluminium alloy, and large-scale tests on melts up to 600 lb. have been made with the process in the foundries of mem- ber firms. It is estimated that the cost of the treatment is less than one-tenth of 1d. per lb. of metal. Temperature service, on conden-

1933. The fact that, in additiòn to producers and users of non- ferrous metals, such diverse bod- Its as the British Electrical and Allied Industries Research Asso- clation, the Worshiptur Company of Armourers and Braziers, the Institute of Marine Engineers, the Salters' Company, and the British Waterworks Assdéfatfón are dir- ectly interested in certain phases of the Association's work," and subscribe to its funds, is some in- dication of the important posl- tion which it enjoys.

Sixteen Tasks

At the close of 1933, there were 16 researches in progrést; while the number of major technical inquiries from member arms dur- ing the year was 410, compared with 276 Inquiries of a similar na- ture in 1932, and 219 in 1931. A feature of the year's work was the hastening of the movement to- wards a great degree of con- centration of work in the Asso- clation have been conducted in the laboratories of the National

Re- Physical Laboratory, the ⚫search Department, Woolwich, or at Universities. Latterly the con- clusion has been reached, how- ever, that a better balanced team of research workers could be se- cured by concentrating much of this extra-mural work in the Association's own laboratories at Regnart Buildings, Eustan Street,

the move London, NW1, and ment is now in course or comple- tion. Where special ebuipmen and experience are demanded the Association w, of course, stan

boratoris elsewhere. turn for help to the great metal- Jurgical

on the

on the metanurgical of the spectrog

-deposition of nic chromium

on impr

and

other

castings, soun on galvanishing and hot-dipped tin coatings, on 80/20 cupro-nie kel and complex alloys for high-

Work of Every

For Constructural Work

Description

Use Green Island Cement

WHERE GREEN: ISLAND CEMENT IS MADE.

GENERAL

VIEW OF THE GREEN ISLAND CEMENT WORKS TAKEN FROM THE SEA.

issued

GREEN ISLAND CEMENT CO., LTD.

Frbalt

io answer to a

complaint made recently in the House of Commons, the Under Secretary of State' for "Air" said that the Air Ministry had not neglected night flying. This form of tran- sport had, in fact, always been considerable and, in both the military and civil branches, had greatly increased during the last few years. That such an answer was possible, and there is no rea- son to doubt its correctness, is largely due to the attention that the artificial paid to has been

lumination of both aerodromes and airways. It development is to take place, still more work will have to be done on these problems and it may, therefore, be of Interest to recall what has already been achieved,

Its evident that if the special characteristic of the aeroplane, Its High speed over long distances. 1s to be fully exploited, air lines must be operated at night. To ensure safety under these con- ditions it is not only necessary for the aircraft itself to be equip ped with appropriate navigation instruments, but there must also be a ground organisation which is eficiently conducted, provided and maintained. This organisa- tion must in fact be such as to afford the aviator every facility to enable him to keep his sche- dufed course without difficulty, to find the airport eas ly and to make a safe landing at any re- gular or emergency landing ground on his line of route: Blace moreover, air traffic is interna- tional in scope, it is desirable that the lights and other signals re- cessary for these purposes should: in certain respecta be: of a uni- versal standard pattern,

Standardisation

As is well known, the best ways of achieving this standardisation have been under consideration by the International Commission on lumination since 1928, when a sub-committee on airway and airport illumination was appoin- ted. This sub-committee first re- ported to a meeting of the' Com- m'ssion which was held in Berlin in 1930, and its recommendations, apart from a few modifications, were adopted at the Plenary Meeting which was held at Cam- bridge in the autumn of the These recommenda- same year.

LLOYD'S RULES

And Some Modi- fications

a

In view of changes in recent years, modifications of Lloyd'a' Rules, have been under consl- deration for some time and at geriéral Committee held in June. a fumber of alterations were adopted. Notice No. 1616, which the was: issueds: rectly by Commitée of Linyers-Register of Shipping einbodying these mo difications pròfises; in fact to rank" in future" yehrkas" as his toric docotient in the develope ments of marind: engineering, 202 it adds to the standing Rites of the Societe clauses relattrig" tô combinations of steam recipro

cating engines with exhäfist- steam turbines, and the sanc

tioning of welded seams poler-shell plates, as well as a complete set of rules for electric propelling machinery. Various modifications are also made in existing rales for many purposes, but none of these is likely to arouse much general interest, and perhaps discussion, as the three items mentionedi

in

tions, which included a number and and denmitions: of terms tabulated the procedure then in use in this country, the United Switzer- Germany and ¡States,

land, are to be found in the re. port of the proceedings at that meeting.

The reference to the long-desir ed welding of boiler-shell, seams. In tension is of suicient interestt to be quoted in full. It is thus modestly introduced

"Page 12, Section 14, Clause 2, has been re-written as fol

"Shell plates subject to H direct tensile stress may be welded in cases where the weld is covered by a riveted butt strap or straps. Proposal to omit butt straps may be con aldered, provided full are submitted before the

Further progress was made when a meeting of the sub-committee on Airways md- migation was held at Zurich in 1932, but though on this occa- alon a considerable step towards

made, was standardisation great many details were left to the decision of each country, for the reason that it wsa recognis- ed that the character of the ter- rtory and the climate condi- local tions, which are, of course,

be would have to questions. taken into account. As far as this country is concerned, the problem, pending the issue of a standard specification, has been dealt with in a Guide to Accö- drome Taghting, issued by the Aviation Lighting Committee of the British Standards Institu

in the

recommendations which correspond closely with those of the International Com- misalon. In other countries s'il- lar action has been taken,

The Beacons

The Organisation Of Engineering Sales

The object of British Industries House, which has recently been opened at Marble Arch, London, provide a permanent W., is to exhibition of British goods and so to improve the selling power of our industries. By having the displays of manufacturers of the same class of products set out in close juxtaposition it will enable the overseas, buyer, who is un- willing or too busy to visit

dozen or nifty showrooms, to inspect a representative range of the articles in which he is Interested with the lease possible trouble. Moreover, by providing club premises: it will enable to be conductelt negotiations under the most pleasant cond!- tions, while its position is stich as to render it accessible from all parts of London.

As regards the British manu- facturer two courses are opere either be can rent a showcase by the distifay of his goods and by "sa" doing obtain such faciles ar heating telephones, the use of a private interviewing room and the services of competent floor and interpreters or, managers

Dealing with airway illumina- tion in particular & term when includes all lighting devices out- side the airports themselves, and especially the beacons lighting the routes, it is essential that the equipment employed should have the largest possible range and the smallest possible energy con- sumption and should not be capable of confusion with other lights, The range of such bea- conais determitted by the well- known physical law, as modified by the weather conditions and the visual acuity of the observer, while the angle of vision," which depends on the size of the optical system, must also be taken into- account. This being postulated, the International Commission propose that 02 International candlepower per kilometre should be regarded as representing the light necessary for minimfimi vist- bitty But as this figure was obtined' h the laboratory, they also recommend that steps should be taken to determine the value fader attcar dying conditions. Engineering

There is no reason to dwell upon the many complaints that have been levelled against Br tish registration authorities, Lloyd's Register not excluded, because of their "walt and see" attitude towards welding general and the welding of pres- DT. surë” vešiklį”- 4n- pártičular. Montgomerie, the Society's Chief the at Surveyor, speaking Institution of Naval Architects press- two years arg, succinctly

ed the position. with res hull, constructional we

we

"the

still require," he then sai same standards that.

We are · now ten years ago,

the al that getting them

Doubt important difference! less "the

game:

principle has

operated in the present case. Lloyd's Rules are not based upon a special standard of perform- ance that may be ·attained un-· der special.com

conditions, but upon what may be described as

brand good merchantable

regulation practice. The new may, therefore, be claimed by welding technicians as the best possible proof of the great ad- vances that have been made in their art, and, incidentally, in the methods developed for the. of": non-destructive examination welds

Electric Machinery The Rules for Electric Propel-

chinery, which will be ble shortly as a separate

Cover the

whether the

a steam engine or an

For these

Arnes still apply

additional governor gear as is re- quired to safeguard the elec plant no generaly requ FOLLOW

rical

forsaking individual effort, he can combine with those who offer similar products to his own in the exhibition of the products of

to sea air, the design of the lubrication system to permit of rolling to 32 deg without spill- ing the oil, and means: to pre- vent accumulations of blige water under the machines. Switchgear is fully treated but again substantially repeats good land practice, with the addition of paragraphs on bridge contror and the relation of lever move ments to the direction of motion, of lever movements to the direc- tion

of motion of the ship Minimum lists of spare gear are given specified, and tables are for the construction of armour- ed, rubber-sheathed," lead-sheat- hed cables, &c."

Als particular branch of industry. and, of course, at the same time take advantage of the ancillars services we have just mentioned: This second course has been adopted by the manufacturers of medical and surgical Instruments. and equipment, who have rented over 8,000 sq. ft. on the third door of the building, where some 150 arms are displaying their goods in the way mentioned. In addition, on the ground floor there is a completely equipped' ward, operating theatre and sup sidiary accommodation, the wibis providing the hospital buyer with a easy means of seeing what is neing produced in the way of operating tables, forceps, sterili- sers and electrical apparatus.

Attempts are now being made: to do something of the same kind for the are

engineering industry. A group of exhibits connected with the Sheffield trades was aleaty been-organised and a number of

his art the heavier

•ffuther of the industry

taken space. But it is felt that some rather more co-operative effort would be advisable and Mr. F. Dowding, AMIMechE, has ween appointed to deal with the

We understand

from matter. him that great interest, has been' shown in the scheme, but that there is still some reluctance to take the necessary steps to seture space. We hope that this obsta- cle will soon be overcome for it appears to us that such a' display. would provide an excellent wea- pon for combating foreign com- petition.

Quite apart from the conveni- ence

of the surroundings in' which degotiations can be con- ducted, there is the added adva- tage that the equipment will be shown in close relationship to the products of other trades and that buyers in these fields of commer- ce may be easily led to take an' interest in something outside though related to their own acti- vities.

METAL WINDOWS

MANUFACTURER :

MADE IN HONGKONG

FROM

IMPORTED

BRITISH MATERIAL

95% BRITISH.

THE TAI YING STEEL WINDOW MFG CO.

TELEFONE: 37492.

OFFICE:~~ 80/85, CHUN TÔNG STREET. FACTORY:-NORTH-POINT, HONG KONG,

SHIP & ENGINE BUILDERS. SHIP & ENGINE REPAIRERS, MECHANICAL

AND ELECTRICA

ENGINEERS.

BOILER MAKERS.

IRON-FOUNDERS. (Licensed To

Manufacture Lanz Ferlit Iron) BRASS FOUNDERS. FORGE MASTERS.

OXY-ACETYLENE AND ELECTRIC WELDERS.

DRY DOCK-

Length 787 Feet Length an-Blocks 750 Feet. Breadth at

THE TAIKOO DOCKYARD & ENGINEERING COMPANY

OF HONG KONG,

SALVAGE TUG TAIKOU"

Wireless Call

LIMITED.

2009 MUKA

t ́entrance

93 ft 4 iss.. Depth on Centre of

801 HW.0.5.7.) 34. 6.ing.

-THREE SLIPWAYS- Capable of Handling Ships Up to 4,000 Tons Displacement

CRANES

100 TOX Electrio Crane at Ses Wall,

Lifting reach 70 feet.

25 TON Hightower canive Bra INA Ju Grane, Lifting radius 27- 16 ns serving, 120 Des Dook and Sea Wall berths.

BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE, Agents,

HONG KONG, CHINA & JAPAN.

CALL PLAS

ons, for

¿