New High-speed Fueller for Aircraft
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TO meet the higher fuelling speeds required by the latest types of aircraft now coming into service, the B.P. Aviation Service of the British Petroleum Co., Ltd., has introduced a new tanker known as the Cornwall. The capacity is 3,400 gal., and that of the trailer unit with which it can operate, 2,500 gal.
The dispensing equipment has a nominal pumping capacity of 400 g.p.m. with a maximum of 500 g.p.rn., with an "into aircraft" pressure of 50 psi. With this performance, the equipment is capable of meeting the requirements of all known and projected civil aircraft.
A Pegson single-stage pump is driven directly by a Layrub shaft from the power take-off mounted on top of the gearbox of the vehicle. The pump incorporates a step-up gear having a ratio of 2.43 to 1 to allow for operation over the required speed range with suitable engine revolutions.
For pressure fuelling at maximum speeds the Cornwall operates with 21-in.-bore hoses, but for over-wing fuelling and pressure fuelling with the range 100-130 g.p.m., 2-in. hoses. 100 ft. long, are used. This arrangement n22 enables four-engined aircraft with wingtip tanks to be filled from a central position in front. Three of these fuelling units are already in use—one in Switzerland, another in Denmark and .the third in France. Others are being built for service elsewhere in Europe, in Scandinavia and Australasia.
They have been developed and built on chassis of both Leyland and Foden make by Thompson Bros. (Bilston), Ltd.