aeroplanes-第21章
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for this purpose it would be convenient to make
the plane E exactly one foot square。
DETERMINING THE PRESSURE FROM THE SPEED。
These two instruments can be made to check each
other and thus pretty accurately enable you to
determine the proper places to mark the pressure
indicator; as well as to make the wheels in the
anemometer the proper size to turn the pointer
in seconds when the wind is blowing at a certain
speed; say ten miles per hour。
Suppose the air pressure indicator has the scale
divided into quarter pound marks。 This will
make it accurate enough for all purposes。
CALCULATING PRESSURES FROM SPEED。The following
table will give the pressures from 5 to 100
miles per hour:
Velocity of wind in Pressure Velocity of wind in Pressure
miles per hour per sq。 ft。 miles per hour per sq ft
5 。112 55 15。125
10 。500 60 18。000
15 1。125 65 21。125
20 2。000 70 22。500
25 3。125 75 28。125
30 4。600 80 32。000
35 6。126 86 36。126
40 8。000 90 40。500
45 10。125 95 45。125
50 12。5 100 50。000
HOW THE FIGURES ARE DETERMINED。The foregoing
figures are determined in the following manner:
As an example let us assume that the velocity
of the wind is forty…five miles per hour。 If
this is squared; or 45 multiplied by 45; the product
is 2025。 In many calculations the mathematician
employs what is called a constant; a figure that
never varies; and which is used to multiply or
divide certain factors。
In this case the constant is 5/1000; or; as usually
written; 。005。 This is the same as one two hundredths
of the squared figure。 That would make
the problem as follows:
45 X 45 = 2025 / 200 = 10。125; or;
45 X 45 … 2025 X 。005 = 10。125。
Again; twenty…five miles per hour would be
25 X 25 = 625; and this multiplied by 。005 equals
2 pounds pressure。
CONVERTING HOURS INTO MINUTES。It is sometimes
confusing to think of miles per hour; when
you wish to express it in minutes or seconds。 A
simple rule; which is not absolutely accurate; but
is correct within a few feet; in order to express
the speed in feet per minute; is to multiply the
figure indicating the miles per hour; by 8 3/4。
To illustrate: If the wind is moving at the
rate of twenty miles an hour; it will travel in that
time 105;600 feet (5280 X 20)。 As there are sixty
minutes in an hour; 105;600 divided by 60; equals
1760 feet per minute。 Instead of going through
all this process of calculating the speed per minute;
remember to multiply the speed in miles per
hour by 90; which will give 1800 feet。
This is a little more then two per cent。 above
the correct figure。 Again; 40 X 90 equals 3600。
As the correct figure is 3520; a little mental calculation
will enable you to correct the figures so
as to get it within a few feet。
CHANGING SPEED HOURS TO SECONDS。As one…
sixtieth of the speed per minute will represent the
rate of movement per second; it is a comparatively
easy matter to convert the time from speed in
miles per hour to fraction of a mile traveled in
a second; by merely taking one…half of the speed
in miles; and adding it; which will very nearly express
the true number of feet。
As examples; take the following: If the wind
is traveling 20 miles an hour; it is easy to take
one…half of 20; which is 10; and add it to 20; making
30; as the number of feet per second。 If the
wind travels 50 miles per hour; add 25; making
75; as the speed per second。
The correct speed per second of a wind traveling
20 miles an hour is a little over 29 feet。 At
50 miles per hour; the correct figure is 73 1/3 feet;
which show that the figures under this rule are
within about one per cent。 of being correct。
With the table before you it will be an easy
matter; by observing the air pressure indicator;
to determine the proper speed for the anemometer。
Suppose it shows a pressure of two pounds;
which will indicate a speed of twenty miles an
hour。 You have thus a fixed point to start from。
PRESSURE AS THE SQUARE OF THE SPEED。Now
it must not be assumed that if the pressure at
twenty miles an hour is two pounds; that forty
miles an hour it is four pounds。 The pressure
is as the square of the speed。 This may be explained
as follows: As the speed of the wind
increases; it has a more effective push against an
object than its rate of speed indicates; and this
is most simply expressed by saying that each time
the speed is doubled the pressure is four times
greater。
As an example of this; let us take a speed of ten
miles an hour; which means a pressure of one…
half pound。 Double this speed; and we have 20
miles。 Multiplying one…half pound by 4; the result
is 2 pounds。 Again; double 20; which means
40 miles; and multiplying 2 by 4; the result is 8。
Doubling forty is eighty miles an hour; and again
multiplying 8 by 4; we have 32 as the pounds pressure
at a speed of 80 miles an hour。
The anemometer; however; is constant in its
speed。 If the pointer should turn once a second
at 10 miles an hour; it would turn twice at 20 miles
an hour; and four times a second at 40 miles an
hour。
GYROSCOPIC BALANCE。Some advance has been
made in the use of the gyroscope for the purpose
of giving lateral stability to an aeroplane。 While
the best of such devices is at best a makeshift;
it is well to understand the principle on which they
operate; and to get an understanding how they are
applied。
THE PRINCIPLE INVOLVED。The only thing
known about the gyroscope is; that it objects to
changing the plane of its rotation。 This statement
must be taken with some allowance; however;
as; when left free to move; it will change in
one direction。
To explain this without being too technical; examine
Fig。 63; which shows a gyroscopic top; one
end of the rim A; which supports the rotating
wheel B; having a projecting finger C; that is
mounted on a pin…point on the upper end of the
pedestal D。
_Fig。 63。 The Gyroscope。_
When the wheel B is set in rotation it will maintain
itself so that its axis E is horizontal; or at
any other angle that the top is placed in when the
wheel is spun。 If it is set so the axis is horizontal
the wheel B will rotate on a vertical plane;
and it forcibly objects to any attempt to make it
turn except in the direction indicated by the
curved arrows F。
The wheel B will cause the axis E to swing
around on a horizontal plane; and this turning
movement is always in a certain direction in relation
to the turn of the wheel B; and it is obvious;
therefore; that to make a gyroscope that
will not move; or swing around an axis; the placing
of two such wheels side by side; and rotated
in opposite directions; will maintain them in a
fixed position; this can also be accomplished by
so mounting the two that one rotates on a plane
at right angles to the other。
_Fig。 64。 Application of the Gyroscope。_
THE APPLICATION OF THE GYROSCOPE。Without
in any manner showing the structural details of
the device; in its application to a flying machine;
except in so far as it may be necessary to explain
its operation; we refer to Fig。 64; which
assumes that A represents the frame of the aeroplane;
and B a frame for holding the gyroscopic
wheel C; the latter being mounted so it rotates on
a horizontal plane; and the frame B being hinged
fore and aft; so that it is free to swing to the right
or to the left。
For convenience in explaining the action; the
planes E are placed at right