Cylinder from Mars Metal from the Sea ••• Magnesium Construction of a Generator-Type Dynamonmeter The Transistor A Machine Designer's Protest of a Protest Robert l. land, Jr., Class of '51, speaks from experience when he says, U. S. Steel offers thorough training · · · exposes the graduate engineer to many interesting phases of the steel industry ROBERT L. LAND, JR., graduated with a with a well-planned and complete training viding the engineer shows initiative and B.S. in Chemical Engineering in Febru- program. He says, "U.S. Steel offers the the willingness to work." ary 1951. He had previously been inter- graduate engineer an excellent chance to If you are interested in a challenging viewed by U.S. Steel college recruitment work in a number of different fields." and rewarding career with United States representatives and had been offered a job. This enables the graduate who has not Steel and feel that you can qualify, you He began working in the Coke Plant at the decided on his exact field to look around can obtain further information from your Gary, Indiana Works of U.S. Steel immedi- the big steel industry from within and to college placement director. Or we will ately after graduation. find the type of work that suits him best. gladly send you our informative booklet, After extensive training and several pro- After a man is given the chance to really "Paths of Opportunity," upon request. Just motions, Bob was made General Heater find himself and has been adequately write to United States Steel Corporation, Foreman on November 1, 1954. This ex- trained, "U.S. Steel offers security and an Personnel Division, Room 1622, 525 Wil. ceedingly important job makes him re- unlimited possibility of advancement pro- e liam Penn Place, Pittsburgh 30, Pa. sponsible for the proper heating and the quality of all coke produced at the Gary SEE THE UNITED STATES STEEL HOUR. It's a fuIl-hour TV program Works-the second largest coke plant in presented every other week by United States Steel. Consult your local the world-with 16 batteries of coke ovens newspaper for time and station. producing 15,000tons daily. He has a crew of 60 and 8 foremen working under him. Bob feels that U.S. Steel really gets the young graduate engineer off to a good start UNITED STATES AMERICAN BRIDGE •• AMERICAN STEEL & WIRE and CYClDNE FENCE •• COlUMBIA.GENEVA STEEL STEEL •• CONSOLIDATED WESTERN STEEl •• GERRARD STEEl STRAPPING •• NATIONAl TUBE Oil WEll SUPPLY .. TENNESSEE COAL & IRON •• UNITED STATES STEEL PRODUCTS •• UNITED STATES STEEl SUPPLY •• Divisions of UNITED STATES STEEl CORPORATION, PITTSBURGH UNITED STATES STEEL HOMES, INe. • UNION SUPPLY COMPANY • UNITED STATES STEEl EXPORT COMPANY • UNIVERSAL ATlAS CEMENT COMPANY ~~ Looking aheadA with Detroit Edison Important new addition to the engi- combination of generators, trans- vanced facilities, combined with the neering facilities of Detroit Edison is formers, lines, cables and other equip- steadily rising demands for electrical this huge System Analog and Net- ment, and of any variations in com- power in Detroit and Southeastern work Computer, bringing new speed, ponents within the system, can be Michigan, enable Detroit Edison to accuracy and convenience to solving determined in a fraction of the time offer young engineers an outstanding the problems of providing better required by conventional methods. opportunity and challenge to build pOwer systems, both for today and for their own futures. The System Analog and Network for tomorrow. Computer, along with other advanced Designed and built by Detroit electronic equipmen t, such as the digi- Edison enginecrs, this unique four- tal computer, serves Detroit Edison ton machine reproduces in miniature engineers in a variety of fields, in- the company's power system, and can cluding research, system operation, For the f nil story of be varied to simulate other power and production, planning, project and career opportunities at systems as well. The effect of any design engineering .... Such ad- Detroit Edison, simply caLLor write Jor a free copy of this new booklet, Detroit U Edison Engineering." THE DETROIT EDISON COMPANY 2000 Second A venue Detroit 26, Michigan March 1955 1 "POWER OFF I" Test operations are directed from this central control room, where special measuring instruments greatly speed up the collection of pump performance data. That's one way Worthington products are made more reliable by using ..• ••• the world's most versatile hydraulic proving ground When you make pumping equipment that has to stand up and deliver year after year anywhere in the world, you've got to be sure it will perform as specified. That's why we built one of the world's largest hydraulic test stands at our plant in Harrison, New Jersey. Here, over a half- acre "lake," we can check the performance of anything from a fractional horsepower unit to pumps handling over 100,000 gallons a minute. When you realize there are thousands of sizes and types of centrifugal pumps alone, you get an idea of the versatility we had to build into our proving-ground. Naturally, our new test equipment is a big help to our research eng:neers, as well as our customers. Now they get performance data on products quickly and accurately. Using it, we can save months, even years, in developing new Worthington fluid and air- handling devices - equipment for which this company has been COMPREHENSIVE TESTS are run on a Worthington centrifugal refrigeration unit (lower left) now in service as one of the Ara- famous for over a century. For the complete story of how you can bian American Oil Company's central air conditioning units in fit into the Worthington picture, write F. F. Thompson, Mgr., Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Personnel & Training, Worthington Corporation, Harrison, N. J. 4.2SA See the Worthington representative when he visits your campus See the Worthington Corporation exhibit in New York City. A lively, informative display of product developments WORTHINGTON for industry, business and , the home. Park Avenue and 40th Street. When you're thinking of a good job-think high-think Worthington AIR CONDITIONING AND REFRIGERATION. COMPRESSORS' CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT. ENGINES. DEAERATORS • INDUSTRIAL MIXERS LIQUID METERS. MECHANICAL POWER TRANSMISSION' PUMPS. STEAM CONDENSERS. STEAM-JET EJECTORS. STEAM TURBINES • WELDING POSITIONERS 2 Spartan Engineer Editor RAY STEINBACH Business Manoger BILL BARTLEY S~&~Utwz Associate Editor of michigan state college ALICE JACOBSON Assistont Editors HARLOW NELSON EMORY GEISZ ARTICLES Photo Editor 11 Cylinder from Mars BOB BRANDON 15 Metal from the Sea ... Magnesium Feature Editor 19 Construction of a Generator-Type EUGENE SPELLER Dynamometer 23 The Transistor News Editor. 26 A Machine Designer1s Protest of a Protest BOB STOCKING J.ssistont Business Manoger JOHN ROOD Advertising Manoger ART SIPPOLA FEATURES Promotion Monoger CHARLES PUMA 8 Clubs and Societies 12 Engineering Alumni Circulotion Manager 17 New Developments JENNY WILSON 48 Crossword for Engineers Staff JO GRAHAM Cover Design by; EMORY GEISZ JIM JOHNSTON SHIRLEY PRIKASKY DAVE MITCHELL BOB FREDERICKS Published four times yearly by the students of the SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING, MICHIGAN STATE COLLEGE, East Lansing, Michigan. The office is on the third JAMES WILSON floor of the Union Building, Phone ED 2-1511, Extension 251. Entered as second class matter at the Post Office in Lansing, Michigan, under the act of March 3, 1879. TOM AYRES Address Mail to: P. O. Box 468, East Lansing, Michigan Publishers representative Advisors Littell-Murray-Barnhill, Inc. 101 Park Avenue, New York W. E. LIBBY 605 W. Michigan Avenue, Chicago PAUL G. GRAY Subscription rate by mail $1.00 per year. Single copies 25 cents. D. D. McGRADY March 1955 " I 1\! 1 ........ -- ::- -.- .. Whether you're in engineering, sci- ence, commerce or liberal arts, the now sales organization may offer 1_ J just the future you're looking for L ~__ -J ""=---=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-~ ---.- -- What About Your Future? Your opportunities for advancement are excellent because Dow is growing-continua]]y building new plants, develop- -a real advantage if business slows-and certain to multiply opportunities as business expands. Also at Dow ing new production operations-adding new products, opening new markets. -group insurance, pension plans and employee stock purchase plans have been a tradition. Dow fits you for the job with a comprehensive training If you or any of your friends majoring in other fields of course which explains company organization, policy, study who have had pre-engineering or one year or more finance, research, production, technical service and sales methods. of college chemistry are interested in finding out more about a future at DOW, write to Dow's Technical Employ- You'll find that Dow is a friendly company. You']] discover ment Department today. that promotions are usually from within, from Dow's own staff. Seldom is an outsider considered for a top job at Dow. Dow's Booklet, "Opportunities with The Dow Moreover, you'll find a highly developed spirit of coopera- Chemical Company," especially wriuen for tion between men and departments. those about to enter the chemical profession, is At Dow, your future can be more secure because of Dow's available free, upon request. Write THE DOW diversification of products serving many different markets CHEMICAL COMPANY, Technical Employ- ment, Midland, Michigan, or Freeport, Texas. you can depend on DOW CHEMICALS ~ 4 Spartan Engineer Editorial FIVE YEAR ENGINEERING CURRICULUM Did you have a chance to take those electives which you wanted? Seventeen to nineteen credits per term of required subjects doesn't leave much time for any other courses. This is the situation which holds true throughout the entire school of engineering. The reason for this is simply that any person who hopes to be a successful engineer must have a certain amount of knowledge before he starts to work. The only way to obtain this knowledge is through the many required courses. This leaves only one answer to the question of how to get in those desired electives. The five year engi- neering curriculum is that answer. With the same requirements for graduation as now exist in the school of engineering, the student on the five year plan could take two credits less per term and still have time for over twenty credits of electives. This would enable the engineering student to gain some knowledge in other fields, such as psychology or cer- tain parts of journalism such as business letter writing. For some people the extra year of school might appear to cause financial hardships but with the lighter load of school work there would be more time for a part time job. Such a job could provide not only the needed funds but, also a certain amount of practical experience which could easily be very valuable when starting a permanent job after graduation. With the present trend towards the five year plan it should be in use within three or four years. March 1955 s WHAT SYLVANIA'S BUSINESS MEANS TO YOU ••• THE ENGINEER Supplying vital components and parts that are the laboratories in 11 states, with over 24,000 "heart" of hundreds of industrial and consumer employees. products of other manufacturers ... that's Sylvania's "heart" business.• To keep pace with the demand for Sylvania's prod- It's an extra stability factor that safeguards your ucts, our engineering staff has more than doubled long-range career plans! in the past 6 years. 1954 saw the addition of 2 new laboratories, the completion of a new television When you combine this fact with the company's manufacturing plant, a TV picture tube plant, and leading position as a manufacturer of such Sylvania the start of a new incandescent lamp plant. consumer products as: -television sets, radios, fluo- rescent, incandescent and photoflash lamps, you Diversity ... stability ... growth - these are the can readily see that Sylvania is a company with foundations that make Sylvania an excellent. place exceptional diversity. That's why Sylvania can offer to build your career in engineering. you the security you need for professional success. For detailed information on Sylvania's program for In the brief 53 years since its founding, Sylvania's graduating engineers, see your College Placement dedication to young, aggressive management (the average top executive age is only 45), has meant Office. Or send for our comprehensive booklet, "'Today and Tomorrow With Sylvania" by writing expansion into an organization of 45 plants, 12 to Supervisor of Technical Employment. SYLVANIA Sylvania Electric Products Inc. ~740 Broadway, New York 19, N. Y. liGHTING. RADIO. ELECTRONICS. TELEVISION. ATOMIC ENERGY 6 Spartan Engineer THE ALUMINUM INDUSTRY WAS BORN ON SMALLMAN • In 1888, the aluminum industry consisted of one company- located in an unimpressive little building on the east side of STREET Pittsburgh. It was called The Pittsburgh Reduction Company. The men of this company had real engineering abilities and viewed the work to be done with an imagineering eye. But they were much more than that. They were pioneers ..• leaders ... men of vision. A lot has happened since 1888. The country ... the company ... and the industry have grown up. Ten new territories have become states, for one thing. The total industry now employs more than 1,000,000 people- and the little outfit on Smallman Street? Well, it's a lot bigger, too-and the name has been changed to Alcoa. ALUMINUMCOMPANYOF AMERICA... but it's still the leader-still the place for engineering "firsts". As you prepare to trade textbooks for a position in industry, consider the advantages of joining a dynamic company like Alcoa-for real job stability and pleasant working conditions-where good men move up fast through their association with the recognized leaders in the aluminum industry. Alcoo's new aluminum office building We have fine positions for college graduate engineers-in our plants, sales offices and research laboratories from coast to coast. These are positions of responsibility in production supervision, plant and design engineering, industrial research or sales engineering. Right now it may be quicker than you think from a seat in the classroom to your career with Alcoa. Why not find out? Your Placement Director will be glad to make an appointment for you with our personnel represent- ative. Or just send US an applica- tion yourself. ALUMINUM COMPANYOFAMERICA,1825 Alcoa Bldg., Pittsburgh 19, Pa. ALCOA ,~ ALUMINUM ALUMINUM COMPANY OF AMERICA 7 March 1955 CLUBS AND SOCIETIES by Shirley Prikasky Tau Beta Pi In a formal ceremony held in 403 Olds Hall on Feb. 24, Tau Beta Pi initiated 26 men to membership. To be eligible for membership in Tau Beta Pi, a stu- dent must rank scholastically in the upper l/s of the junior engineering class, or the upper 1/5 of the senior engineering class. The following men were initiated: Professional Members: Mr. Harry L. Conrad, of the Christman Co. of Lan- sing. Mr. Arthur W. FarraIl, Head of the Department of Agricultural Engineering at Michigan State Col- lege. Undergraduate Members: Frank J. Alfonso Wayne C. Liddle Robert A. Brandon Thomas J. Linton Edwin B. Champagne Carl F. Lutz Joseph A. Cieslewicz Jack S. Macauley George E. Clute John J. Mikoliczeak John L. Davies Robert R. Murrell Samuel L. DeLeeuw Donald R. Musson Lloyd J. I-Iassencahl Thomas M. Payette Lawrie W. Honens John K. Sauter James W. Jennings Brant A. Short Julian Kateley, Jr. Rennie J. Swope Kay V. Lask Marvin L. VanDerPloeg Ralph Redman, senior mechanical engineering stu- dent, is presented a bronze medal by Prof. Leonard Dean John D. Hyder addressed the local members Price, head of the Mechanical Engineering Depart- of Tau Beta Pi at a Banquet held in Kellogg Center ment. Ralph was chosen to be the outstanding immediately following the formal initiation. The sub- engineering student at MSC by the National ject of the talk was "Science in Engineering." Society of Mechanical Engineers. The medal is being awarded to the best engineering student at each school where there is a student chapter in commemoration of the founding of the national Engineering Council chapter 75 years ago. The members of the Engineering Council are now setting up the annual Engineering Exposition wIDch is scheduled for May 12, 13, and 14. It will be similar Exhibits in the Engineering Exposition will be of to the one held last year. The Exposition is mainly three types: Industrial, those from the engineering directed toward interesting high school students in the societies, and student originated. many engineering fields. Also, there are spectacular Among the Industrial exhibits last year were the science exhibits which should attract the general public. RCA exhibits of transistors and ultra-high frequency radio transmission. The transmitter was about the size The Exposition will include many different activities. of a cigarette pack which is made possible by the use There will be an engineering symposia, a feature of of transistors. Its maximum range was about three city the centennial year and the first to be held at State. blocks. The GE special program showed an egg fry- It will be a series of conferences where eminent leaders ing on a cold plate, radio waves interrupted by the in engineering will meet to discuss problems and hand, chemical cocktails, and synthetic rubber made developments in engineering. Being a part of the before your eyes. Olds displayed the body of an auto Engineering Exposition, it will be held during the week of May 12. without paint or seats to show its construction. Many big trucks, bull dozers, and concrete mixers attracted Starting at the beginning of Spring term, the council interest. There was a Diesel locomotive and a caboose will sponsor a series of eight TV shows devoted to on exhibit. And of particplar interest to the farmers engineering. A different engineering society takes in tIDSvicinity was the agricultural display by the col- over each show and presents informative material from lege. It included scale model farms, rooms from model its field. Students interested in having a part in these homes, and other phases of farm life. The exhibits programs are asked to contact Arnold Morse. this year will be very similar to those of last year. 8 Spartan Engineer There will be exhibits entered by the separate engi- Future plans include: a joint banquet with the neering so.cieties and individual students. An engraved Michig,an se.ction of ASCE and a field trip; and plaque wIll be awarded for the best society exhibit Abram s Aenal Survey, in Lansing. and student exhibit. Last year a plaque was won by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. The student exhibit was won by Bill Bartley for his SAE binaural sound display. The Society of Automotive Engineers has an active A highlight of Exposition week will be the Micro- progr~m for th.e '54-'55 season with many interesting midget auto race. It always includes feverish last techmcal meetmgs and their ever popular film pre- minute work which seems to be unavoidable but is a sentations. lot of fun. The race will run on the morning and After the first meetings in the fall dedicated to the afternoon of Saturday, May 14. The course is Circle nomination and election of officers, accompanied by Drive and there will be four laps. Many engineering film presentations; their first technical talk was de- societies will be building cars for this race. livered by Mr. C. W. Lincoln, Chief Engineer of the Saginaw Steering Gear Division of G.M. He delivered a fine talk on the development, fundamentals and Eta Kappa Nu details of power steering. If you were in the KK building and noticed several Another one of the informative technical meetings junior and senior KK students running around flash- was devoted to aluminum applications in the auto- ing lights from a large button on their coats, don't motive industry given by Mr. James M. Smith of be alarmed. It was just the Eta Kappa Nu pledges the Engine Development Division of the Aluminum gathering signatures from the actives or faculty mem- Company of America. Mr. Smith informed the group bers. At 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 17, eleven junior and of the many beneficial uses of aluminum and how they senior KK students were initiated into Eta Kappa Nu. were developed and tested. He also had many sample Along with this group of students the organization parts on display. was proud to be able to induct as a professional mem- In future meetings, Mr. Ben D. Mills of the newly ber Mr. Claud R. Erickson, a noted engineer from formed Continental Division of Ford Motor Company the Lansing area, and a graduate of iVISC. Beside will talk on America's newest luxury car in a speech entitled, "The Continental Concept." Also, on a tenta- being an outstanding engineer, Mr. Erickson is promi- tiv schedule is "Disc Braces," "Suspension Systems," nate in alumni affairs at Michigan State. and "Engineering in the Sports Car Field." The project that the pledges carried out this term One of the group's extra activities this spring will was to clean out and inventory one of the store rooms be the construction of a new car to uphold last year's on the fifth floor of the KK building. Some of the victory in the Engineering Exposition race. things found there were not even known about by Visitors are always welcome to the meetings and the faculty. That goes to show you that a little house- the popular film presentations which are sandwiched cleaning can bring startling results. between technical meetings. A family night for the members and the KK faculty was held March 4. The program boasted circle and square dancing, skits by both students and faculty, ASM and refreshments. Members of the American Society for Metals had a very prominent speaker at their January 18 meeting. He was Mr. K K Thurn, editor of Metal Progress. ASCE He presented a historical review of the last decade's At each meeting the American Society of Civil progress in the field of metallurgy. Engineers try to have a speaker in to tell the prospects This organization is planning to have many interest- and advantages of his phase of civil engineering. ing speakers at their future meetings. The next one Speakers so far this term include: John Patriarche, is going to be a representative from the American Can East Lansing City Manager; Mr. Koons, Field Secre- Company. His topic will be controlled atmospheres tary for Associated General Contractors; and Mr. in relation to heat treatment of metal products. All Pierce, State Sanitation Department. engineers are invited to hear these speakers, especi- Last fall term ASCE held its first annual Student- ally since these talks overlap into many different Alumni Civil Engineering Banquet. It proved to be engineering fields. very successful. Mr. John Meyers of the State High- ;:vay Department gave a very interesting talk on Aerial Photography and the \lodern Engineer." ASME ASCE is looking forward to many more annual stu- The American Society of Mechanical Engineers dent-alumni banquets. has the following officers this year: Chairman-Jim Cobb; Vice Chairman-Joe Cieslewicz; Secretary-Roy The student chapter is making plans for the forth- Cole; and Treasurer-Rod Miller. It has built up a coming North Central Conference which they are membership of 77 students. Any student enrolled in hosting. The conference is to be held ;\larch 30, 31, a course which leads to a degree in any phase of and April 1, at Kellogg Center. The group is com- engineering may join the society until March 10. po.sed of 13 colleges and universities from Ohio and The society has one field trip each term. Last term MIchigan. The conferencc is being built around high- the members visited the Goodyear Tire and Rubber ways and transportation. Speakers are scheduled who are experts in this area. (Continued on page 30) 9 March 1955 .......... THE:NEW GM GUIDANCE MANUAL .. . . . . . .... ' ..... ... ... "Must" Reading for Young Engineers .. . . ' ... . I t's handsome, hefty and helpful-and you can probably borrow a .. copy at your school library or placement office. Just ask for "Job Opportunities in General Motors." You'll find page after page of down-to-earth information about General Motors, the way we operate, the kind of young engineers we seek, and why so many of them enjoy rewarding careers with us. Each GM division describes its products, the locations of its plants, the opportunities that are open, and the training programs offered to college graduates. It's 136 pages, 8Y," x U", in color. In fact, it's the next best thing to actually paying us a personal visit-and we have a strong suspicion you'll want to find out more about careers with GM after reading this handbook. If so, we suggest you arrange an interview with our GM College Representative, or write us directly. GM POSITIONS NOW AVAILABLE IN THESE FIELDS: ACCOUNTING. FINANCE' SALES. PRODUCTION SUPERVISJON MECHANICAL ENGINEERING • ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING METALLURGICAL ENGINEERING • INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING CHEl\IlCAL ENGINEERING GENERAL MOTORS Personnel Staff, Detroit 2, II1ichigan 10 Spartan Engineer "Someday you will understand that there is only one formula needed to understand the entire workings of the universe." CYLINDER FROM MARS by Diane Barrett, ]m. '57 sible for me, because they had no vowels ("a" wasn't a vowel in those days), yet when the colonel said them, there \-vas a rhythm and cadence. The colonel then explained, "Vve are an auxiliary unit which SINCE I am the oldest graduate of MSC, or MAC patrols the solar system to see that all is kept in order," I should say, I have been asked to write an article He asked if 1 would like to step inside the cylinder- on some of my experiences to commemorate the Cen- he promised not to flyaway with me. I went inside. tennial. 1 guess the editors thought it would have Never have 1 seen anything so fantastic. some sort of human interest angle. My most memor- able experience occurred when I was a sophomore, There was a large column in the center of the main and it was especially unusual. I've never related it to room, and set in it was a large glass with a ghost-like anyone before; in fact, after everyone reads it, I'll shape floating around in it. Martypll said, "This is probably have to mortgage my home and move to Super-Radar. I'm sure someday people on the earth will find it very advantageous, that is, if they don't the arctic. use it to their disadvantage first." It was Wednesday, February 12, and a bitter cold day much like the weather we have been having lately. The next room we entered looked like a physician's Since girls weren't as welcome at MAC as they are office, very clean and white with bottles of medicine these days, 1 was spending my leisure time studying on the shelves. 1 was mistaken, however, for it was their bar. 1 suppose they did enjoy a few earthly in the library. Evidently my English literature in- pleasures. There was a lone man here whom 1 didn't structor found more exhilaration in Shakespeare's recognize. The colonel said, "This is our chauffeur, rhetoric than I did, but I was dutifully fulfilling a Pluto, from the planet of the same name." requirement to read the soliloquy from Hamlet. After 1 had seen the complete ship, we returned to At the same time there was a bitter struggle going the main room where I asked them many questions. on in the back of my mind between my conscience The colonel promptly answered, "Mars is our home, and my inner desire to keep warm, but my conscience and that's why all our names begin with the letters finally won out; so, 1 picked up my Lit. and hygiene MAR." They didn't have any of the characteristics books and headed for the campus police. I had in- of the skinny little red-eyed men we see nowadays in curred a fine while cycling on the sidewalk. cartoons, but they stood as straight as sentinels on By the time 1 got past Sparty down where the Dem duty. Their dress wasn't like Captain Video, rather it !lall and Jenison are now (then they were just a glint was a very conservative dark blue. ~n the administration's eye) every bone and muscle ~Iarsfkhl, who had been silent until then, quickly 111 my body was frozen and aching. All of a sudden volunteered to tell me all the vital information about 1 heard a startling noise above me, and 1 looked up his home. "It is 141,540,143.723 miles from the sun to see a cylindrical shaped object with a lightning around which it revolves, and we are fourth in dis- exhaust come shooting out of the sky and land on the tance from it, as compared to the other planets in the field. I was a hit shaken, yet drawn by curiosity I solar system. The velocity is 15.5103 miles per second, walked over to it. At the same time the inhabitants and it has a diameter of 4,191.76 miles. It requires 1.88 began to emerge. They were different, but physically years to complete one revolution. Our seasons are not much larger than we are. twice as long as your which makes a very favorable Obviously they didn't detect my surprise at seeing environment most of the year. The year has 687 days, them, but like gentlemen immediately introduced each day being only 24 hours, 37 minutes, and 22.67 themselves. The first one spoke, "1 am Colonel seconds. We have two moons, Phobosand and Marxpwqm, and this is ~rartypll, Marsfkhl, Marppmny, Deimos." and Marjmcvn." As each was introducd, he bowed (Continued on page 35) deeply. The pronunciation of their names was impos- 11 March 1955 ington University. Hubert lives at 540 Westminster ENGINEERING ALUMNI Ave., Elizabeth, New Jersey. Herman "Herkie" Bowers, M.E. '50, is Staff Engineer by Agnes McCann, School of Engineering for the Mergenthaler Linotype Co. in Brooklyn, New York. His home address is 19 Miller Road, Farming- Opening mail in the office of the Dean of Engineer- dale, L. 1., N. Y. In December '54, during the annual ing is always a pleasure because so many of our ASME meeting, he was chairman of arrangements for alumni write us such interesting letters. There is only the first Michigan State College Alumni Dinner in con- one thing better-a personal call. nection with the meeting. Twenty-six attended and Announcement was received recently of the promo- plans were made for it to become an annual affair. tion of Lewis J. Patterson, C.E. '39, to the position Herkie, you may recall, was editor of the Spartan of Plant Manager of the Calcite Plant of Michigan Engineer in 1950. Limestone Division of the U. S. Steel Corporation at William E. Johnson, C.K '52, is Project Engineer Rogers City, Michigan. Pat has been with the com- for the Goodyear Atomic Corp. He was married pany since he graduated, except for the time spent in December 29, 1951, and has a son, James Clifford, who army during World War n. He and Marian are the was born July 3, 1954. His home address is Rotite proud parents of a family of four-two girls and two No.1, Box 327, Piketon, Ohio. boys. Gerald Westbrook, C.E. '54, is with the Corps of George Robbins, C.K '52, is also at Michigan Lime- Engineers, U. S. Army, Portland, Oregon, District 6. stone where he is Plant Engineer. He, Betty, and son While he is gaining good experience, George thinks David reside at 296 Lake St., Rogers City. Michigan is a very attractive state and he is hoping to Duane Burton, Ch.E. '39, was a recent visitor. He locate here before too long. is with Boeing Aircraft and lives at 17043 Tenth Ave., Paul Eaton, M.E. '52, is with the Ford Motor Com- N.W., Seattle 77, Washington. He reports that the pany as Production Draftsman and lives at 6314 following engineers are with Boeing: Vernon H. Schaefer Road, Dearborn. Paul was recently dis- Donaldson, C.E. '53; John K Long, M.E. '51; Harold charged from the army. V. Lee, Jr., M.K '49; George Masters, C.E. '54; George A. Prusi, C.K '42; Charles Swanson, M.E. '52; D. J. Thomas Hamilton, M.E. '52, writes that his position Vanderwall, M.K '48; Harry Vanwyck, M.K '49; and is in Post Ordnance Guided Missile Office at 24 Sheri- John Wozniak, KK '53. Ira Stricker, E.E. '53, is on dan, Illinois. He is working on underground launching military leave from the company. Lt. Harald Lee is sites in the Chicago area and lives at 2008 Little Fort on leave and is in the service. At present he is located Road, Fort Sheridan, Illinois. in Kansas. Gerald W. Theide, M.E. '52, is Lt. J.G. in the U. S. Miss Ethel Lyon, Ch.K '34, is with the Institute for Navy. He is doing maintenance engineering work in Air Weapons Research. This is an Air FOJ'ce project an aircraft fighter squadron. His present address is operated by the University of Chicago. She lives at VF-153, F.P.O., San Francisco, California. He plans the Halsance Hotel, Stony Island and 60th St., Chi- to return to Michigan when he is released from the cago, Illinois. service in September, 1956. Harald Orchard, M.K '54, is with the Douglas Air- craft Company and enjoys his work and the California sunshine very mllch. He and Nancy live at 9302 Lamp- son, Garden Grove, California. He reports that there from Kentucky Engineer are many opportunities for engineers at Douglas. Rodney Hall, KK '52, is Electronic Engineer for the Navy Department, Bureau of Ships, Washington, D. C. He was married October 3, 1954, and is living at 5614 Third St., N.W. Charles A. Bowser, C.K '33, formerly of 1536 Spencer Ave., Lansing, was appointed Director of Underwriting for the Federal Housing Administration in Washington, D. C., on April 26, 1954. He holds one of the top positions in the agency. His wife and two daughters have joined him in Washington. Paul Theroux, c.E. '47, reports a change of home address to 54 Westbrook Road, 'Vestfield, New Jersey. He is with the Boston Manufacturers Mutual Fire Insurance Company. The Standard Oil Development Company has just announced the appointment of Mr. Hubert A. Patti- son, Ch.K '50, to the staff of its Patent Division. Prior to this appointment he was a patent examiner with the United States Patent Office. After receiving his B.S. at State he earned his L.L.B. from George Wash- 12 Spartan Engineer . " , . ' . i~tomic Globe Circling ... will become a reality during your engineering career. When that day comes,you may be certain our engineers will have played a major role in developing the nuclear engines that will make such flights possible. Solving tough problems like this has made Pratt & Whitney Aircraft the world's foremost designer and builder of aircraft engines. This is the reason why it is first-choice of so many forward-looking technical graduates. PRATT & WHITNEY AIRCRAFT DIVISION OF UNITED AIRCRAFT CORPORATION EAST HARTFORD 8, CONNECTICUT 13 March 1955 Opportunity and Security go arm in arm at Columbia-Southern Columbia-Southern ranks high as a company in many essential industries, Columbia-Southern is less which to make a career. likely than most companies to be seriously affected Columbia-Southern has been happy, too, with its by a general decline in business activity. good fortune in adding so many fine men to its Columbia-Southern is a sound progressive com- organization over the past years. pany that abounds in opportunity. We are looking Columbia-Southern has many inviting advantages. for technical graduates in many fields. If you would It is rich in opportunity. Columbia-Southern be- like to become a part of the growing Columbia- lieves in allowing maximum flexibility and personal Southern organization, write Dept. P at our Pitts- contact between the individual and his supervisors. burgh address or any of the plants. The corporation wants each member to progress as rapidly as he can. Responsibilities are increased as CO LU M B I A - SOUTH E R.N rapidly as the individual demonstrates his ability to handle them. CHEMICAL CORPORATION Columbia-Southern has appeal in its security, too. SUBSIDIARY OF PITTSBUltGH PLATE GLASS COMPANY In the nation's complex modern economy, no in- ONE GATEWAY CENTER.' PITTSBUR.GH 22. PENNSYlVANIA dustry or company can expect to remain unaffected DISTRICT OFFICES: Cincinnati. Charlotte. Chicago. Cleveland Boston • New York • St. louis • Minneapolis • New Orleans by general business conditions. Because Columbia- Dallas • Houston • Pittsburgh • Philadelphia • San Francisco PLANTS: Barberton, Ohio. Bartlett, Calif .• Corpus Christi. Texas Southern's products have diversified applications in Lake Charles, La.• Natrium, W.Va, • Jersey City. N.J. 14 Spartan Engineer Metal from the Sea .. , MAGNESIUM by Denton D. McGrady, Metallurgical Engineering Department Michigan State College T OVCHED IN THE HEAD would have been the comment a few years ago about anyone who be- duction had been the underground salt brines found extensively throughout the central area of lower lieved metal could be recovered from the ocean. Michigan. By regarding sea water as a very dilute Today it is a fact. The metal, magnesium, is extracted brine solution, engineers were able to translate and from the sea water by using oyster shells, natural gas, apply much of their previous experience and "know- and electricity. A dream? No, this is truly America how" about salt brines to the sea water process. in the Age of Science and Engineering. A decision was made to locate the sea-water plant Metallurgists have known for many years that one on the Gulf of Mexico coast at Freeport, Texas, This pound of magnesium was present in each ninety-two location resulted from an evaluation of such typical gallons of ocean water. So vast was this potential engineering and economic factors as: (1) the presence "ore" of magnesium that it offered a fascinating chal- of an unlimited supply of uncontaminated warm sea lenge to modern industrial technique to wrest this water; (2) the presence on the nearby ocean Hoor of metal from the sea and put it to use in aircraft and readily accessible beds of oyster shell which would transportation equipment, home appliances, portable be a source of lime; (3) the availability of ample tools, furniture, or where ever light-weight is an im- natural gas for fuel at reasonable cost. portant engineering or economic factor. Magnesium The sea water which contains some 0,1370 mag- is known to industry as the lightest structural metal. nesium is pumped into huge settling tanks and mixed Perhaps no engineering accomplishment of this with lime produced by the roasting of oyster shells character better illustrates the fine cooperation and dredged from the Boor of the ocean. The calcium coordination between the research chemist and the from the lime exchanges places with the magnesium engineer which is necessary in such undertakings. in the sea water and the result is the precipitation of Laboratory studies by the research chemist showed insoluble magnesium hydroxide in the form of a fine that, under controlled conditions of acidity, tempera- suspension which settles slowly to the bottom of the ture, and agitation, the magnesium in sea water could tank. The suspension of solid particles of magnesium be precipitated as an insoluble solid compound by the hydroxide is dewatered and filtered to form a thicker use of slaked lime. This precipitate, which is com- suspension which is then converted into magnesium monly known as milk of magnesia, could then be chloride in large neutralizing tanks by reaction with filtered and separated from most of the sea water. hydrochloric acid, prepared from natural gas and By adding dilute hydrochloric acid to neutralize the chlorine. The solution of magnesium chloride thus precipitated magnesium hydroxide a solution of mag- formed is evaporated to solid magnesium chloride nesium chloride was obtained. The solution of mag- crystals in direct-fired evaporators. The carefully dried nesium chloride thus obtained could be evaporated crystals of magnesium chloride are then charged into and dried to yield pure, water-free, crystals of solid electrolytic cells that are about 5 feet wide, 11 feet magnesium chloride which were fed into a molten long, and 6 feet deep. Such cells are gas-fired and hold bath at 1300°F. in an electrolytic cell where the some 10 tons of fused or molten magnesium chloride. crystals melted and were decomposed by direct cur- The temperature of the cell is above the melting point rent electricity into molten magnesium metal and of magnesium. When a direct current of electricity chlorine gas. passes through the cell chlorine gas forms at the graphite anodes and bubbles to the top of the bath Chemical engineers and metallurgical engineers where it is recovered, and later returned to the process were placed in charge of the development of processes after being reacted with natural gas to make hydro- and design of equipment suitable for the economic chloric acid. At the same time globules of molten commercial production of magnesium metal by the magnesium metal, which are set free at the steel basic procedures originally established through re- cathode, rise to the top of the bath because the molten search. It was the task of the engineer to transform magnesium is lighter than the fused salt bath in the a small-scale process of pints and pounds into a con- cell. At about 4-hour intervals the liquid magnesium tinuous, large-scale process involving hundreds of tons metal is dipped out and poured into notched ingots of solid and thousand upon thousand of gallons of sea weighing about 17 pounds each. water. The world need never fear a shortage of the raw Previous to the use of sea water as a major source materials needed to produce magnesium. Actually, of magnesium, the raw material for magnesium pro- (Continued on page 30) March 1955 15 * STAFF POSITIONS Open on The SPARTAN ENGINEER ~liaoili(lj... * A Key to K&E Leadership Measurements-by the mechanic or "Do-it-yourself" man working to sixteenths of an inch, or the engineer measuring to thousandths-must be reliable. K&E Steel Apply Third Floor, Tapes-such as the original Wyteface~, the doubly durable Albadure~, the highly precise Optical Tooling Tapes - assure lasting legibility, sturdy endurance, Union Building. essential precision. Such reliability is a key to K&E leadership in drafting, reproduction, surveying and optical tooling equipment and materials, in slide rules and measuring tapes. KEUFFEL & ESSER COe New York EST. t867 Hoboken. N. J. * Chicago • St. Lou;, • Of" .>it • Son francisco • Lo, Angel., • Montreal so FROM SO LITTLE You're looking at a kilowatt-hour. of electricity in its gineers, continuing advances in the fields of metallurgy, raw state-coal. This lump of coal weighs only 12 combustion and design will make it possible to squeeze ounces. Not too long ago, the amount of coal required even more energy from a lump of coal. to produce a single kilowatt-hour of electricity was con- siderably larger and weighed 5 pounds. The difference • A kilowatt-hour will give you the power for, among other things,. 10 solid hours of radio and recorded music, 14 hours of fan-cooling, between yesterday's 5 pounds and today's 12 ounces lies better than 4Y.z hours of refrigeration operation. in improved steam technology, in better boilers-operat- ing at higher pressures and temperatures-to make the steam that spins the turbines to make electric power. Impressive as this progress appears, it represents only "BABcoeKj@ the current level of accomplishment in the quest for more and still more efficiency. Thanks to America's power en- ~ & . =- WII.C'OX :- J :::,,, DIVISION G.690 16 Spartan Engineer NEW DEVELOPMENTS Height Gage A distinctly new and differently designed Height Gage has been introduced. It uses a triangular scale beam for superior strength and exceptional rigidity, preventing sway and vibration-a real advantage, par- ticularly for layout and checking of large jigs, fixtures and machine parts. Revolutionary new in design is the sliding head which moves through its entire range by the action of the full-length, large diameter screw in rear of the beam. The engaging nut is split and is disengaged for quick approximate setting of the head by simply pressing the two lugs on the sides and sliding the head along the beam. One of the chief advantages is the location of the fine adjustment screw in the base. In making adjust- ments, the downward pressure on the screw helps Highly accurate milling of aircraft and guided to hold the gage even more firmly to the surface plate. missile parts without machinery is possible with a new chemical milling process. A Materials This is contrary to the tendency towards tilting and Research and Process Engineer (left) explains the unintentional moving of the gage in conventional working of chemical milling. The "before" sample Height Gages having the fine adjustment screw on shows dark portions, specially masked to confine the slide. chemical milling only to desired areas. Several of many samples of work done by chemical milling are in the background. Actual class room sessions are set up on railroad property and everyone, particularly shop men, who has anything to do with locomotives is invited to attend. "Texts" consist of instruction books explain- ing the hows and whys of operating, maintaining, and overhauling equipment. The traveling school is an extension of its regular maintenance couurse held several times a year at the company's Locomotive and Car Equipment De- partment in Erie. Subject and frequency of these schools are also determined by customer demand. A locomotive school semester, on the average, is one week. Last year there were two schools on industrial haulage equipment and two on medium sized switch- ing locomotives. A special school was set up for one The Vernier is 2.450" long as compared to the5fs" railroad that sent all of its shop personnel to Erie. long vernier commonly found on conventional Height Railroad personnel come from half-way around the Gages. Verniers are adjustable and the accuracy of world to attend the Erie school, often on very short the setting may be checked by use of a master gage notice. The training given is usually on a specialized block furnished with (>ach Height Gage. A large, subject, although on certain occasi~ns. the entir~ field solid base, heavy enough to prevent tilting or toppling of locomotive and car equipment IS 1I1cluded 111 the over, assures highest stability and accuracy. Available same course. sizes are 12", 18", 24", 40" and 48". Traveling Locomotive School Turbines for Helicopters Gas turbine engines will give helicopters twice As an aftermath to the diesel-electric revolution in the power of piston engines of comp~ra?le weight. railroads , the itinerant school master is again making Weight to horsepower improvement IS Just one of an appearance on the American scene. the many reasons why gas turbines are "tailored to Five or six times a year, depending on the railroad helicopter requirements." demand the General Electric Company sends out Included in the list of advantages were fuel econ- from it; central maintenance school in Erie, Pa., a omy, low noise level, durability, and reliability. While traveling "teacher" to aid roads reques~ing instru~- the specific fuel consumption (pounds of fuel per tion on operating and maintaining G-E DIesel-Electnc • (Continued on page 30) locomotives. 17 March 1955 PPG gives you the chance to "blossom out" Your job with Pittsburgh Plate Glass can be in one of many Pittsburgh Plate Glass gives you the chance to blossom fields because of the company's diversified operations. out. It believes in stimulating constructive thinking and As well as being the leading name in glass, it is also a action. It wants its men to do the type of work for which they prominent producer of paint, plastics, chemicals, brushes, are best suited, in which they are happiest, and in which they and fiber glass. can advance to bigger and more responsible jobs in the In anyone of "PPG's" several divisions you will find a PPG organization. challenge and an opportunity. A challenge to you to help With an impressive record of sound growth and an even create and produce new and better products. An oppor- greater potential ahead, Pittsburgh Plate Glass offers many tunity to have your training and talents recognized and opportunities in varied fields. Good men are needed. If rewarded. you would like to learn more about these opportunities, In addition, Pittsburgh Plate Glass offers unusual security write roday to Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, General and strength by virtue of being, as a whole, one of the Personnel Director, One Gateway Center, Pittsburgh 22, nation's leading "blue-chip" industries. Pennsylvania. PAINTS • GLASS . CHEMICALS . BRUSHES . PLASTICS . FIBER GLASS PITTSBURGH PLATE GLASS COMPANY 319 PLANTS, MERCHANDISING BRANCHES, AND SALES OFFICES LOCATED IN 250 CITIES 18 Spartan Engineer Construction of a Generator- Type Dynamometer Jack Crane, A.E., '55 THE AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING DEPART- torque transmitted at various shaft speeds. That the MENT of Michigan State College offers a special measure of friction is equivalent to a measure of the problem course in which students are permitted to work of the shaft is evident when one considers that carry out some project or test which will be of value the entire driving power of the shaft is expended in to the department. Upon completion of the project, producing the friction at the required number of a standard engineering report must be submitted to revolutions per minute, and this driving power is equal the instructor. The design and construction of this to the mechanical effect of the shaft when running generator-type dynamometer was such a project. The at the same speed in the performance of useful work. ultimate objective of the project was its use in class An electric generator type dynamometer is used for demonstrations pertaining to the construction and testing automobile, tractor, and other motors which operation of electric dynamometers in general. Be- produce relatively large amounts of power at a moder- fore explaining the actual details of construction, a ate speed. The one disadvantage of this type is that if brief summary of the theory of electric dynamometers its maximum speed is exceeded, the great centrifugal is in order. force exerted on the armature windings may cause The dynamometer is a device used for the measure- damage or failure to the dynamometer. This defect is ment of power produced by a rotating shaft. Power corrected in the construction of an Eddy-current dyna- is defined as "the time rate of doing work," or P equals mometer, which will be discussed later. The generator- torque times angular velocity. To determine the type dynamometer consists of an electric generator torque of the engine at any load or speed, when using supported on its bearings and connected by a flexible an electric dynamometer, the basic principle of the coupling to the motor to be tested. The torque is generator is used. When a conductor moves across measured from the pull exerted on a scale, which must a magnetic field, a voltage is produced which is be calibrated with great accuracy. On the dyna- directly proportional to the intensity of the field. mometer illustrated in this report, a scale with a maxi- The relation between velocity, electromotive force, mum range of 10 pounds subdivided into 1/100 of a and the magnetic field for a generator is as follows: pound was used to insure accuracy. By weakening the field of the dynamometer, the speed of the engine v under test can be varied, and in this way, values can be obtained for plotting the power curve of the engine. With this form of dynamometer, it is possible to return the generated energy into the shop line instead of wasting the power, as is usual with dynamometer work. In this machine the electrical readings have nothing to do with the measurement of power. How- ever, an electric motor may be used as a dynamometer with a very high degree of accuracy, providing the When the conductor rotates in a magnetic field with motor is properly calibrated, and the efficiency factor a velocity of V, a force P will be exerted on the mag- thus obtained is used in determining the power trans- netized poles, which will be equal and opposite to mitted to the machine being tested. the force F on the conductor. In an actual generator, The Brackett cradle dynamometer consists essen- this force P is absorbed by the base support, but by tially of a strong platform, furnished with two rigid allowing the entire generator stator to rotate about its uprights carrying steel knife-edges from which the armature, the force P can be easily measured. By platform is suspended. A graduated horizontal lever knowing Fl and the distance it acts through, the motor which carries a sliding weight is attached to one of torque can be determined. Now, since the torque and the swinging uprights, near the knife-edge .. Adjusting angular velocity are known, the brake horsepower can screws are provided so that the axis of rotation of the be obtained by the previously mentioned relation, armature of any given machine may be made to coin- with a proper adjustment of units. An explanation cide with the axis of oscillation of the cradle. The of the various types of dynamometers in general use tendency of the driving belt to rotate the machine may will follow. be weighed on the scale beam, and this will give a measure of the power transmitted when the speed is The most simple type of dynamometer is the Prony friction brake. This type is suitable for the measure- known. ment of small amounts of power from shafts with a The Eddy-current dynamometer is essentially an low peripheral speed. The construction of this device electric generator with alterations performed on the is relatively simple, consisting of a lever connecting armature and field windings. The torque is measured to the revolving shaft or pulley in such a manner that by scales, as with any absorption dynamometer. The the friction induced between the surfaces in contact rotating element of the of the Eddy-current dyna- will tend to rotate the arm in the direction in which mometer is a solid steel casting with tapered teeth the shaft revolves. The lever terminates on a knife projecting in the form of poles. The stator is free to (Continued on page 40) edge platform scale which is used to determine the 19 March 1955 "NEW DEPARTURES" IN SCIENCE & INVENTION LUCKILV, If Euclid had lived 2,300 years longer, he would have made Tau Bete. That's why he's pictured here wearing the EUCLID WAS Tau Beta Pi key. After all, every engineer owes Euclid a big debt. At New Departure, for example, we work with circles and spheres. A GREEK Without Euclid, we might still be getting started. As it is, though, New Departure has gone further with spheres and circles in relation to moving parts than anyone else in the world. From this knowledge have come such advances as the Sealed-for-Life and the double-row angular-contact ball bearings. And it's advances like these that make New Departure the world leader in ball bearings. NEW DEPARTURE. DIVISION OF GENERAL MOTORS. BRISTOL, CONN. from ~hedrawing. board. at New Depot1ure have come many of the world I ball bearing advancemenh. Such leadership i. one realon why engineen everywhere specify New Departure ball bearingl. NOtHINO aOLLI llKI A .ALL 20 Spartan Engineer A MESSAGE TO COLLEGE ENGINEERING STUDENTS from C. H. Weaver, Manager, Atomic Power Division Westinghouse Electric Corpo'ration University of PennsyLvania, 1936 To you who want to help create the atomic age You're looking at the practical beginning of an atomic age. Westinghouse management is constantly taking in leading the This is a model of the land-based prototype for the first atomic way toward development of ncw sources of energy and new submarine engine, designed and built by Westinghouse-work- products. ing with the Atomic Energy Commission and the U. S. Navy. Wouldn't you like to be with Westinghouse ... helping to And now, Westinghouse is developing the world's first atomic create this new era? power plant to harness this vast power for peacetime use. Its We at Westinghouse are interested in you as an individual ... output, enough for a city of 100,000 people, will go into a interested in your ambitions as well as your technical ability. utility's power system. For your professional development, there is a Graduate Study Since 1948, Westinghouse has had an Atomic Power Division Program, available in 19 universities, and leading to your for atomic energy development ... and it now has an Atomic Master's and Ph.D. degrees. And there are other Westinghouse ~quipment Department to develop apparatus for atomic power programs to fit your individual needs ... all aimed at helping Installations. These are typical of the steps our forward-looking you reach your goal. G-I0281 Ask your Placement Officer about career opportunities at Westinghouse, or write for these two booklets: Continued Edtu:o- SURE ... IF tion in Westinghouse (describing our Grad- 1r YOU CAN 8E ITS uate Study Program) and Finding TOUT Place in Industry. \\estinghouse --- To get these booklets, write: Mr. J. O. Campbell, Regional Educational Co-or- dinator, Westinghouse Electric Corpora- tion, 306 Fourth Ave., Pittsburgh 30, Pa. 21 March 1955 -ALLIS N Engineers Break Ground for New Turbine Engine Test Facilities E. B. NEWILL, Georgia Tech, '15, now Gen. eral Manager, Allison Division and Vice President of General Motors Corporation, breaks ground on another addition to our turbine engine test facilities. * Allison Jet engine designers soon will have even formance of the principal engine components-com- larger and improved test facilities to use in developing pressors, turbines, and combustors-before the com- turbo-jet engines. plete engine is tested. Performance requirements for future military and For instance, capacity for 75,000 horsepower is be- commercial aircraft make necessary the development ing established to pump air at the rate of 300 pounds of new turbo-jet engines far more complex and power- per second. This air must be compressed and heated ful than present types. New and specially-designed test equipment is required to accurately determine per- to 1000 degrees, or cooled to a minus 67 degrees, en- abling Allison to test combustors at simulated altitudes --------------------------- up to 65,000 feet. * left to right- Dimitrius Gerdan, Chief Engineer, Turbo-Jets, U. of Michigan, 1932, BS in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial With our expanding and long-range engineering program, we need additional young engineers. Alli- Engineering; T. W. Meeder, Chief Test Engineer, U. of Michigan, son, a leader in the design, development and produc- 1932, MS in Aeronautical Engineering; R. E. Settle, Assistant Director tion of turbo-jet and turbo-prop engines, NOW offers of Engineering, Purdue University and Indiana Central College, BS young graduate engineers unusual opportunities for in Mathematics; Paul Hunt, representing Huber, Hunt & Nichols, Inc., progress where future development is unlimited. contractor; E. B. Newill, Georgia Institute of Technology, degrees in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering; Harold H. Dice, U. of Illinois, Write for information: 1929, BS Business Administration; Col. S. A. Dallas, USAF Plant Representative; R. M. Hazen, U. of North Dakota, U. of Michigan, R. G. GREENWOOD, Engineering College Contact 1922, BS in Mechanical Engineering and attended graduate school, ALLISON DIVISION, General Motors Corporation U. of Minnesota, majoring in Metallurgy. Indianapolis 6, Indiana 22 Sporton Engineer tip" "N" "pl. Emitter Type Type Type Collootor Emitter Collector Base Input Output Input Output + Figure 1 - Point-contact translstor \'lith sr'0unded-bas'6circuIt. Flgure 2 - P"N...FJunction transistor w1th grounded-baso circuit. THE TRANSISTOR by Robe1t E. Fredericks, E.E. '57 ELECTRONICS, a branch of physics concerning the vacuum tube, the transistor functions on the principle study of electric current flow, has had two major of controlled electron flow within a solid; whereas, the developments in the last 50 years. One is the develop- vacuum tube functions on the principle of electron ment of the vacuum tube, in 1907 by Lee DeForest; Row through a vacuum to a collector or plate. more recently, the transistor has expanded the field of Transistors are made of certain solids called semi- electronics to inconceivable limits. conductors. A conductor is an element that has the ability to transfer electric current with little opposi- The vacuum tube is the center of most all electronic tion. A semiconductor is an element that transfers devices. Circuits are built around the vacuum tube electric current, but with a certain degree of opposi- to give us increased power and many other desirable tion. The electrical characteristics of a semiconductor necessities in electronics. The simplest tube is the can be precisely controlled by regulating the amount diode vacuum tube which has two main parts, the of impure atoms it contains. If no impurities are cathode and the plate. The cathode of a vacuum tube present in the semiconductor, no transistor action takes when heated emits negative charged electrons and is place. If too many impure atoms are present, the generally made of a material that has an abundance semi-conductor becomes too conductive and transistor of free electrons in its construction. The cathode of action is adversely affected. The impurities, which the vacuum tube is either directly heated or has a insure good transistor operation, should be present in heater filiment that heats the cathode. As a result, the ratio of less than one atom to every ten million a radio does not play the instant it is turned on because semiconductor atoms. it takes time to heat the cathode so it will emit elec- Most of today's transistors use germanium as its trons. The plate of the diode vacuum tube is the semiconductor. Great progress has been made in de- collector of electrons and has a positive charge to veloping germanium pure enough to use in transistors. attract the negative charged electrons. These tube This progress was due to the great demand for ger- components are sealed inside a glass bulb from which manium of high perfection placed on the chemists by almost all air has been removed. This vacuum permits the electronic engineer. As a result, we now have a the electrons to flow without opposition. There are large supply of perfected germanium available today. many more types of vacuum tubes, but they are Experiments in transistor electronics, which would fundamentally variations of the diode discussed here. have been impossible in the past, can now be per- The use of vacuum tubes has many limitations because formed. Most germanium in the United States is of their size and the large amount of power necessary obtained as a byproduct of zinc mining. It has also for operation. been obtained in considerable quantities in Great Bell Telephone Laboratories have recently develop- Britain from blue dust residue. Heat and moisture ed the transistor. The purpose of this paper is to adversely affects the transistor action in germanium. discuss the transistor, one of the newest devises in At the present time the price of germanium powder is the field of electronics. about 300 dollars per kilogram. The quantity of germanium used for one transistor is about .002 grams. The transistor is an amplifier of electrical signals An aluminum-antimony mixture is in the early stages designed to replace the vacuum tube. The transistor of being used as a semiconductor, because it will with- was invented 6lh years ago by a group under Bell stand high temperatures. Silicon also is a good semi- Laboratories' Dr. William Shockley. It is capable of conductor for transistors, but chemists have not as yet performing many of the functions of the vacuum tube, found a way to obtain it pure enough for transistors. in addition to opening new fields of application that were not possible with the vacuum tube. Unlike the (Continued on page 44) . March 1955 23 ------ -- - , . > • PRINCIPAL DIVISIONS AND BASIC PRODUCTS BENDIXRADIO,TOWSON,MD. '" radar,' auto, railroad, mobile and aviation radio,' television. ECLIPSEMACHINE,ELMIRA,N. Y. bicycle coaster brakes, Stromber~ c~rburetors, electric fuel pumps, starter dnves. SCINTILLA,SIDNEY,N. Y. aviation i~nition systems; industrial en~ine ma~netos; diesel fuel injections; eleetncal connectors; i~nition analyzers. ZENITHCARBURETOR, DETROIT,MICH. automotive, marine and small en~ine carburetors.. BENDIX-SKINNER, DETROIT,MICH. micronic filters. PACIFIC,NORTHHOLLYWOOD, CALIF.. telemeterin~ equipment; hydraulic and electnc actuators; depth recorders; boat steerers. BENDIXFRIEZ, TOWSON,MD. meteorolo~ical instruments, precision instruments and recorders. BENDIXPRODUCTS,SOUTHBEND,IND. I automotive brakes, carburetors, power stee:in~; I Actual storm ahead as pl10t sees it on radar scope. aviation brakes, landin~ ~ear, fuel metenn~. I It indicates that, by changing Course very slightly, ECLIPSE-PIONEER, TETERBORO,N. J. I he will find a smooth, safe route. I ---------------------------~ I aviation instruments and components; loundry. MARSHALL-EcLIPSE, TROY, N. Y. tln~Y brake blocks, brake lining, synthetic resins. [findsa smooth corridor RED BANK,EATONTOWN,N. J. electronic tubes; dynamotors, inverters. AIRBORNE RADAR ••'r through stormy s k.res., CINCINNATI,CmCINNATI,OHIO automatic viscosity re~ulators, nuclear products. Bendix* Airborne Radar, a device carried right in the airplane to spot storms miles ahead, has been used by Airlines are buying Bendix Airborne Radar becau . makes possible a more comfortable, It . sWifter .LI ve1ope d an d manu f ac t ure d for the aviation . on.a also ma k e h un d re d s 0 f 0 th er automotive, nde industry. . We electronic, nuclear BENDIXCOMPUTER,Los ANGELES,CALIF. di~ital computers. HAMILTON,HAMILTON,OHIO jet en~ine controls and aircraft pumps . the military for several years. Now Bendix is supplying LAKESHORE,ST. JOSEPH, MICH. more direct course. Without airborne radar it has 0ftenrand ch emica. 1 componen t s an d devices for those and scores of . power steerin~ and automotive devices. it to airline and company-owned aircraft. been necessary to fly many extra miles to aVOId . stormsloth'er Ind ustnes. . A reques t on y our company letterhead wIll UTICA,UTICA,N. Y• This new device does what human eyes cannot do. aviation components. whose areas and intensities were not definitely known.(bring you "Bendix and Your Business" MONTROSE,SOUTHMONTROSE,PA. It not only sees up to 150 miles ahead, even in the aviation components. Pilots hail it as one of aviation's most important(-the complete Bendix story on how blackest night, but also looks right through storms and PIONEER-CENTRAL, DAVENPORT,IOWA developments, not only because of its storm-warrUng(we can contribute to your business. For aviation instruments and components. shows their size and intensity. accuracy, but because it also acts as a navigational aid'jengineersinterested in a career with us, YORK, YORK, PA. In the small photo above, for example, you can see white areas which are a line of storms. Those with black Even in heavy overcasts it can see rivers, mountains (e have another booklet "Bendix and electronic devices; test equipment. BENDIX-EcLIPSEOF CANADA,LTD. and the outline of the terrain below. Write Bendix Radio YOurFuture." Windsor, Onto centers represent great turbulence. With only a slight BENDIXINTERNATIONAL Division in Baltimore for further information .. r{ F.BENDI~ ~ VIATION COR.PORA:I~N New York City change in course the pilot avoided these storms. *I£G. TIADI.IiIAII This is one of the hundreds of products Bendix has Isher BUIldmg • Detroit 2, Michigan I A Machine Designer1s Protest of a Protest by Ching-u Ip, Mechanical EngineeTing Department, Michigan State College SOMETIMEAGOWilliam Faulkner, in a letter to the New York Times, contended that the passengers and crew of the Italian airliner, which crashed at New York's ldlewide Airport, were victims of "that mystical, unquestioning, almost religious awe and veneration in which our culture has trained us to hold gadget." He further stated: "We all had better grieve for. all for America's young people beneath a culture which holds any mechanical (gadget) engineers with capacity for superior to any man simply because the one, being mechanical, continuing achievements in is infallible, while the other, being nothing but man, is not radio and electronics just subject to failure but doomed to it." Today, engineers and physicists are looking at tomorrow from the Whatever is the real reason of that tragic crash there is no top of this tower ... the famed doubt that most laymen have insufficient understanding of Microwave Tower of Federal "mechanical gadgets"-they either consider them something Telecommunication Laboratories ... a great development unit of magical, or as Faulkner implied, something based and evil, even the world-wide, American-owned though necessary. At any rate Faulkner certainly would not International Telephone and speak with the same tone about the Mona Lisa or the Shakespeare Telegraph Corporation. first folios. Here, too, is opportunity for the young graduate engineers of This brings our protest of the protest. America ... opportunity to be associated with leaders in the A machine designer is the last person to assert that a machine electronic field ... to work with or a mechanical instrument is infallible. The "thinking machines," the finest facilities ... to win rec- ognition ... to achieve advance- which now capture the imagination of the public, are anything ment commensurate with but superior to the human brain. (See the discourse of Norbert capacity. Wiener on a computer for translating foreign languages.) The Learn more about this noted idea of a mechanical Frankenstein is simply absurd to a man of Tower of Opportunity ... its long- range program and generous em- science. A machine designer designs his machine with much ployee benefits. See your Place- thought, love, and workmanship utilizing often the scientific ment Officer today for further in- formation about FTL. principles discovered by the Great Masters of the Past, much the same as a writer composes a piece of literature quoting here and INTERESTING ASSIGNMENTS IN- there words and phrases of the Past Masters. Radio Communication Systems In the days of Aristotle and Archimedes the study of geometry Electron Tubes and mechanics was the highest of cultural endeavours. Science Microwave Components Electronic Countermeasures yet is the most lustrous gem of our present day culture; possesses Air Navigation Systems all its inherent beauty and fascination. This should not be a Missile Guidance surprise to anybody, for scientific discoveries, too, are fruits of Transistors and other Semiconductor Devices great thinking. Leonardo da Vinci's achievement in painting, Rectifiers. Computers. Antennas his study of the anatomy of the human body, and his mechanical Telephone ond Wire Transmission Systems inventions were all but one cultural pursuit and not symptoms which showed the many facets of a split personality. The same can be said about Benjamin Franklin's varied accomplishments. Federal Science has progressed far since the days of Newton; literature Te1ea>mmnoicatiolt has not gone equally far since the days of Shakespeare. Many of our leading scientists of today have great understanding and .la/Joraloriesl1i!t; appreciation of literature. How many of our men of literature A Division of International have an understanding and appreciation of science? If our men Telephone and Telegraph Corporation of literature and the public have greater understanding of our 500 Washington Avenue, Nutley, N. J. scientific culture, then they not only will not regard mechanical inventions with "religious awe," but they also will think of them as objects of Art, and not as evil items concocted by witch doctors I 26 Spartan Engineer of the basic industries . In which Bendix products play a vital role ELECTRONICS ATOMIC ENERGY AUTOMOTIVE AVIATION GUIDED'MISSILES RADAR COMPUTERS MARINE RAILROAD PETROLEUM CONSTRUCTION AGRICULTURE A SOUND REASON WHY ~nc(~ OFFERS TODAY'S ENGINEERING GRADUATE AN UNLIMITED FUTUREI Diversification is an important asset in business. thousand different products are produced by our 24 Especially so from the viewpoint of the engineer manufacturing divisions. because: As a result, we not only offer a wide choice of I~ encourages and promotes freedom of ideas. Keeps locations coast to coast but also career-building oppor- e~glJ1eering ingenuity flexible and adaptable. In short, tunities as broad as your ambition and ability in glv~s full vent to an engineer's creative ability ... mechanical engineering ... hydraulic mechanisms ... While at the same time it provides a healthy, stable, electronics magnetics ... compu ters ... servo- secure foundation for both the company and the mechanisms radar research ... metallurgy ... individual to build and expand. solid-state physics ... instrumentation ... radiation If diversification in business appeals to you as a detection ... nuclear physics ... guidance and con- graduate engineer, you'll be greatly interested in the trol systems plus many more engineering fields of Bendix Aviation Corporation. challenge . . ~or Bendix is unlike any other company in America Write for your copy of "Bendix and Your Future." III I ts versatility. Cacilitic,;. experience, range of products It gives the full story about Bendix, its products and and different fields of engineering endeavor. Nearly a employment opportunities. BENDIX AVIATION CORPORATION Fisher Building • Detroit 2, Michigan A Bendix representative will be at your campus soon. Make a note now to talk with him. Check your placement bureau for time and date. 27 March 1955 ~I ,, !,. \ I } A •. ~. This analogue computer, ~ pioneer in this ag~ of."t~k- J I ing machines", was developed by Standard Oil sCIentIsts. New Electronic "Engineer" Solves Tough Refinery Problem THE MEN who design modern oil refineries the design stage. Using this device, they could need specific information about temperature determine in advance the temperature dis- distributions in different parts of pressure tribution in the joint between two pressure vessels. Such information, essential to safety vessels having a common head. Thus they and efficient operation, is often extremely were able to duplicate in 20 seconds the heat difficultto obtain by conventional mathemat- stress picture within the unit during an 8 hour ical methods. start-up to shut-down period. Scientists at Standard Oil's Whiting lab- Creative scientific thinking made possible oratories recently developed and built an this constructive achievement by engineers electrical analogue capable of simulating spe- who have chosen to build their careers at cific conditions within a refinery unit still in Standard Oil. Standard Oil Company 910 South Michigon Avenue, Chicogo 80, Illinois 28 Spartan Engineer HONEYWELL OFFERS DIVERSIFIED OPPORTUNITIES T HE opportunities the automatic for engineers in control field are unique in their variety and in the in- sight provided into all of the industries of today's modern world. The development and manufacture of tiny transistors for electronic control ... the design and manufacture of qualiry electronic photo Rash units ... the challenge of finding fish with underwater sonar ... of providing auto- matic Right for supersonic jets ... temperature controls for today' s modern home ... for atomic piles ... These are a few of the fields in which Honeywell's several divisions are en- gaged, providing automatic controls for industry and the home. These controls are made possible by the creative imagination of highly trained engineers working with the very latest research and test facilities. With twelve separate divisions located throughout the United States and with factoties in Canada, England and Europe, Honeywell offers un- limited opportunities in a variety of challenging fields. Based on diversi- fication and balance between normal industry and defense activities, Honey- well will continue to grow and expand because automatic control and instru- mentation are so important to the world's progress. That is why we are always looking for men with ideas and imagination and the ambition to grow with us. In addition to full time engineering ... ..•.••..............•..............••.. . .. and research employment we offer a Cooperative Work Study program, a Summer Student Work Study program .. : : MINNEAPOLIS~HoNEYWELL REGULATOR Co. : : and Graduate Fellowships. If you are interested in a career in a vital, varied .. : : Personnel Dept.) Minneapolis 8, Minn. Gentlemen: Please send me your : : and diversified industry, send the cou- : booklet, "Emphasis on Research", : pon for more information. : which tells more about engineering : : opportunities at Honeywell. : . •• Honeywell • Name flddraJ -- --- - ---- _ ~ ~tWv~ City u_n_ nnU __ uu _n uuu . • :• •. Zone H State ---- -- Division: Appliance. Aeronaurical, Commercial, Doelcam. Hearing Conrrols, Heiland, Industrial. Marine, Micro Swirch, Ordnance, Transistor, Valve . ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• • 29 March 1955 Gas turbines for helicopters are similar to jet en- Clubs and Societies (Continued from page 9) gines. Replace the tailcone on a jet engine with turbine wheel that can extract energy from the hot ASAE gas stream and you have a gas turbine that could Again this year the Agricultural Engine~rs are power a helicopter. sponsoring a Micro-Midget Auto Race .duTIng the Primarily an air breathing engine, a hypothetical Engineering Exposition. They are followmg the. tra- gas turbine rated at 1250 horsepower would breathe dition they started last year and hope to make It an approximately 14 pounds of air per second or 10,400 annual event. cubic feet per minute. An average man in an average This year's race wj]] follow the same general pattern day breathes approximately one cubic foot of air as last year's original race with only a few alterations. per minute so it would take at least 10,000 people to Circle Drive again has been designated as the official blow the required hot air through the little one and track. Two separate "heats" are being planned for one-half foot diameter turbine wheels of this engine this year's race in contrast to the single event of last for one minute of operation. year. The tentative plan is for the first heat t? be at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, May 14. The second heat Typical compressor blade for such an engine would will follow at 2:30 P.M. in the afternoon. weigh about one fifth of an ounce but it spins so fast during engine operation that it would feel as if The various engineering societies are showing a it weighed one half of a ton. The merry-go-round growing interest in the race. Seven societies have ride that it gets on a compressor wheel multiplies its now entered cars. This is expected to be the maximum weight about 75,000 times. number. There is much to indicate that this year's race will be even more exciting than the previous one. The cars will be much the same as the originals. New Type of Speedometer A few changes in the specifications have been made. A new disc type speedometer, known as the "Safety \ These include the addition of: positive drive steering Arc," which indicates speed by a continuous curved and rear wheel brakes capable of locking while the red line, is now in production. car is in motion. A body covering the entire car is also required. Besides being unusually attractive, the new speed- ometer design has a decided safety feature. While The safety rules are more strict now than before. the speedometer is compact, speed is clearly indi- All cars must be equipped with safety belts and roll- cated by a bold red line on a semi-circular dial. The over bars. Crash helmets will be worn by all drivers continuous red line flows from left to right across the during the race. These precautions should largely speed markings as the car accelerates. In deceler- eliminate the possibility of an injury if any of the cars are involved in a mishap. - ating, the line flows back toward zero. The brilliance of the line, both day and night, The power unit consists of a two"'horsepower Reo gives the driver two quick indications of his speed. Royale motor. They are being furnished by Motor Wheel. The clubs have agreed to 4:00 x 8 wheels for First he notes the speed as indicated by the figures their cars. They will then become a permanent part at the end of the red line. Second, the length of the of the car and eliminate redesigning problems from line itself is an automatic indication of speed. year to year. Research and experimentation has proven that the bright red 'flowing' line is the most impressive way yet discovered of indicating car speed. Since the New Developments (Continued from page 17) speed line lengthens with the increase of car speed, horsepower hour) of a piston engine is roughly equiva- its length tends to make a driver more speed conscious lent to a gas turbine engine in the major area of heli- at all times. The total mileage meter is located away copter operation, the premium gasoline required by from the "speed line" for clear reading of both speed a piston engine costs two and one-half times as much and mileage. as the gas turbine fuel. The reason why a piston Incorporated in the design of the new speedometer engine does not show a great specific fuel consump- are directional signal indicators and bright light beam tion advantage is that a helicopter is unique among indicators. aircraft since most of its normal operation is a full or nearly full power. The S.F.G of a piston engine increases at high power levels, while the S.F.G of the gas turbine decreases as power increases and is Magnesium (Continued from page 15) at its best at full power. magnesium forms about 2% % of the earth's crust and Because the turbine wheel attempts to extract every last bit of energy from the gas stream and convert is the sixth most abundant chemical element. The it to shaft horsepower it has the effect of being a amount of magnesium potentially available in the mumer. For this reason, gas turbine engine will be oceans of the world staggers the imagination, for even less noisy than an equivalent piston engine. a single cubic mile of sea water contains more than 6,000,000 tons. The T-58 is a gas turbine engine for helicopters which will be about the size of an automobile engine Ylagnesium-Metal from the Sea- is indeed a fine but many times as powerful. tribute to the technical skill of American scientists and engineers. 30 Spartan Engineer Donald C. Pole asks: What bearing would my field of training have • on my assIgnments at DuPont? DONALD C. POTE will receive his B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Princeton University this June. He's been quite active in interclub atWetics-football, basketball and baseball-and served a term as Club AtWetic Director. He's also found time to work on "The Princeton Engineer" as Asso- ciate Editor. Right now, Don is making thorough plans for his employment after graduation. "Chuck" Noren answers: The answer to that is easy, Don, if you mean initial assign- ments. Generally speaking, a graduate's first assignment is influencedby his previous training and his expressedinterest in a particular type of work. Whenever possible, Du Pont assigns a man to the type of work he is trained for and wants CHARLES H. NOREN received his B.S. in Min- -he'll do better in any field if he's highly interested. For ing Engineering from the University of North example, my master's thesis was on the use of explosives, Dakota before he entered the U. S. Air Force. and my first Du Pont assignment was a study of the effi- Later he returned to school for an M.S. from the ciency of explosives. ~issouri School of Mines, received in 1948.Dur- But experience on the job really constitutes new training. mgthe course of his DuPont employment, Chuck You learn about other branches of scienceand engineering- Noren has had a wide variety of job assign- you broaden your horizons through daily contacts with ments. At present he is engaged in a fundamen- men having other skills. The result is that arbitrary divi- tal research project concerned with commercial explosives at Du Pont's Eastern Laboratory in sions between technical branches gradually dissolve, and Gibbstown, N. J. you become ready for new assignments and new responsi- bilities-even outside your original field. In my own case, I developed quite a bit of skill in mechanical and civil engi- neering techniques when I was called upon to supervise the NOW AVAILABLE for student ASME "shooting" of an experimental tunnel for the evaluation of chapters and other college groups, a 16-mm. new explosives-even though my original training was in sound-color movie-"Mechanical Engineer- mining engineering. ing at Du Pont." For further information Of course, specialization in a definite field may be con- write to E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. tinued if the man specifically wants it and reveals a talent (Inc.), 2521 Nemours Bldg., Wilmington 98, Delaware. for it. The best opportunities for that are in research and development. Naturally, the value of this kind of work is '----1@POtID REG. u.s. PAT.OFr. 1 -----' also recognized at Du Pont. So, no matter what your initial assignment may be, Don, Du Pont is anxious to bring out your best. A good rule b remember is this. A graduate's first assignment is often nec- essarily based on his field of training and his degree, but his BIDER THINGS FOR BETTER LIVING ••• THROUGH CHEMISTRY subsequent progress at Du Pont is always based on his dem- WATCH "CAVALCADE OF AMERICA" ON TELEVISION onstrated ability. 31 March 1955 1955-Solving complex engineering problems with Boeing computer The best research facilities are behind Boeing engineers The Boeing-designed electronic comput- ers shown above solve in seconds prob- lems that once required weeks-typical automatic control systems for both manned and pilotless aircraft. Other facilities include hydraulic, mechanical, -.- 20+ 401 15+ of the advanced "tools" that help Boeing radiation, acoustics, and rocket and ram- 10+ engineers stay at the head of their field. jet power laboratories. 5+ Boeing engineers enjoy such other ad- Out of this exceptional research back- encouraged to take graduate studies vantages as the world's fastest, most ground engineers have developed such while working and are reimbursed for all versatile privately owned wind tunnel, trend-setting aircraft as America's first jet tuition expense. and the new Flight Test Center-the transport, and the jet age's outstanding largest installation of its kind in the coun- bombers, the B-47 and B-52. Research There are openings at Boeing for try. This new Boeing Center includes means growth-and career progress. To- virtually all types of engineers-elec- the latest electronic data reduction equip- day Boeing employs more engineers than trical, civil, mechanical, aeronautical ment, instrumentation laboratories, and even at the peak of World War II. As and related fields, as well as for applied a chamber that simulates altitudes up to the chart shows, 46% of them have been physicists and mathematicians with 100,000 feet. Structural and metallurgi- here 5 or more years; 25% for 10, and advanced degrees. cal research at Boeing deals with the heat 6% for 15. For further 80eing career information and strain problems of supersonic flight. Boeing promotes from within and consult your Placement Office, or write: Boeing electrical and electronics labora- holds regular merit reviews to assure tories are engaged in the development of JOHN C. SANDERS,Staff Engineer - Personnd individual recognition. Engineers are Boeing Airplane Company, Seattle 14, Wash. BOEING SEATTLE, WASHINGTON WICHITA, KANSAS 32 Spartan Engineer The Torrington Needle Bearing proper housing design is essential to proper performance The Torrington Needle Bearing offers many design and opera- tional advantages for a great variety of products and equip- ment. For example, a Needle Bearing has greater rated radial load capacity in relation to its outside diameter than any other type of anti-friction bearing. It is extremely light in weight. And it Needle Bearings require simple is easy to install and lubricate. housings. If the housing bores are held to proper size, accurate oper- ation and high radial capacity are assured. Housing Maintains HYDRAULIC PUMP Bearing Roundness The housing is an essential part of the Needle Bearing assembly. Care should be taken to provide a straight, round housing bore to STEERING GEAR the recommended tolerances. The thin, surface-hardened outer shell of the Needle Bearing acts as the outer race surface as between the needle rollers and pressed into place. Bore dimen- well as a retainer for the rolls. the shaft, and to assure sufficient sions in such cases should be less This shell assumes the shape of press fit to locate the bearing than standard. Needle Bearings the housing into which it is firmly. can be pressed directly into phe- pressed. Consequently, the hous- When designing housings of nolic or rubber compounds, al- ing bore should be round, and the materials that are soft or of low though metal inserts are recom- housing so designed that it will tensile strength, allowance should mended. carry the radial load imposed on be made for the plastic flow of the The new Needle Bearing cata- the bearing without distortion. material when the bearing is log will be sent on request. Housing Material THE TORRJNGTON COMPANY Torrington, Conn .• South Bend 21, Ind. Determines Bore Size ~istrict Offices ond ~istributors in Principal Cities of United Stotes and Canada The specified housing bore dimen- sions for any given material TORRINGTO¥ NEEDLE ,.EARINGS should be maintained in order to NEEDLE. SPHERICAL ROLLER • TAPERED ROLLER' STRAIGHT ROLLER' BALL. NEEDLE ROLLERS give the proper running clearance 33 March 1955 water works even when you're asleep! This particular need for water isn't acute. But if ... as so many students have ... you elect the challenging field of Sanitary Engineering for your future, you'll come up against many more problems of supplying, distributing, maintaining an adequate supply of water for homes and industries in a thirsty world. Here, you can count on the help of one valuable ally ... cast iron pipe. Practically every city in America-large or small-uses it for water and gas mains ... and over 60 of them have been served by cast iron pipe for a century or more. On its record, cast iron pipe is Man's most dependable carrier of water. CAST IRON PIPE RESEARCH ASSOCIATION Thos. F. Wolfe, Managing Director, 122 So. Michigan Avenue, Chicago 3, III. 1."- - . CAST ~l iilON SERVES FOR CENTURIES 34 Spartan Engineer Cylinder from Mars (Continued from page II) I asked him how such things could be accomplished, amI he replied that each planet had its own problems All this he stated with some pride in the fact that to work out. "Mars was the same way, but we have practically all the data he related were twice as long been around a few more eons than the earth. We arc as ours. He continued, "The canals which were seen glad to see you making progress, but we hope you by Schiaparelli in 1877 really are there. We travel won't direct it into the wrong channels." them in atomic-powered boats. What your scientists I wish I could have had more time to talk to these think is barren desert is in reality a large prairie with fascinating creatures, but the colonel explained that Marrms, our main source of food." they had important business and must leave immedi- After he was through reciting, I felt like he was ately to arrive home on schedule. the traveling agent for the Mars' chamber of com- As they rose straight up into the atmosphere, I merce. Then, he presented me with a pamphlet con- stood in awe, for I had never seen anythjng rise like taining all kinds of data that I couldn't begin to that from the earth before. I was thinking that I decipher. must be the only one ever to see anyone from another I asked the colonel about the many weird things I world. had just heard and seen. He said, "It is accomplished The foremost thought in my mind then was all the with mathematics, my dear, simply mathematics. pertinent questions I had forgotten to ask in my excite- Someday you will understand that there is only one ment, such as: how they knew English; why I had formula needed to understand the entire workings of been their candidate, or had it been just by chance; the universe." how did they rule their planet; did they believe in a After this, he explained how they had been observ- God, if so what kind; what were the mysteries of the ing the earth for quite some time, and so I ventured universe which they seemed to understand; and how to ask him about the future of the earth. did they find all of these things with one mathematical "You people must learn to get along with each other," equation? Perhaps the reason I forgot to ask was he said. "What does it matter which type of govern- that such mysteries cannot be told, but must be ment, whether the legislative power is a congress, learned by doing. Experience is the best teacher. parliament, poletariate, or a king and queen who Because this planet we call earth is in such a reign? The way you govern is not the important thing, jumble at the present, I thought 1'd pass along the but how you govern. It should be for the benefit of experience I had. Many of you won't believe this, all, not just a few. You must get rid of prejudice and for I hardly believe it myself, but I swear it really hatred toward others; nations should intercede to happened! help each other, not recede from their duties." Now is the time to get the LIFE-LONG Seventh al X CRSTELL Annual HABIT! Your tools of tomorrow should be your tools of today. When you graduate and start upon your own career you will find that the top engineers, architects and designers use CASTELL- ENGINEERING either the famous wood pencil or LOCKTITEHolder with 9030 lead. EXPOSITION CASTELLis smoother, stronger, lays down greater depth of graphite on the drawing. It is uniformly excellent in all 20 degrees, 8B to lOR. You study in a fine school, taught by outstanding professors. Does it make sense to work with inferior * tools? Order CASTELL, world's standard of quality, from your College Store, stationer or art supply store. May 12, 13, 14 ~~ Ih.d'~ill with the M05ter Degrees 35 March 1955 19 chambers of hell You are looking at the units of a .$2,000,000Martin test- the shock of many tons of thrust in the first second of ing laboratory-part of a man-made hell of fire and take-off-violent changes in temperature and pressure water, shock and vibration, explosion and corrosion, -and ground conditions ranging from sand storms to designed to torture electronics equiPment! arctic blizzards, desert dryness to tropical downpour. For these vital components of today's aircraft, guided Today, Martin's facilities are among the finest in the missiles and weapons systems must carry tremendous world for design, production and proving in the fie!d responsibilities. Consider, for example, the electronic of avionics ... one of the major developmen ts of Marun system of the Martin B-61 Matador: Systems Engineering which is now tailoring airpower Incredibly versatile, it comprises the entire brain and to previously impossible requirements. nervous system of America's first successful pilotless You will hear more about Martin! bomber. Yet this sensitive equipment must withstand 36 ,,~~~:;~:~'!! Spartan e Engineer FROM COW-PATHS TO CLOVERLEAFS... contribution of the American business press ... a The narrow, twisting, rut-ridden roads of yesteryear great group of specially edited magazines devoted to are being replaced by new multi-lane, high-speed the specialized work areas of men who want to highways. Crossroads have been bridged and clover- manage better, research better, sell better, buy better. leafed ... hills have been leveled ... curves lengthened. These changes have happened in the half century COMMUNICATION IS OUR BUSINESS ••• since the advent of the automobile. For more and Many of the textbooks in which you are now study- better cars and trucks demand faster, safer roads ing the fundamentals of your specialty bear the and turnpikes. McGraw-Hill imprint. For McGraw-Hill is the world's largest publisher of scientific and technical SPACE FOR SPEED ... works. The traffic that flows over America's three-million After you leave school, you will want to keep mile network of roads represents the very life stream abreast of developments in your chosen profession. of our progress. Nowhere else in the world do people Then one of McGraw-Hili's many businessmagazines will provide current information that will help you travel so far and so freely ... nor do so many trucks in your job. deliver such a wide and plentiful supply of merchan- dise so fast and to so many places. AMERICA WORKS LIKE THAT ••• Here in America we have men who dare to dream and McGRAW-HILL build for future needs ... machines to move moun- PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC. • tains ... materials to make roads ... and an all-seeing, all-hearing, and reporting Inter-Communications 330 WEST 42nd STREET System that acquaints every branch of science and NEW YORK 36, N. Y. engineering ... every technical skill ... with the needs and the accomplishments of every other field of endeavor. THE AMERICAN INTER-COM SYSTEM ••• Complete communication is the function, the unique HEADQUARTERS FOR TECHNICAL AND BUSINESS INFORMATION March 1955 37 .. lEARN BY DOING-Each year thousands of boys and girls learn how to become better farmers and beller citizens through 4-H Awards Programs, such as the Enlomology Program sponsored by Hercules. Top awards are college scholarships. Hercules' interest in improved farming methods stems from its development of agricultural chemicals, notably toxaphene for insecticides. HOW HERCULES HELPS ... Most businesses are helped today by Hercules' business ... the production of synthetic resins, cellulose products, chemical cot- ton, terpene chemicals, rosin and rosin derivatives, chlorinated products, and many other chemical processing materials-as well as explosives. Through close cooperative research with its cus- tomers, Hercules has helped improve the processing or perform- ance of many industrial and consumer products. STANDARD MODElS and plastic.bodied sports cars alike rely on nitrocellulose lacquers for durability and beauty. In the manufacture of these polyester lam- inates, such as this car door, Hercules hydroperoxides act as the catalyst in their polymerization •• .. WHITER, BRIGHTER ClOTHES-Hercules@ CMC is a key ingredient in detergents ... suspends soil, prevents its redeposition on clothes. This excellent property of suspension enables Hercules CMC to serve in a variety of consumer and industrial products. HERCULES HER,CULES Wilmington POWDER, 99, Delaware. IHCOAPOqAT~O COMPANY Sale:! OffiCe:> i" PriILcipul Cities. 38 Spartan Engineer III needed to IFind Myself- l that's why I picked Allis-Chalmers/I says A. J. MESTIER Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sc. 8.-1943 and now Manager, Syracuse District Office "I but WAS LOOKING I wasn't for an engineering job, very sure just what phase ofthis broad field would interest me most. I didn't know whether I wanted straight engineering, sales engineering, production or some other branch of industrial engi- neering. "Allis-Chalmers Graduate Training Course gave me a means of working at various jobs-seeing what I liked best- and at the same time obtaining a tremen- dous amount of information about many industries in a very short time." Experience Typical "My experience is typical in many ways. I started the Graduate Training Course in 1946, after three years in the Army. My first request was to go to the Texrope V-belt drive department. From there I went to the Blower and Compressor de- partment; then the Steam Turbine depart- ment. By the time the course was completed in 1948, my mind was made up and I knew I wanted.sales work. I was then assigned to the New York District Office and in 1950 was made manager of the Syracuse District. The important thing to note is that all Allis-Chalmers GTC's follow this same program of picking the departments in which they want to work. mining, ore processing, c~ment and ,r~ck "Best of all, students have a wide choice, processing. Then the,re IS ~our millmg for A-C builds machines for every basic machinery, electrolllc equIpment and industry, such as: steam and hydraulic many others." turbine generators, transformers, pumps, A Growing Company motors and other equipment for electric power; rotary kilns, crushers, grinders, "In addition, new developments and the coolers, screens and other machinery for continuing growth of the company offer almost endless opportunities for young engineers. "From my experience on the Graduate Training Course, I believe it is one of t?e best conducted in the industry and permIts a young engineer to become familiar with a tremendous variety of equipment-both electrical and mechanical-which will Ball Mill grinds ore for large copper producer. serve him in good stead in his future pro- Same type of equipment from Allis-Chalmers fession." pulverizes much of nation's cement. Texrope is an AUis-Chalmers trademark. Taking surge voltage distribution tests on power ALLIS-CHALMERS For informatioll call the Allis-Chalmers District Office ill your locality or write to transformer in A-C shops with miniature surge generator and cathode-ray oscilloscope. Allis-Chalmers Mallufacturillg Company, Milwaukee J, Wisconsin 39 March 1955 ment, the maximum voltage output is at low loads Generator-Type Dynamometer and as the load increases, the voltage decreases (Continued from page 19) rapidly. This allows the generator to maintain rela- rotate, but is held in position by a projecting arm tively constant speeds at all loads, which is exactly which is attached to a scale by the same method used reverse of the characteristics desired in a dyna- in the illustrated dynamometer. Some means must mometer. It was then assumed, from information ob- be provided for transferring the rotary motion of the tained in Electric Motors, by Rosenburg, that if a rotor to that of the stator, so that the torque can be variable resistance could be placed in the shunt wind- measured. Also, this transfer must be made without ing of the generator, the desired range of speeds could friction. By winding a coil of wire around a portion be attained. The first attempt was to place a 1.65 amp, of the stator and passing an electric current through 300 ohm, variable resistor in series with the shunt it, the stator becomes magnetized. This magnetism winding. This gave the desired speed range, but the passes through the rotor and tends to keep it from resistor could not handle the amount of current flow- revolving. However, when the rotor is revolved, it ing in the circuit. sets up Eddy currents which in turn set up a counter An ammeter placed in the circuit registered 4.5 magnetic force. This, then acts as a magnetic coupling amps. This amperage necessitated either the purchase between the rotor and the stator and tends to cause of an $18.00 variabl resistor or a change in the wiring the stator to revolve with the rotor. Since the stator diagram to allow the use of the 1.65 amp resistor. The is held in a stationary position by the scale connection, latter was decided upon, and the variable resistor was the measurement of torque is obtained. The power placed in parallel with two 660 watt no volt, 18.2 ohm from the engine or motor under test is transmitted heating elements and this total system was placed in to the rotor of the dynamometer, which in turn, by series with the shunt winding. Under this system, the means of magnetism, imparts the power to the stator maximum equivalent resistance of the parallel wiring where it is measured in pounds upon the dynamometer was 9.1 ohms, and as long as the variable resistor was scale. From the torque calculated and the speed of not operated in the range from .001 to 14.9 ohms, not the rotor, the horse-power of the test engine may be more than 1.65 amps of current would flow through obtained. The flow of Eddy currents causes heating the coils of the variable resistance. The above values which must be removed by a suitable cooling system are theoretical and under actual practice, the resistor in the stator. Dynamometers of this type are very coils did not seem to greatly overheat, even when flexible in their operation and may be adapted to a operated in the range from .001 to 14.9 ohms. Under large range of conditions. They are especially llseful test conditions, it was not found necessary to operate in the measuring of high speed devices such as tur- the resistor in this critical range to obtain the desired bines due to their solid cast rotors. They can also be speed. By varying the resistance, which in turn made to produce extremely high torques at low speeds, changed the generator's field intensity, it was possible as well as offer a smooth adjustable range of torques. to vary the speed range of the motor, at wide open Since the operation and theory of the most common throttle, from 965 to 2,280 RP.M., the generator load types of dynamometers has been briefly covered, the remaining constant. following discussion will pertain only to the construc- The large amount of vibration produced by the 1.5 tion of the illustrated dynamometer. H.P., one cylinder internal combustion engine made The first system used to dissipate the electrical it necessary to measure the saft RP.M. from the energy was eight 200 watt, no volt light bulbs. This generator armature, rather than the engine crankshaft. would have been sufficient to absorb the power output The readings taken at the armature would correspond of the 172 horsepower engine, but as the generator to one-half the engine RP.M., as the engine power was capable of producing only 40 volts, the bulbs shaft runs from the cam and not the crankshaft. could not absorb their rated wattage. Then eight The scales used to measure the force exerted on the 660 watt, no volt heating elements were used. These generator stator had a maximum range of ten pounds, worked well for the engine performance test, but did subdivided to permit reading to 1/100 of a pound, not give the pictorial representation of the mechanical and possessed a vibration dampener which enabled action of the dynamometer necessary for class demon- more accurate readings to be obtained. strations which could be obtained by the use of light Some may argue that special problem courses which bulbs. After an extensive search, a company was are offered by all the major engineering departments located which could obtain, by special order, 30 volt do not contribute as much to ones education as courses light bulbs. One dozen, 100 watt, 30 volt bulbs were which are specifically designed to teach a principle in ordered and delivered. These will be used when the one field of engineering. However, in a course of this dynamometer is displayed at the 1955 Engineering nature, a student is able to compile and use informa- Exposition. tion from many courses previously taken in his chosen After the first test run, it was found that only a small field of engineering. Also, research, as one must do speed variation of 965 to 1300 RP.M. resulted in the in industry, is of prime importance in obtaining data motor shaft speed, depending upon the addition or necessary for the successful completion of the project. removal of the external resistors. This was due to Being proficient in obtaining and applying engineer- the characteristics of the differentially compound ing principles is one of the most important qualities wound 40 volt generator. In a generator of this type, an engineer can possess, and no easier method of the shunt winding produces a field which is in opposi- obtaining these qualities exists than through actual tion to that of the series winding. Due to this arrange- practice in a special problem course. 40 Spartan Engineer " , II! . 'F' ,II([ I.;: , • I Electronics Research Engineer Irving Alne records radiation antenna patterns on Lockheed's Radar Range. ~e.ntr-two foot plastic tower In background mlrumlz!'s ground re!lectio,:,s, approximates free space. Patte.rn mtegrator, .high gam amplifier, square root amplIfier and logarIthmic amplifier shown in picture " ....... are of Lockheed design. .. ......... ...... ... ......... Jim Hong,Aerodynamics Divisionhead, discusses results ...... of high speed wind tunnel research on drag of straIght and delta wing plan forms with Richard ". ...... Heppe, Aerodynamics Department head (standing), and Aerodynamlcist Ronald Richmond (seated ...... ... right). In addition to its own tunnel, Lockheed is one of the principal shareholders in the Southern . ......... California Cooperative Wind Tunnel. It Is now being modified for operation at supersonic Mach numbers . ". '" '" ' ........ ......... '" ......... . C. H. Fish, design engineer assigned to Lockheed's Icing Research Research Engineer Russell Lowemeasures dynamic Tunnel. measures impingement strain applied by Lockheed's 500,000 lb. limits of Ice on C-130 wing section. Force Fatigue Machine on test specimen of The tunnel has a temperature integrally-stiffened Super Constellation skin. range of -40'F. to +150'F. and The Fatigue Machine gives Structures maximum speed of more than Department engineers a significant advantage 270 mph. It Is the only Icing .. in simulating effect of flight loads on a research tunnel in private industry. structure. Among other Lockheed structures facilities are the only shimmy tower in private industry and largest drop test tower In the nation. Advan~ed facilities speed • Lockhee~:' engin eerlng progress ... Lockheed's unmatched research and production facilities help make possible diversified activities in virtually all phases of aviation, military and commercial. They enable engineers to test advanced ideas which would remain only a conversation topic in firms lacking Lockheed's facilities. They help give designers full rein to their imagination. They make ... better planes - and better careers . Engineering students interested in more information on Lockheed's . advanced facilities are invited to write E. W. Des Lauriers, Lockheed Student Information Service, Burbank, California. AIRCRAFT CORPORATION Lockheed BURBANK California 1- -~ #.,..-r-- ."""'" I I I This is the kind of problein that constantly chal- M.E.'s, E.E.'s, and Engineering Physicists! lenges IBM engineers. Whatever interests you most-research, develop- It challenges their knowledge, their skill, and ment, product design, or manufacturing-IBM their ingenuity. It challenges them to "throw offers you a challenging and rewarding career I away the book" and, starting from scratch, come up with solutions that are unorthodox-both in concept and execution. For a picture of IBM's Engineering Laboratories in action, ask your placement officer for the new 32-page booklet, "Opportunities Unlimited." Or --1 - In this stimulating atmosphere, the young engi- write Mr. W. M. Hoyt, Engineering Recruitment ~1 neer quickly discovers that fresh new ideas are not only in demand, but are given the chance to Office,IBM, 590 Madison Ave., New York22, N.Y. b I payoff in practical application. No doubt about it: The man with imagination, versatility, and enthusiasm can look forward to a bright and virtually unlimited future-at IBM I IBM INTERNATIONAL TRADE-MARK BUSINESS MACHINES JI I .1 I !v I II I y: 42 Spartan Engineer o A nother page for How to make a boring iob go faster With teeth cut into it, this gear blank becomes an engine part. One manufacturer thought these blanks were costing him too much to make. The center hole had to be bored out of solid bar stock. It took one hour to make 29 blanks. A lot of steel was wasted in the proc- ess. He took his problem to Timken Company metallurgists. After study, they recommended a change in production methods together with the use ofTimken~ seamless steel tubing. How TIMKEN@seamless tubing helped quadruple production Because the hole's already there in Timken seamless tubing, it doesn't have to be bored out. No steel is wasted. Finish boring is now O the manufacturer's first step. He can turn out 120 to 130 gear blanks per hour with a 50% cut in machining costs. This is another one of the hundreds of problems that have been solved by Timken fine alloy steel. Want to learn more about steel or iob opportunities? Some of the engineering problems And for more information about you'll face after graduation will the excellent job opportunities at involve steel applications. For help the Timken Company, send for a in learning more about steel, write copy of "This Is Timken". Ad- for your free copy of "The Story dress; The Timken Roller Bearing of Timken Alloy Steel Quality". Company, Canton 6, Ohio. YEARS AHEAD-THROUGH EXPERIENCE AND RESEARCH Fine Alloy o ~~lE~J1 SPECIALISTS IN FINE ALLOY STEELS, GRAPHITIC TOOL STEELS AND SEAMLESS TUBING March 1955 43 The Transistor (Continued from page 23) Electrical and physical features of the transistor L A SuccessFul make it extremely desirable. Perhaps the transistor's greatest electrical advantage is that it does not require a heater filament. This feature decreases the amount A Stamping Service of power necessary for operation. The absence of a heater filament also insures instantaneous operation because it is not necessary to heat a cathode. The N to Industry amount of power necessary to operate some transistors is extremely small. One type of transistor, the junc- tion transistor, can amplify electrical signals a million Since 1914 times, but requires only one millionth of the power S of the smallest electron vacuum tube. If you chew a piece of blotting paper, wrap it moist around a 25-cent piece, then clip wires to this combination; it I makes a battery strong enough to work a transistor. A transistor can operate on one millionth of a watt. Another big advantage is that some transistors, even N available today, are expected to work for 90,000 hours, which is about ten years. The transistors' best physical feature is their small size. Smallest models of the G transistor are 1/10" long and 15/100" in diameter. Theer are two main types of transistors in use today, the point conta~t and the junction transistors. The transistors differ in physical appearance and also in the way they use the properties of germanium to achieve amplification. The point contact transistor (Fig. 1) is the older of the two types. It usually con- S sists of a single pellet of germanium with two cat- whisker contacts spaced a few thousandths of an inch apart on the germanium surface. Its high current gain T and its high frequency capabilities make it extremely desirable. Bell Laboratories now have a point contact transistor that will operate at 440 megacycles. This is A higher in frequency than any transistor yet known and is well into the Ultra High Frequency range used by .FM radio and television. The junction transistor re- M sembles a sandwich in that it consists of germanium wafers arranged in certain sequences. The junction transistor has low input power requirements and is Serving p capable of high power gain. Also, the noise factor for this transistor is low. The transistor was made commercially available only Manufacturers of five years after its discovery. One of the first places AUTOMOBILES I it was used was in the hearing aid. Manufacturers produced these transistor hearing aids, but the transis- AGRICULTURAL tor proved ineffective because body heat and mois- EQUIPMENT INDUSTRIAL N ture hampered the effectiveness of the germanium. Improvements have been made to overcome these diffi- culties and today they are highly effective in the hear- EQUIPMENT DOMESTIC G ing aid. A IS-cent battery will provide power for 400 hours in to day's transistor hearing aids. Home television sets, utilizing tiny transistors about the size of pencil erasers instead of a large array of EQUIPMENT vacuum tubes, are now a stronger possibility as a result of new developments. The transistors capa- LAWNMOWERS 1159 Pennsylvania C bility of operating on small amounts of power may speed their appearance in automobiles and portable radios. In the future, rockets and guided missiles will Avenue be able to carry electronic equipment that is now too Lansing, Michigan 0• heavy and fragil because of the vacuum tube. If the transistor continues to develop at the rate it has developed thus far, it should become a widely used replacement for the vacuum tube in the not too dis- tant future. 44 Spartan Engineer In our time, Man has won round after round in a contest New ReA Weather Mop. against the elements that started thousands of years ago. ping Radar weighs under The most recent scientific victory is something new in 125 pounds, tokes little space in a plane. Radar-an electronic "Weather Eye" developed by RCA. In airplanes, this supersensitive instrument peers miles ahead. It gives advance warning of weather disturbances. The signals on its radar screen point the way to a safe course For information regarding design and around storm areas, or even through them. development engineering positions on The leadership in electronic research that made the such projects as "Weather Eye" Radar "Weather Eye" possible is inherent in all RCA products and and military electronic equipment-write services. And at the David Sarnoff Research Center of RCA, to Mr. Robert Haklisch, Manager College Princeton, N. J., scientists are continually at work to extend Relations, Radio Corporation of America, the frontiers of "Electronics for Living." Camden 2, N. J. RADIO CORPORATION OF AMERICA ELECTRONICS FOR LIVING March 1955 45 E.E. or PHYSICS Index To GRADUATES Advertisers with experience in RADAR or 39 Allis-Chalmers ELECTRONICS 21 Allison Division, General Motors or those desiring to enter 7 Aluminum Co. of America these areas ... 16 Babcock & Wilcox 24 Bendix Aviation 32 Boeing Airplane 34 Cast Iron Pipe Research Assoc. 14 Columbia Southern Chemical 1 Detroit Edison 4 Dow Chemical 31 E. 1. duPont de Nemours 35 A. VV. Faber-Castell Pencil 26 Federal Telecommunication Lab. Hushes-equipped 10 General Motors Convair F.I02 all.weather 36 Glenn L. Martin Interceptor. 38 Hercules Powder 46 Hughes Aircraft 42 International Business Machines 16 Keuffel & Esser 44 Lansing Stamping The time was never 41 Lockheed Aircraft more opportlllle than now 37 McGraw-Hill Publishing for becomillg associated with the field of 29 Minneapolis- Honeywell Regulator advallced electronics. 20 New Departure Division, Becallse of military General Motors emphasis this 18 Pittsburgh Plate Glass is the most rapidly Since 1948 Hughes Research and Develop- growillg alld promising 13 Pratt & Whitney Aircraft ment Laboratories have been engaged in sphere of clldcallor 45 Radio Corporation of America an expanding program for design, devel- for the rOlll/g elcctrical 28 Standard Oil opment and manufacture of highly com- engineer or physicist. plex radar fire control systems for fighter 6 Sylvania Electric Products and interceptor aircraft. This requires Hughes technical advisors in the field to 43 Timken Roller Bearing serve companies and military agencies em- 33 Torrington Needle Bearing ploying the equipment. SCffiNTIFIC AND As one of these field engineers YOIl will ENGINEERING STAFF 47 Western Electric become familiar with the entire systems in- 21 vVestinghouse Electric volved, including the most advanced elec- HUGHES tronic computers. With this advantage you 2 Worthington will be ideally situated to broaden your RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT AND .. United States Steel experience and learning more quickly for future application to advanced electronics LABORATOR I ES .... Eastman-Kodak activity in either the military or the com- Culver City, ...... General Electric mercial field. Los Augeles County, Positions are available in the continental California United States for married and single men under 35 years of age. Overseas assign.. Relocation of applicant must not cause disruption of ments are open to single men only. an urgent military project. "Inside front cover ""Inside bock cover """'Bock cover 46 Spartan Engineer AUTOMATION at work How a revolutionary translated into a new design was production reality One of Western Electric's automatic produc- tion lines used in making the revolutionary new wire spring relay. 1. SUPPLY MAGAZINE 7. SIZE CONTACTS 2. CliP WIRE ENDS 8. SCRATCH BRUSH TERMINALS 3. CONTACT TAPE SUPPLY 9. FORM TERMINALS 4. WElD CONTACTS 10. TENSION BEND 5. CONTACT TAPE SUPPLY 11. FLUX & TIN TERMINALS 6. DRIVE UNIT 12. FINISHED PARTS So great was the departure in design of the new Bell System wire spring relay as compared with conventional relays that THE FOUR CONTACT it posed a major undertaking for development engineers at CONDITIONS. Western Electric, the manufacturing and supply unit of the Bell System. Indeed, it was an undertaking that called for new machines and new methods because none was available to do the job. Longer life, higher operating speed, lower power con- sumption, and lower manufacturing cost were some of the advantages promised by the new relay design. Engineers reasoned that a lower manufacturing cost could be achieved through greater precision in manufacture (which would cut adjustments) and through extensive use of automatic processes. One of the products of this reasoning is pictured at the Single Wire Comb with Percussion Welded Contacts, top of this page. This battery of equipment, developed by Wire Spring Relay Designed by Bell Telephone laboratories Western Electric product engineers, constitutes one phase One type of "comb" element is shown at top while a com- of wire spring relay manufacture, which automatically per- pleted wire spring relay is below. The small blocks of metal forms several separate operations. Its function begins after on the ends of the wires are cut from a composite tape dur- one of the fundamental elements of the new relay has been ing the automatic multiple percussion welding operation. fabricated. This element, known as a "comb," consists of a "Contact conditions" are determined by the code of relay being manufactured and may vary greatly. multiplicity of small diameter wires in parallel array im- bedded for part of their length in molded phenol plastic. These molded elements, of which there are two types used in the new relay, are delivered to this line of machine units tacts, which are percussion welded to the tips of wires of in magazines. By fully automatic means they are removed one type of "comb," must be located on the same plane from the magazine, carried by a reciprocating conveyor across the twelve contact positions to within a tolerance through each of the several processes and, when completed, of :t: .002". placed into another magazine to await further assembly. Between the first and final magazine the automatic bat- tery of equipment does the following operations: clips wire ends, attaches palladium contacts to wire ends by means of percussion welding, sizes contacts, forms terminal, tension bends wires, fluxes and tins terminals. ~~ Most remarkable of all is the fact that this is a precision MANIIFACTURING AND SUPP~Y • UNIT OF THE BElL SYSTEM operation throughout. For example, the small block con- Manufacturing plants in Chicago, 111.; Kearny, N. J.; Baltimore, Md.; Indianapolis, Ind.; AII.entown and Laureldale, Po.; Burling!on, Greensboro and Winston-Solem, N. c.; Buffalo, N. Y.; Haverhill and Lawrence, Moss.; Lincoln, Neb.; St. Paul and Duluth, MI~n. Distributing Centers in 29 cities and Installation headquarters in 15 cities. Company headquarters, 195 Broadway, New York City. 47 March 1955 Crossword for Engineers By Ray Steinbach and Ed Champagne / 2 3 • i • 1. joules per calorie ACROSS • •1I] 2 ID 4. one atmosphere W • 8. 9. coefficient of expansion of Cu x cubed — 12x squared — lOx plus 46 when x >2 IS 1m 2/ a3 /7 11. 12. 13. equals 50 density of steel sine of 45 degrees cos of 32 degrees 14. 19th prime number 2? I • 1• TO 31 16. 18. 20. thermal conductivity of brass heat of vaporization of water lbs. per kg • • 1 21. 2 to the twelfth plus 3 to the seventh plus 4 W •• '7 24. 27. cubed plus 972 d squared equals C feet per mile II • FILL SPACES WITH NUMBERS Hi 28. 29. 30. 32. atomic No. of Holmium radians in 38 degrees 50 min. log 2 LXV 33. boiling pt. of water 34. cm. per in. 35. boiling pt. of Hg DOWN 36. sq. meters per sq. yd. 38. 1/6 gross 1. atomic No. of Cb 40. cos 22 degrees 2. density of O 41. 7/16 3. atomic wt. of element 31 4. Vz of 24 across ANSWER TO JANUARY PUZZLE 5. 6. 7. ft. per sec. equals 30 MPH In 80.1 BTU per HP M £ C H *A\N\I\C\S A N A MW^MR •"uR T\ E 'R A • 10. 13/32 E A C T\ / \A/\G B A 1 A 11 14. grams per lb. R E K 5 C 15. 17. cot of 16.8 degrees inches in .05 meters •o • G O o 19. antilog of .8872 YN E •i R i 1i 22. cube root of 16 to the sixth y_ 23. ft. lbs. per joule N "A 7 R 25. 26. 31. log 10 to the 87th plus 10 to the 5th drams per c.c. inder of refraction of flourite A M N i" •I •A 5 N 33. specific heat of glass Q_ A E W'\S\O\T o P E 5 37. 38. 39. atomic weight of P density of Al — — sine x equals cos x • T S B R 9KM • "H\A \s\/v\e / L T • y 5 E S 48 Spartan Engineer