r.'.- ~ ~, I j d. I" ,. t,' / John W. Hirt, Class of '49 speaks from experience when he says, "u. S. Steel offers an interesting and challenging future in a key industry." Following graduation with a B.S. de- nating the many finishing processes ing and rewarding career with gree in 1949,Mr. Rirt went directly required to produce hot rolled strip." to the Irvin Works of United States United States Steel and feel that you Mr. Hirt now supervises a labor can qualify, you can obtain further Steel as an operating trainee. U.S. force of over 300 men in finishing Steel trainees are given extensive information from your college place- 45,000 tons of hot sheets and coils ment director. Or, we will gladly training as well as practical experi- per month. He sees a need for "a ence in many phases of the steel send you our informative booklet, wide range of talents necessary to "Paths of Opportunity," upon re- industry. In this way, they are fully fill the great variety of vital jobs in prepared to accept responsibilities as quest. Just write to United. States the steel industry. There's a solid Steel Corporation, Personnel Divi- they move up. Just 16 months after future in steel," says Mr. Hirt. starting as a trainee, John Hirt was sion, Room 1622, 525 William Penn H you are interested in a challeng- Place, Pittsburgh 30, Pa. advanced to Relief Foreman-Roll- ing, in the 80" Hot Strip Mill. He found the job, "one of the most in- SEE THE UNITED STATES STEEL HOUR. It's a full-hour TV program presented every other week by United States Steel. Consult your local teresting processing sequences in newspaper for time and station. modern industry." Two years ago Mr. Rirt was pro- ~ moted to General Foreman - Hot Strip Finishing. In this capacity, he says, "I am responsible for coordi- UNITED STATES STEEL AMERICAN BRIDGE •• AMERICAN STEEL & WIRE and CYClONE FENCE •• COLUMBIA-GENEVA STEEL •• CONSOLIDATED WESTERN STEEL •• GERRARD STEEl STRAPPING •• NATIONAL TUBE OIL WEll SUPPLY .. TENNESSEE COAL & IRON •• UNITED STATES STEEL PROOUCTS •• UNITED STATES STEEl SUPPLY •• Division. 01 UNITED STATES STEEl CORPORATION, PITTSBURGH UNITED STATES STEEL HOMES, INe. • UNION SUPPLY COMPANY' UNITED STATES STEEL EXPORT COMPANY' UNIVERSAl ATlAS CEMENT COMPANY 5-2098 x y z OIL CIRCUIT Yij:.¥. /- BREAKER %1 OVERHEAD --- LINE /- ,~~---- LINE TRAP I COUPLING CAPACITOR HIGH VOLTAGE BUS I CABLE TERMINAL TR ANSMITTER +=<1, DRAIN COIL 'x ' COAXIAL CABLE RECEIVER One terminal of a high voltage composite circuit MANHOLE HERE'S A PROBLEM FOR ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS To protect short transmission lines against severe damage due to internal short circuits, Detroit Edison normally uses a pilot wire differential system to activate circuit breakers and thus stop the flow of electricity along the damaged wires. This system is technically limited to the protection of rela- tively short transmission lines. Longer lines of all overhead construction can be eco- nomically protected by carrier pilot relaying systems. However, where there are long composite lines-overhead lines which go underground and come back overhead again -variations in line characteristics make it difficult to pre- select the correct frequency for the usual carrier pilot relay. How would you determine whether carrier pilot will work on a composite line? And, if carrier won't work, what system would you use to protect this type of line construction? * * * * * The above problem is typical of those you would en- counter as a member of Detroit Edison's outstanding electrical engineering staff. If you can confront and solve such interesting and diversified problems, you have a firm foundation for building a successful career. The future of Detroit Edison is a bright one. Edison's constant expansion in a thriving industrial area means more opportunities for you. Why not see our repre- sentative when he's on campus; visit us when you are in Detroit, or write ... THE DETROIT EDISON COMPANY 2000 Second Avenue. Detroit 26. Michigan FACTS ABOUT DETROIT EDISON people. Compared to other investor-owned Serv;'lg Southeastem Michigan, Detroit Edison power systems, Detroit Edison ranks eighth ;'1 supplies electricity for elevm cOimties ... plant illvestmel1t ... eighth in customers coverj,lg 7,600 square miles ... 3.8 million served ... and sevmth in electricity gmerated. November 1955 .1 4'" .~';".:.i- trois humidity. Like every Worthington product. this good- looking unit is designed and built for a lifetime of quiet, effi- cient service. Making today's BIG news in air conditioning Worthington's new residential air conditioners, packaged units, big cen- tral station systems - all are making headlines in the air conditioning field. And the same research and engineering skills responsible for their development are applied to all Worthington prod- ucts - engines, turbines, compressors, construction machinery, as weII as pumps. NEW BUILDING in New York is the glass- For the complete story of how you NEW LIFE FOR OLD STORES. Shoppers stay sheathed Manufacturer's Trust Building. It's longer, buy more in stores cooled by Worth- can fit into the Worthington picture, cooled by a Worthington central station sys- ington units with the new "Million Dollar" write F. F. Thompson, Mgr., Personnel tem-so big it does the same job as melting compressor. New 3-D circulation aims com- & Training, Worthington Corporation, 300 tons of ice daily. fort right where you want it. Harrison, New Jersey. 4.ZSD See the Worthington See the Worthington representative when he visits your campus Corporation exhibit in New York City. A lively, informative display of product developments WORTHINGTON for industry, business and the home. Pork 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 EDITOR HARLOW NELSON BUSINESS MANAGER JAMES JOHNSTON PRODUCTION MANAGER JOAN GRAHAM of michigan state university ASSOCIATE EDITOR BOB STOCKING ARTICLES ASSISTANT EDITOR AL MROFKA 6 What Makes the MAN lAC Tick? PHOTO EDITOR 9 Engineers Can Write Better Technical Reports BOB BRANDON 11 A Building Full of Knowledge FEATURE EDITOR 17 MSU Hosts Tau Beta Pi JIM HELLWARTH 23 The Roots of Automation NEWS EDITOR BOB FREDERICKS ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANAGER CHARLES PUMA FEATURES ADVERTISING MANAGER 12 New Developments ART SIPPOLA 21 Clubs and Societies PROMOTION MANAGER 28 Ten Commandments for Engineers JOHN HELD 48 Sidetracked CIRCULATION MANAGER DONNA LYONS Cover: ARCHITECT'S DRAWING OF M.S.U:s NEW LIBRARY See page 11 STAFF MEMBER ENGINEERING COLLEGE MAGAZINES ASSOCIATED GLORIA SOMERS Published four times yearly by the students of the SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING, KATHY DAVENPORT MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, East Lansing. Michigan The office IS on the third floor of the Union Building, Phone ED 2-1511, Extension 251 Entered os second closs DON POLLAKOWSKI matter at the Post Office in Lansing, Michigan, under the oct of March 3, 1879 Address Moil to: POBox 468, East Lansing, Michigan Publishers representative ADVISORS littell-Murray-Barnhill, Inc 101 Pork Avenue, New York W. E. LIBBY ffJ5 W Michigan Avenue, Chicago PAUL G. GRAY SubSCrIption rot2 by moil $100 per year Single copies 25 cents D. D. McGRADY 3 November 1955 II highly unusual applicat ion of industrial mathe- matics. This string-suspended structure is a mechani- ca" analogue of a diITerential equation illustrating a thcory of why automobile brakes si>( ~ MANUFACTURING AND SUPPLY ~ UNIT OF TNE BELL SYSTEM 27 November 1955 Whereas, much grief and disappointment - yea, even bloodshed, hath been needlessly endured for lack of true guidance, a saddened sage of the Kingdom of Ye Olde Sliding Ruler hath assembled the following Wru (!Iommau~mruta of Ir ~tu~rntr 1tugtnrrrB I, Verily, I say unto you, bring ye volumes of manuscript as tribute unto the master of the Labora- tory of Power, lest he unleash upon you his mighty fury, Remember well that he withholdeth the "A" as a mighty jewel, but lavish the "F" without mercy, II Be ye not present at the Place of the Gable; neither be ye found at the Inn of the Deerhead on the eve of the great inquisition, lest thou appear for interrogation with fogged mind and blurred vision, Such appearance extracts not sympa thy from the department head - nei ther wi II his staff comfort thee, III, Thou shall diligently burn thine candle in the evening -- yea, even unto the crowing of the cock, lest thy master be displeased with thine efforts, IV, Make thy comma and thine semicolon trusted friends unto thee, May they assist thee in travers- ing the province of Harris the Blackhearted unscathed. V. When thine master uttereth the big joke, be ye filled with mirth; when he smileth not, make thy countenance like unto stone. VI. Park not thine carriage in the stables of the Lords and Nobles -lest the constabulary confis- cate thy silver and thine property -- yea, even will they curtain thy personal liberties. VII. Be ye not tardy in returning thy fair damsel to the Hall of Abbot; may thou never experience the wrath of the Keeper of the Harem. VIII, Beware of the "Blind Date," she accepteth thine cigarettes and beer and squandereth thine shekels and promiseth unto thee mighty things that she will giveth to thee __ yet she giveth only her thanks. IX. Be not first -- nay, be thou not even early unto thine class; neither be ye the lost to leave _ nor may thee engageth in discourse with thine instructor lest thou incur the condemnation of thy fellow peons. X. Prepare thee well for thine day of judgment; know ye that thy masters punish with impunity. My children, endear these maxims to thine heart. Enter upon thy journey with the opened eye and closed mouth; tread with light step and neverending vigilance. Keep thy sliding rule ever ready to fend off the attacks of the inquisition. May it please Allah that thou may succeed. Godspeed' Yuben Hood Furshur 28 (From the Colorado Engineer) Spartan Engineer Your health will be better since doctors can now use • the VOlce of the atom DOCTORS have long wanted to learn more about the control processes, and to help answer mysteries of how human bloodstream-how it supplies nourishment ... plants absorb nourishment from the soil and how it defends against disease ... becomes diseased, itself. affects their growth and health. THAT.WISH IS REALITY today, because atomic energy THE PEOPLE OF UNION CARBIDE operate, under has given a voice to certain of nature's elements. When Government contract, the Oak Ridge National Labora- the~e.elements are exposed to the powerful radiation of tory, the Nation's chief source of radioisotopes, as well splIttmg atoms, they become radioactive, themselves, as the huge atomic naterials plants at Oak Ridge and and are called radioisotopes. The radiation they give Paducah. off can be detected and heard with special instruments. STUDENTSAND STUDENTADVISERS: Learn more about career ~ow doctors introduce isotopes of iodine, iron, opportunities with Union Carbide in ALLOYS, CARBONS, CHEMICALS, sod h GASES, and PLASTICS. Write for booklet 5£-2. mm, or ot er elements into the bloodstream. COurse can then be followed to determine ~nd nature of the trouble. Isotopes Their the location are also becoming U N ION CARB IDE Increasingly important in actually treating ailments. A.ND CARBON CORPORATION ISOTOPES are being used in similar fashion by indus- 30 EAST 42ND STREET ~ NEW YORK 17, N. Y. try and agriculture to analyze materials, measure wear, In Canada: UNIONCARBIDECANADALIMITED --------------UCCs Trade-marked Products include--------------- ~YNTHETIC ORGANICCHEMICALS PRESTONEAnti.Freeze EVEREADY Flashlights and Batteries PREST.O.LITEAcetylene ynel Textile Fibers ELECTROMETAlloys and Metals HAYNESSTELLITEAlloys UNION Carbide LINDE Oxygen t INDE5'1' I Icones BAKELITE,VINYLlTE, and KRENE Plastics NATIONALCarbons ACHESONEIectro d es PYROFAXGas November 1955 29 Dr. Ward Kuentzel and Dr. Edmund Field, co-inventors, observe operation of the new Magne-Dash autoclave in Standard Oil's Whiting research laboratory. Orders for inventions taken here MODERN RESEARCH creates a need for brand- It has a magnetically operated agitator, and new types of equipment. In petroleum labora- no external moving parts. Leaks cannot occur. tories, mixingup some stuff in a beaker usually Research men now use freely the high pres- isn't the answer. The research pioneer may sures that lead to new plastics and other new have to use high temperatures and high pres- products. sures. If he must stir his mixture, he has a Like many other inventions made by Stand- tough job. How can he prevent leakage past ard Oil scientists to solve our own problems, the shaft of the stirrer? the Magne-Dash is licensed for production and To meet this and other difficult situations, sale by a maker of scientific equipment. Standard Oil has set up a "Special Devices The Special Devices Program is just one of Program". A group of scientists creates the the creative activities at Standard Oil. Young apparatus needed to solve today's problems. scientists find it stimulating to work in such An exampleis the Magne-Dash* autoclave. an atmosphere. -Manufactured under Standard Oil license by Autoclave Engineers, Inc., Erie, Po. Standard Oil Company 910 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, 80, Illinois 30 Spartan Engineer SKY HOOK ••• COMMUNICATION IS OUR BUSINESS ••• Here is a hook for a hoist-mankind's sinew-sparing Many of the textbooks in which you are now studying servant ... as industrially indispensable as its load-lifting the fundamentals of your specialty bear the McGraw- applications are limitless. Hill imprint. For McGraw-Hill is the world's largest Hoists lift steel beams for buildings and bridges, raise publisher of scientific and technical works. and lower drills and casing for deep-driven oil wells, lift a Mter you leave school, you will want to keep abreast bucket of cold water from a country well or a ladle of of developments in your chosen profession. Then one of molten metal in a mill ... lighten load-lifting chores for McGraw-Hill's many business magazines will provide machinists and miners, loggers and longshoremen, farm- current information that will help you in your job. ers and factory workers. A CAREER FOR YOU ••• HOW MANY KINDS? To a few 1956 engineering graduates, "McGraw-Hill" C?nsider the many kinds of hoists in use today ... reeved will mean "writing" as well as "reading." WIthrope, cable, chain ... powered pneumatically, man- If you are interested in becoming an engineering edi- u~ll.y,electrically ... engineered with gears, pulleys, tor, write our Personnel Relations Department-now- PIStOns,ratchets. about your qualifications for an editorial career. Think how many millions of plans, sketches, models and mock-ups have contributed to their evolution. The McGRAW-HILL eyes of a myriad of inventors, engineers and draftsmen have appraised them. The hands of countless pattern- makers, tool and die makers, machinists and other craftsI?en have shaped them. A Pulling t?gether is a work method unique.ly American. PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC. • n?, Amenca can work like that because It has an all- Beemg all-hearing , and reporting Inter-Communications System. 330 WEST 42nd STREET NEW YORK 36, N. Y. THE AMERICAN INTER-COM SYSTEM ••• ~omplete communication is the function and contribu- tIOnof the American business press ... the industrial, r~de,business and professional publications that are edi . dted to meet the needs of men in business, science and In ustry. HEAOQUAITEIlS fOI TECHNICAL AND BUSINESS INfOIMATION 31 November 1955 Technical Reports (Continued from page 9) should be the topic of the sentence. It should tell the reader what's going to be said in the paragraph. It should aiso provide a transition (if such is needed) from the preceding paragraph. This topic sentence should be short and direct. A good paragraph should also have a summarizing sentence which should warn the reader-"this is the end; prepare for another thought or another subject." The length of a paragraph depends on two things: subject matter and consideration for the reader. The rule of composition on paragraphing is clear. When the thonght or subject promised in the topic sentence is exhausted, start a new paragraph. Con- sideration for the reader may modify this rule some- what. Written with the reader in mind, paragraphs should do several things: • Give the reader visual evidence of a break in thought. • Provide just enough material on each thought, or for America's young • facet of a subject, not to tire his mind. engineers with capacity for • Provide a "hook" for the reader's attention. continuing achievements in radio and electronics There are three major pitfalls to paragraphing: Today, engineers and physicists • Lack of topic sentence. ere looking et tomorrow from the • Lack of unity. top of this tower ... the famed Microwave Tower of Federal • Improper development of central thought. Telecommunication Laboratories ... a great development unit of To see if you have observed the rules of good the world-wide, American-owned paragraphing, check your paragraphs against these International Telephone and questions: Telegraph Corporation. Here, too, is opportunity for 1. Is the topic sentence concise? the young graduate engineers of 2. Does the paragraph need a transition sentence? America ... opportunity to be associated with leaders in the 3. Does the paragraph contain more than one cen- electronic field ... to work with tral thought? (Yes? Then split the paragraph.) the finest facilities ... to win rec- ognition ... to achieve advance- -1. Can the paragraph be broken into two by re- ment commensurate with grouping information? (This is desirable and worth capacity. the effort.) Learn morc about this noted Tower of Opportunity ... its long- 5. Does material in the paragraph cover what was range program and generous em- ployee benefits. See your Place- promised in the topic sentence? ment Officer today for further in- 6. Is a summarizing sentence needed? formation about FTL. nead your manuscript several times. First read INTERESTING over the entire draft to get the "feel" of it. Does it ASSIGNMENTS IN- Radio Communication Systems tell a story simply and concisely? Cut and shorten Electron Tubes where possible. Microwave Components Electronic Countermeasures Read it over a second time, looking for bad sen- Air Navigation Systems tences, lack of topic sentences, and errors in grammar. Missile Guidance Transistors and other If time permits, put the manuscript out of sight for a Semiconductor Devices day or two. Then read it a third time before letting Rectifiers. Computers. Antennas it out of your hands. Telephone ond Wire Transmission Systems Paying attention to rules of composition and gram- mar is not enough. The professional writer soon learns Federal many things that are not taught in college composition courses. You, as a report writer, should practice them Telecommunication too. For example, have confidence in your writing. You cannot do anything well unless you have con- .lahoralonesl!!!!; fidence in your ability. Also, you must show interest A Division of International in your writing. A good report is the result of a lot Telephone and Telegraph Corporation of hard work-and enthusiasm. But most of all, you've 500 Washington Avenue, Nutley, N. J. got to write if you want to be a good report writer. Writing is something than can be learned only through practice. 32 Spartan Engineer WHY THIS SIGN IS YOUR GUIDE TO FINER TELEVISION RCA's 36 years' experience is yours to share In TV- black-and-white or color To pioneer and develop television, in color as well as in black-and-white, called For a special combination of practical experi- ence, great resources and research facili- ties in the fields of communications and electronics. RCA was well qualified to do the job: EXPERIENCE: RCA has been the recog- nized leader in radio communications since its formation thirty-six years ago. Its world-wide wireless circuits, estab- lished in 1919, and its development of electron tubes, laid the groundwork for radio broadcasting in 1920 ... and the first nationwide radio network in 1926. Radio broadcasting led to television- and in 1939 RCA made history by intro- ducing black-and-white TV as a service to the public. Dr. V. K. Zworykin of RCA invented the Iconoscope, or television camera tube, and he developed the Kinescope, now uni- versally used as the picture tube. RESOURCES: Pioneering and develop- ment of color TV has been one of the most challenging and expensive projects ever undertaken by private industry. To date, RCA has spent $50,000,000 on color TV research ancI development, in addi- tion to the $50,000,000 previously spent in getting black-and-white TV "off the ground" and into service. RESEARCH FACILITIES: RCA has one of the most complete, up-to-date labora- tories in the world-the David Sarnoff Re- search Center at Princeton, N. J. It is the birthplace of compatible color television and many other notable electronic devel- opments. No wonder that you can turn to ReA to find all of the essentials of quality and dependability born only of experience. WHERE TO, MR. ENGINEER? RCA offers careers in research, de- velopment, design, and manufactur- ing for engineers with Bachelor or advanced degrees in KK, M.K or Physics. For full information, write to: Mr. Robert Haklisch, Manager, College Relations, Radio Corpora- tion of America, Camden 2, N. J. RADIO CORPORATION OF AMERICA ~<1J Electronics for Living ~ 33 November 1955 dents in the engineering school-you are welcome ot Clubs and Societies go on these trips and a wealth of knowledge can be (Continued from page 21) gained from them. lion with other engineers through spontaneous dis- You are urged to join this active, beneficial, and cussions, talks, speeches, and essays. informative society. At the close of the meeting, several discussion groups gathered to talk over hobbies and engineering inter- ests whjle new members were enrolled. ASiVIE will ASAE continue to accept new members throughout the year The Student Branch of the ASAE held their first at meetings, or by contacting Mr. Hemmye in Room meeting of the 1955-56 school year on September 27. 15, Olds Hall. Our president, Earl Terpstra, resigned to take the position of president of the Engineering Council. Vice- AFS president Bob Muirhead then moved to president. Michigan State's chapter of the American Foundry- Our second meeting of the term will be a special Open men's Society is one of the most active societies in the House for freshman and faculty members. engineering school. Last year the society presented a The Club had a booth at the Activities Carnival tclevision skit demonstrating the fundamental prin- displaying the race car which won the race last year ciples of foundry technology (using live molten metal) and a small electric bulldozer. Other activities for and the wide applications of the casting industry. Fall term include the meeting of the Michigan Section Members of the chapter also participate in a num- of the ASAE on October 22. On November 8 the her of meetings held at the Union and Kellogg Center faculty has invited the students to a home-cooked where men from the cast metals industry present their dinner and program. problems and advice. Each year the chapter holds a Farmer's Week will be the main event of the Winter student industry banquet at which student members term, during which the Cluh will help with exhibits can acquaint themselves with men in the cast metals and the program. field. The major event for Spring term will be the Engi- Each terlll the chapter sponsors one or two field neering Exposition which will follow its usual course trips to leading foundries in the state. The first trip with the Agricultural Engineers displaying machinery this term was to the foundry and assembly plants of and other agricultural engineering displays. A Student- the Cadillac Motor Company Division of General Faculty picnic, featuring all you can eat and a base- Motors Corporation. These trips are open to all stu- ball game, will close the year's activities. Now is the time to get the LIFE-LONG m 1: CRST'ELL * HABIT! STAFF POSITIONS Your tools of tomorrow should ~ Open on The be your tools of today. When you graduate and start upon your own career you will find that the top SPARTAN engineers, architects and designers use CASTELL- either the famous woed pencil or LOCKTITEHolder ENGINEER with 9030 lead. 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 Apply Third Floor, tools? Order CASTELL,world's standard of quality, from your College Store, stationer or art supply store. Union Building. the with drawing the Ma5ter pencil Degree$ * 34 Spartan Engineer HONEYWELL OFFERS DIVERSIFIED OPPORTUNITIES opportunities for engineers in T HE the automatic 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 electtonic control ... the design and manufacture of quality electronic photo flash units ... the challenge of finding fish with underwater sonar ... of providing auto- matic flight for supersonic jets ... tempetature controls foftoday'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 factories 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 ro full time engineering ••.••........•....•...••............... and research employment we offer a MINNEAPOLIS - HONEYWELL Cooperative Work Study program, a REGULATOR CO. Summer Student Work Study program and Graduate Fellowships. If you are Personnel Depe.,Minneapolis 8, Minn. interested in a career in a vital, varied GencIemen: Please send me your and diversified industry, send the cou- booklee, "Emphasis on Research", pon for more information. which cells more about engineering opportunieies ae Honeywell. Honeywell • Name Address _nn. non._nn nnnn_ nn_. noon __ n ._. •• • ~ ~tWv~ Cay • _ Zone Staten_n __ nnn __ • 00 Division. . A pp I'lance, Aeronautical, Commercial, Doelcam, H eating . C onero Is, H'Iel an d , Induserial, Marine, Micro Swiech, Ordnance, Transiseoe, Valve . ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 35 November 1955 ..~~~~~ r..r-.~ ..-. ..................•..........................••...•..••.. ..•••••.....•••••••................... ': . -. ~ n -- .. ~ "", ~ --r~-' ~- -,~. .~~.; ~ .. ~ : sc"-~ .. : _~""':~ . : : ~.. - ... ~ .,-~~ '- ~.. i • • '<{.:.::;:, .. '--.' : : '-'--: :• .... ..,...",,;...,..~-~-- •: F4D "SKYRAY"- only carner . pane I to :• A4D, "SKYHAWK"-smallest,b b .• lightest: RB-66 -jetspeedy, bomberversatile •: : ilold olTicial world's speed record: atom- om carner : ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• : :............•...............•.•••••. :...............................•..•.. : : ..... . . . :: :: ,...... ~~~ .. :: :: . : •• . :'iI ~'¥~ ' " --. ---,r~;L."'",,'?~ ...... ~: .. : : : •.,.. '\:l : : : : ~~ : : .• ~- :.. +': : ~.- : : : : • AJD, "SKYWARRIOR"-Iargest : C-124, "GLOIlEMASTER"- world's : DC-7 "SEVEN SEAS"- America's : • carrier-based bomber : brgest production transport : finest, fastest airliner : :.....................•.•..••.••.••.. : :.•..•••.•....•........•..•...••••..•. : .. .... .. .... .. Engineers: ... .. ... .. join this ... ... • • ... .. winDIng .. . . : "NIKE"- supersonic mi~s!le selected DSSB-2, "SKYROCKET"- first airplane : team! : to protect our citIes :.............•.••.•.••..••.•..••..•••••.•.•••.•.•.•.••.......•............• to fly twice the speed of sound : At DOUGLAS you'll be joining a company in which the three top Challenging opportunities flOW executive officers are engineers ... you'll be associated with men exist in the following fields: Mechanical design who have designed the key airplanes and missiles on the American Structural design Power plant Installation design scene today! Nothing increases an engineer's ability faster than Weapons delivery Aerodynamics working with other engineers of top calibre. Thermodynamics Electronic computers Systems analysis Aircraft air conditioning Not only is Douglas the largest manufacturer of commercial aircraft Hydraulics Stress analysis in the world, but it also produces outstanding aircraft and missiles Servo mechanisms Acoustics for every branch of the armed services! This diversity, besides Electronics Mechanical test giving you job security, provides unequalled opportunity Structural test Flight test for the engineer with an eye to the future. Process engineering Missiles Brochures and employment applications are available at your college placement office. For further information relative to employment opportunities at the Santa Monica, El Segundo and Long Beach, California divisions and the Tulsa, Oklahoma division, write today to: DOUGLAS AIRCRAFT COMPANY, INC. Firsf in Aviafion c. C. LaVene, Employment Manager ... Engineering General Office 3000 Ocean Park Blvd.... Santa Monica, California 36 Spartan Engineer I I - r .• t put - - --, I _:- --:j yourself in _.- ~'.~._.. l his place ... ~. A year ago he was knee-deep in textbooks, plugging for his B.S. Tonight he's on his rl way to Vancouver, or Miami, or Portland, Maine. Tomorrow he'll help an Alcoa cus- tomer make a faster ship, a stronger shovel, a lighter highway trailer. In Alcoa laboratories, plants and sales offices from coast-to-coast, ambitious young Sales Development Engineers are helping to make aluminum more useful, in more' ways, to more people. We need more men' just like them to help us meet ever-growing demands for Alcoa Aluminum ... Alcoa "know-how" . Maybe you are already thinking about trading your textbooks for a position in production supervision, industrial research or sales engineering. Tell us about it, give us an idea of your background in Chemical, Electrical, Mechanical, Metallurgical or Industrial Engineering. Good men go places fast with Alcoa, in their daily associations with leaders in the aluminum industry. 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 Representative. Or just send us an application, yourself. ALUMINUM COMPANY OF AMERICA, 1825 Alcoa Building, Pittsburgh 19, Penna. ALCOA ALUNlINUNl ALUMINUM COMPANY OF AMERICA 37 November 1955 Index To GUIDED Advertisers MISSILES 45 Allis-Chalmers 10 Allison Division, General Motors ,1" '. I \ 37 Aluminum Co. of America / \, I I \ ~ 40 Babcock & Wilcox I I , , ,, I I I ,, 19 Boeing : I \I 1 16 Cast Iron Pipe I : I I , , I I I I I ,, 43 Convair I I I 1 Detroit Edison : I \I I I \ 36 Douglas Aircraft I I ~ I I I I I I , I I 18 Dow Chemical Co. I I I I I I , I 41 E. 1. duPont de Nemours I , I I I I I I \ , Eastman Kodak I I I I I I I I I I 34 A. W. Faber-Castell I , t I I I 32 Federal Telecommunications , I General Electric I I I I ~ 4 General Motors I I I 14 Hercules Powder Co. I 38 Hughes Aircraft i 22 15 46 International Business Machines Lockheed Missile Systems Los Alamos Scientific Lab 44 Glenn L. Martin Co. SURFACE TO SURFACE SURFACE TO AIR AIR TO AIR AIR TO SURFACE 31 McGraw-Hill 35 Minneapolis-Honeywell 20 New Departure Nearly all guided missiles require specialized and highly 24,25 Pratt & Whitney Aircraft advanced electronic systems of miniature proportions. These systems may include servo-amplifiers, microwave receivers 33 RCA and transmitters and extremely efficient though compact 42 power supplies. The performance objectives for this equipment Sandia Corporations would be difficult in conventional engineering applications. 30 Standard Oil At Hughes, the achievement of such objectives in the very limited space and under stringent environmental conditions of 47 Timken Roller Bearing the modern guided missile provides an unusual challenge to 39 Torrington Needle Bearing the creative engineer. Positions are open for Engineers or Physicists with experi- 29 Union Carbide ence i.nsystem.s~nalysis, electronic guidance systems, infrared techrnques, mlrnature control servo and gyro systems micro- U. S. Steel wave and pulse circuitry, environmental testing, syste~s main- 27 tenanc~, telemetering, launChing systems and flight test Western Electric evaluation. 8 Westinghouse Electric 2 Worthington Corporation Scientific and Engineering Staff HUGHES RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LABORATORIES Culv~T City, Lo. Ang~l .. County, California "Inside front caver ':":'Inside back caver ':":":'Back caver 38 Spartan Engineer The Torrington Needle Bearing ••• many types for many needs In previous advertisements in this From the basic Needle Bearing ity in a minimum of space; they are series,the many advantages of the design, however, many modifica- light in weight, easy to install and Torrington Needle Bearing and the tions have been made. The result is simple to lubricate. proper procedure for its installation a complete line of Needle Bearings The following chart shows many and maintenance have been dis- suitable for specific applications. types of Torrington Needle Bear- cussed. The DC unit type bearing Although these bearings are all ings, gives their design features and was used in these discussions be- different, each offers the advan- general applications for which they causeit is the Needle Bearing with tages which have made the DC unit are designed. by far the greatest variety of appli- type so popular. They give the The new Torrington Needle Bear- cations throughout industry. highest possible radial load capac- ing catalog will be sent on request. TYPE SERIES I BEARINGS I DESIGN FEATURES I APPLICATIONS J • Thin, drawn shell, retammg full Wherever high load complement of small diameter rollers. capacity is needed DC Inner races are furnished when and spaae is at a shafts are not hardened. premium. --- For heavy-duty appli- G The outer race is made in one cations where split HEAVY channel-shaped piece, hardened and housings occur or DUTY ground to precision limits. Heavy where press fi t of inner race. bearing .into housing is not possible. 5 Heavy inner and outer races, with Aircraft applications NBC end washers securely fastened to involving oscillating inner race. motion only. I I NBE Aircraft applications AIR- (left) Similar to NBC except have self- where alignment is CRAFT aligning outer races. difficul t or deflection NBK is severe. (right) I NBF For use as rollers (loft) Similar to NBC except have heavy under heavy loads at outer races to carry rolling loads. low speeds. NBL (right) ~ Heavy solid-section~ outer race and Cam follower appli- rollers made from hlgh-qualtty be~r- cations where maxi- ing steel. Portion of. stud whIch ml1m load capacity CR CR serves as inner race IS hardene~. and shock resistance Threaded end left soft to aVOId are required. brittleness . ~ .. THE TORRINGTON COMPANY Torrington, Conn. South Bend 21, Ind. District Offices and Distributors in Principal Cities of United States and Canada TORRINGTOrt!EEOLE ~EARINGS' PEREDROLLER • CYLINDRICALROLLER • BALL • NEEDLEROLLERS NEEDLE 0 SPHERICALROLLER • TA 39 November 1955 if we are to continue to be able to produce to the Automation level required to improve our current standard of (Continued from page 23) living. Automation is that something. vVe need auto- But we can expect to raise it to the next higher level mation just to maintain the present rate of improve- of manufacturing. \Vith additional investments in ment in our country's standard of living. machinery and perhaps in Roor area, anyone of the manufacturing types can usually be raised one notch up thc scale. This should be the goal of industry. \\lith such an approach, economic automation may be achieved. Also, with this approach, when automation Maniac (Continued from page 7) is accomplished in any operation, the change will comc about naturally, slowly. In conclusion, I'd like to point out a few of the l3ut the most important question to the confused advantages of these computers. In the example which man on the street is: What will automation do for me? was just worked out there were two degrees of free- It will provide a higher standard of living, but there's dom. In many cases, problems arise which involve more to it than that. several more degrees. The defense of America, now as in the past, depends An example of this is in the design of an airplane. on our ability to produce. In time of a major defense Here there are the three moment freedoms of pitch, effort, our national production facilities are strained yaw, and roll; and the three displacement freedoms, to the last man-hour. Automation then assumes the longitudinal, vertical and transverse. role of a vital defense mechanism. We can ill afford Problems like these are the reason that analog com- to neglect the excellent opportunities it presents. puters have become so prominent. Because they oper- Another facet of America makes automation a neces- ate at quite high speeds, they are especially useful in sity. The working population and the total purchasing experimental work. The effect of changing a particular power of this nation are naturally closely allied. The parameter on a system can be found immediately by gross national product is increasing at the rate of 31f2 changing the appropriate dial setting. percent a year. However, the American working popu- Now that systems in all fields are becoming increas- lation is increasing at the rate of only 1.8 percent a ingly complex, analog computers should be of equal year. Something, somehow has to take up the slack interest to all engineers. ELECTRICITY ••• INDISPENSABLE INGREDIENT OF PROGRESS Progress would be forced to take faltering steps without energy in the tremendous quantities demanded by our growing population and the industries which serve it. Low.cost electrical energy-on tap at all times and for all purposes-has made possible tremendous strides for- ward in virtually every area of human endeavor. Unquestionably, the steady, rapid growth of the electric industry is a basic source of strength which has contributed to America's phenomenal progress. Today, that strength is being increased at a greater rate than ever before. In the past ten years the electric industry has more than doubled its capacity to produce. You may expect a further increase in generating capacity to about 300 million kilowatts in to fu~ther de~elop low-cost steam-electric power. B&W. just 15 more years-up some 200 per cent over 1954- too, IS spendmg large sums on intensive research and wi.th all the. atte?dan~ industrial growth and progress that engine~ring development to assure continuing improve- ~hls eXpa?SlOn unpltes. Few other industries have the me?t m ~te.am generating and fuel burning equipment. mtense dn:~ ~oward technological improvement that typi- ThiS un~tlltngness to stand pat, to be satisfied with past fies the uU!I~les-a drive that has made cheap and abun- a~compltshments, is America's greatest encouragement to dant... electnclty possible. In recognizing and sho uld enng. sull greater growth and progress. The Babcock & Wilcox t b elr responslbtlity f . by investing a large share of in come, Company, Boiler Division, 161 East 42nd Street, New year ~ ter year, .m development and expansion, America's York 17, N. Y. electnc companIes are helping to make more and better N.203 products for more and more people. This is progress. As a major supplier of steam generating equipment for almost a century, T~e Babcock & Wilcox Company bas BABCOCK constantly worked With the individual electric companies &WI£eOX- 40 Spartan Engineer Dave Johnson asks: What's involved in production work at DuPont? DAVID L. JOHNSON, JR., expects to receive his B.S.Ch.E. I--'--'-'~---"- from the University of Kansas in 1956. He is very active in campus affairs, president of Alpha Chi Sigma and a member of several honorary engineering fraternities. Dave is interested in I learning more about production work in the chemical industry. Jim Hamilton answers: Well,Dave, I've been doing production work at DuPont for about seven years now, and I'm still getting in- JAMES L. HAMIL TON is one of the many young volved in new things. That's what makes the work so engineers who have been employed by Du Pont since the end of the war. After service in the interesting-new and challenging problems arise all Navy, Jim got his B.S.Ch.E. from the University the time. ?f.West Virginia in June 1948, and immediately To generalize, though, the duties are largely admin- Jomed Du Pont's Repauno Plant at Gibbstown, istrative. That's why effectiveness in working with N. J. Today, he is Assistant Superintendent of the dimethyl terephthalate area at this plant. others is one of the prime requirements. Teamwork is important in research and development work, for sure. But it's even more important in production, because you work each day with people having widely differ- ent skills and backgrounds. A MORE COMPLETE ANSWER to Dave John- A production supervisor needs a goodunderstanding s?n's question about production work is gIVen in "The Du Pont Company and the of engineering and scientific principles, too. He has to College Graduate." This booklet describes in d~~.il the training, opportunities and responsi- have that to get the best results from complicated bilitIes of engineers who take up this kind of equipment-but he doesn't necessarily need the spe- work at Du Pont. Write for your free copy to E. 1. du Pont de Nemours & Co. (Inc.), 2521 cialized training that goes with research and develop- Nemours Building, Wilmington, Delaware. ment work. A real interest in engineering economics and administration is usually more helpful to him -@POtID,----' REG. U. s. PAT. Off: here than advanced technical training. The dollar sign's especially important in production work. It all adds up to this, Dave. If you enjoy teamwork, and have a flair for large-scale, technical equipment, BETTER THINGS FOR BETTER LIVING .•• THROUGH CHEMISTRY then you'll find production work mighty rewarding. WATCH "DU PONT CAVALCAO£ THEATER" ON TV NovembeT 1955 41 GET THIS BROCHURE l.••..........•......••.•.•..••.••• Secure the brochure from your Placement Director See the Sandia Corporation representative with the Bell Telephone System Recruiting Team Or Write Mr. F. E. Bell, Professional Employment Division, Sandia Corporation SAN Albuquerque, New Mexico 42 Spartan Engineer Determine NOIJ/ 70 Reach ~1I" tToal The choice of your career association means much to you in realizing your ambition. CONY AIR-FORT WORTH offers exceptionally attractive career opportunities worthy of investigation and consideration by every Engineering Graduate. As a division of General Dynamics Corporation, CONY AIR of Fort Worth occupies an important place in the long-range development of the Nation's military and commercial aviation. CONVAIR'S scope of activity offers interesting career opportunities for men with engineering talents. At CONY AIR-FORT WORTH you work in ideal, air-conditioned surroundings. A company-sponsored, in-plant program enables candidates to earn graduate degrees in Engineering. CONY AIR has paid vacations, excellent insurance and retirement programs. Advancement is entirely on merit. Fort Worth in the Great Southwest has an abundance of community life of interest to college graduates - Southwest Conference athletics, excellent musical and theatrical bookings, seven large lakes in nearby area, year- around climate conducive to outdoor living and recreation. Write now for information about CONYAm'S interest in Engineering Graduates. Address ••• H. A. BODLEY CONYAm Engineering Personnel Dept. Fort Worth, Texas CONVAIR A DIVISION OF GENERAL DYNAMICS CORPORATION FORT WORTH, TEXAS An enlarged reprint at tbe aboye tut-out silbouette, suitable for framing or pmnlng up. will be sent free to any engineering student on request. - November 1955 43 aerial attack Q: What has this to do with the aircraft industry -and you? A: It may have plenty to do with both. Here's how: Football teams are judged by scoring ability in top competition-teamwork, form, ability, strategy, class. So, too, are aircraft companies. Martin has created one of the finest engineering teams in the whole world of aviation. And under the new Martin concept of design and development by team operation, every engineering problem- from today's experimental contract to the frontier problems of the future-is the target for a coor- dinated "aerial attack" by a top-flight team of specialists. Result: Martin's team operation technique has opened up important opportunities for young creative engineers. Contact your placement officeror J. M. Hollyday, The Martin Company, Baltimore 3, Maryland. 44 Spartan Engineer Build your future on these 3 Gro",th Industries ••• MANUFACTURING - There are 51 Allis- Chalmers motors in this lineup of machine tools designed for high automobile production. T HERE IS much talk today about growth companies. Allis- Chalmers is one of them, supplying machinery for three CONSTRUCTION-Crushers like these from Allis-Chalmers process the enormous quantities of aggregate for the booming construction industry. basic industries-manufacturing, construction and power. Therein lies an opportunity for you, since Allis-Chalmers builds many types of equipment . . . . for a manufacturing industry that must increase output $3.5 billions by this time next year . . . . for the construction industry that is destined to spend many billions of dollars on highways in the next ten years . . . . for the electric power industry that will double its capacity by 1956. Here's what Allis-Chalmers offers to Young Engineers: ~ graduate training course that has been a model for industry smce 1904. You have access to many fields of engineering: Electric power, hydraulics, atomic energy, ore processing. There are many kinds of work to try: Design engineering, apP?cation, research, manufacturing, sales. Over 90 tr~g statIons are available with expert guidance when you want It. Your future is as big as your ability can make it. 01:, if you have decided your field of interest and are well qualified, opportunities exist for direct assignments on our POWER GENERATION-Allis-Chalmers Is engineering staff. helping meet growing power demand with equip- In any case-learn more about Allis-Chalmers. Ask the A-C ment such as this 150,000 kva transformer. ll1anagerin your territory, or write direct to Allis-Chalmers, Graduate Training Section, Milwaukee 1, Wisconsin. A"'684 AlliS. CHALMERS November 1955 • ....- • Plants and Sales OHices all over the World 45 Ille lulure resides IN MEN WITH NOW'S IMAOINATIONI THE TIME ''/> ••• tIte 1IGfioe'. motf ~ ittsfltvtlon for tIte .~, 01 ofomic wecrpom, is " ...... ted in illferviewirtg young graduate ......... aed scienfisfs-parliculorly those ST AFF .j( wanting to IIeIp in ". flevWopment : oIt1te afOmIc age. ~ ! . it GfIcIltIolt. to '!',~ ;..d .ver POSITIONS • xponct;"g CIC~1tt 10 IfUCIeor w8OpOlll ~ ". ~ Is IIO,W' piOltHrlng OPEN in ,It. IosclnafirtglWdJ 01 itvcIear pow.r ancI . -_ propul.io& . ON THE AI "- ~, stoll IrHNIIIHt,,1tove "- opportunity of associating with leocIe" in re.earch and experimenlofiOll ••• of worlcing with .ome of fhe Western World's fines' equipment and facilities ... of winning SPARTAN recognition ... of achieving oJvancement commensurate with ability. ENGINEER If you would lilee more information oI:Jout ,he Laboratory's career opportunities which are not civil service .•• ahovt "- cIeIigbtfuI climate and area in which Los Alamos is 1ocoteJ, send your inquiry to DEPARTMENT OF Make SCIENTIFIC PERSONNEL DiYmon 5 Your 10 Contribution 46 Spartan Engineer o A nother page for The steel that could take anything but a bath In steel mills and warehouses, a roller leveler strai~ht- ens wide sheets and heavy plates between powerful steel rolls. Stress on the rolls is tremendous. To make them strong and tough enough, one manufacturer used an alloy steel, 52100. Then, to make the rolls hard enough, they were heated to a high temperature and quenched in a liquid bath. But the severe quench was causing many of the rolls to warp. The roll maker took his problem to Timken Com- pany metallurgists, asked if he could make rolls from 52.100 ste~l that wouldn't dis~ort in quenching. They saId yes-If the steel were unIform from lot to lot in analysis and hardenability. TIMKEN@ steel q1lality control solved the distortion problem The roll maker switched to 52100 steel made by the Timken Company. He found the steel was uniform from lot to lot, heat to heat, year in and year out. Result: he was able to standardize heat-treating prac- o tice. Distortion was practically eliminated. The Timken Company constantly solves steel prob- lems like this one by furnishing steels to the most exacting specifications. Timken Company metallur- gists are specialists in fine alloy steels. And they use the most modern quality control methods to assure uniformity, time after time after time. Want to learn more about steel or iob opportunities? Some of the engineerin~ problems for more information about the ex- you'll face after graduatIon will in- cellent job opportunities at the volve steel applications. For h~lp Timken Company, send for a copy in learning more about steel, WrIte of "This is Timken". Address: The for your free copy of "The Story of Timken Roller Bearing Company, Timken Alloy Steel Quality." And Canton 6, Ohio. YEARS AHEAD-THROUGH EXPERIENCE AND RESEARCH Fine Alloy o ~~IEIEJ1 SPECIALISTS IN FINE ALLOY STEELS, GRAPHITIC TOOL STEELS AND SEAMLESS TUBING 47 November 1955 SIDETRACKED A passenger in an airplane was lar up in the sky One day a little mouse was hurrying across a wheat when the pilot began to laugh hysterically. field when suddenly it was scooped up by a big reap- "What's the joke," asked the passenger. ing machine; the poor little mouse was tossed from side to side, and was finally thrown back on the field. "I'm thinking what they'll say at the asylum when Another little mouse came upon his friend lying on they find out I escaped." the ground, bruised and beaten, and asked him what happened. A Texan, newly arrived in England, was playing "I've been reaped," came the reply. poker with a couple of the natives. He was pleasantly surprised upon picking up an early hand to see four aces in it. ME: "How did you puncture that tire?" "I'll wager a pound," said the Britisher on his right. EE: "Ran over a milk bottle." "Ah don't know how y'all measure your money," VIE: "Didn't you see it?" drawled the Texan, "but Ah reckon Ah'll have to raise you about a ton." EE: "Naw, the kid had it under his coat." A bricklayer working on top of a building acci- dentally dropped a brick squarely on the head of a During the holidays, two students from the same civil engineering student walking below. town met back in the old home burg. "You'd better be careful up there," said the student. "Say," said the first, "aren't yen working your way "You just made me bite my tongue." through college?" "Yes," replied the second, "I'm editing the Spartan, but don't tell my mother. She thinks I'm bootlegging The girl was through with her bath and was step- gin and peddling marajuana cigarettes." ping onto the scale to weigh herself. Her husband happened to return home at the time and entered through the back door. Seeing what his wife was doing as he passed the bathroom door, he exclaimed, A Chem. E. we know broke his arm fighting for a "Well, dear, how many pounds today?" we, man's honor. It seemed that she wanted to keep it. Without turning her head, she replied, "I'll take lilt\ pounds today, and don't you dare pinch me with those tongs. "Heard you were moving a piano, so I came over | to help." "Thanks, but I've already got it upstairs." Brainteaser "Alone?" ME. PROBLEM, TEST # 2. "Nope, hitched a cat to it and drug it up." "You mean your cat hauled that piano up two flights A crosseyed woodpecker with a cork leg and syn- thetic rubber bill required V2 hour to peck x/i of the of stairs? How could a cat pull a heavy piano?" distance through a cypress log 53 years old. Shingles "Used a whip!" cost 79 cents per hundred and weigh 8 pounds apiece. The log being pecked upon is 34 feet long and weighs 46 pounds per foot. Assuming that the coefficient of The doctor gave his 80 year old patient a very friction between the woodpecker's bill and the cypress curious look. log is 0.097 and there is negligible resistance to diffu- sion, how many units of vitamin Bi will the wood- "I've been practicing for two decades, and I'll be pecker require in pecking out enough shingles for a darned if I ever heard of such a complaint as yours. $75,000 barn with detachable chicken house? The What do you mean, your virility's too high?" woodpecker has an efficiency of 97 percent, and gets "It's all up in my head," replied the old man, sighing time and half for overtime. gently. FREE—Lifetime subscription to bearer of correct answer. Contact S.E. office—Union Building. Try reading the rest of the magazine-it's good, too! 48 Spartan Engineer