| Abstract | During the writer’s short period of work in the Engine Laboratory, the Section Head, Mr. Howard S. Fowler, kindly supplied a fan and motor system which could form the basis for laboratory studies of drag and control forces for air cushion vehicles. This device required a bearing modification and while waiting for that, the writer considered the force measurements required for the tests.
It would appear that the net thrust would be in the order of 2 to 3 lbs and the side thrust some good percentage of this. In addition, the location of the line of action of the side thrust would be of paramount interest in the establishment of useful results.
Accordingly, it was decided to design and construct a simple dynamometer. The device is required to measure net thrust, side force and, by adjusting the position of the model, the line of action of the side thrust.
Only a preliminary set of tests could be carried out before the writer’s work period at the laboratory came to an end. It is hoped, however, that the system can be easily used by others. |
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