17.2 Flashcards
What materials can props be made from?
Wooden propellers. Composite propellers. Metal propellers. ◦ Aluminium Alloy. ◦ Steel
How is a wooden prop constructed?
Wooden propellers consist of several layers of wood bonded with a waterproof resin glue (aero-glue)
What type of wood is most commonly used and what other types of wood can be used?
Birch is the most commonly used wood, but mahogany, cherry, ash, beech, oak and walnut can also be used
How many layers of wood are typically used in wooden prop construction?
At least 5 layers of wood are laid down and when glued together they form a blank
What is a blank?
The blank is roughly shaped and allowed to rest for a week to allow the equal distribution of moisture through all the layers; after which it is known as a
white
What is a white?
The white is finished to the exact aerofoil and pitch dimensions required for the propellers desired performance characteristics. At the same time the
centre bore and bolt holes are drilled out
What is used to reinforce the tip of a wooden blade?
A cotton fabric sheathing is then applied to the outer 12 to 15 inches (30 to 38 cm) of the tip to reinforce the strength of the thin sections at the tip
How long is the cotton sheath that reinforces the thin sections of the tip?
12 to 15 inches (30 to 38 cm)
How is the cotton sheath protected against the effects of uv?
The fabric is doped to protect it from deterioration by the weather and the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays
What is rebated into the leading edge of a wooden prop?
A protective metal tipping strip is rebated into the leading edge of the propeller to prevent damage from small stones during ground operations
What metals are used for the rebated protective strip on a wooden prop?
The metal used is brass, stainless steel, Monel (nickel/copper alloy) or terneplate (steel coated with a lead/tin alloy)
What secures the rebated tipping to the blade?
The tipping is secured to the blade using countersink screws at the thick blade section and copper rivets near the tip, all are safetied in place with solder
What is used to release moisture from the prop?
Three small #60 (0.04 inch or 1.016 mm) size holes, 3/16-inch deep are drilled in each tip for the purpose of releasing any moisture and allowing the wood to
breathe. The propeller is then balanced and the finishing coats of varnish are applied
Instead of a cotton sheathing, what two methods of finishing is available?
Some propellers do not use doped cotton fabric, but are coated with plastic before the metal tipping is applied. This provides protection and added strength.
Some types of propeller have a final coating of polyurethane paint which
provides mechanical and UV ray protection
What is the difference when constructing a variable pitch prop compared to a fixed pitch prop?
Wood blades for controllable pitch propellers are constructed in a similar manner to fixed pitch propellers except that the blade shank is secured into metal sleeve using lag screws. ( Lag screw or coach bolt - a heavy duty wood screw with a square or hexagonal head that is driven in with a wrench;
designed for metal to timber connections)
Composite blades are typically …?
Lighter and stronger than metal blades
What is used to protect the leading edge of a composite blade?
Nickel or stainless steel erosion shields are bonded to the leading edges to protect from impact damage
What can be used to inhibit blade tip erosion on a composite blade?
Some designs incorporate a stainless steel
wire mesh in the laminations to inhibit blade tip erosion
How is lighting strike protection added to a composite blade?
metal foil mesh may also be incorporated on the surface of the blade to limit lightning strike damage
What are the two methods of composite blade heating?
Most composite blades use an external boot for de-icing but some blades have been introduced with internal heating elements