Steam Powered Catapults

Question 0

Through warm up

Answer 0

When steam is directs to a catapult for accumulator warm up,steam is available through a branch line and valves to the through warm up system.

Question 1

Wet accumulator warm up

Answer 1

Allows valves and piping between the steam plant and the catapult to initially slowly warm up to bring the metal temperatures to operating level. The steam is drawn from the ships boilers to the wet accumulator . From wet accumulator it is directed to the launch valve, and provides the energy to launch aircraft .

Question 2

Steam smothering system

Answer 2

Provides a means of extinguishing a fire In the catapult trough or in the launch valve compartment.

Question 3

Wet accumulator operation

Answer 3

Provides a volume of steam under pressure to the launch valve assembly.

Question 4

Steam valve

Answer 4

Admits and shuts off the flow of steam to the launching engine cylinders during catapult operations.

Question 5

Launch valve operation control assembly

Answer 5

Provided vertical movement needed for seating and unseating the steam valve plugs and rotational movement needed for opening and closing the steam valve

Question 6

Hydraulic cylinder assembly

Answer 6

Connected to operation control assembly.actuated by pressurized hydraulic fluid to open and close the steam valve assembly .

Question 7

Launch valve stroke timer electrical

Answer 7

Provides a means of measuring the launch valve performance by timing the stroke from the fully closed position to the point at which the cross head has moved 9 inches .

Question 8

Thrust exhaust unit

Answer 8

Anchors the aft end of the launching engine and connects the steam accumulator to the launch valve.

Question 9

Launch valve control valve ( Lvcv)

Answer 9

Directs pressurized hydraulic fluid to the launch valve hydraulic cylinder to open or close the launch valve .

Question 10

Butterfly exhaust valve

Answer 10

Provide the means to direct spent steam from the launching engine cylinders overboard after the launch valve closed at the completion if a launch.

Question 11

Keeper valve

Answer 11

Prevents the exhaust valve from opening while the launch valve is open. When the launch valve is open, the piston of the keeper valve shifts and blocks the flow of hydraulic fluid to the exhaust valve hydraulic actuator.

Question 12

Pressure breaking orifice elbow

Answer 12

Prevents buildup of steam pressure behind the launching engine pistons when the launch valve is open. This prevents a build up of pressure that could cause premature release of an aircraft from it’s holdblock bar restraint.

Question 13

Launch valve hydraulic lock valve.

Answer 13

Provided to secure the valve during non operational periods.

Question 14

Exhaust valve hydraulic lick valve panel

Answer 14

Provides a means of placing the exhaust valve in the open or closed position. Does not require a solenoid or lock positioner

Question 15

Launch valve hydraulic lock valve panel

Answer 15

Provides the means of placing the launch valve in the open or closed position. Requires a lock positioner and solenoid assembly

Question 16

Launching engine cylinders. Compressed spring used to hold the tension

Answer 16

Each catapult has two rows of launching engine cylinders.

Question 17

Cylinder cover

Answer 17

The cylinder cover acts as clamps holding the slotted portion of the cylinder in position to prevent radial spreading when steam pressure is applied

Question 18

Cylinder sealing strip

Answer 18

Prevents the loss of steam from the cylinders by sealing the space between the cylinder lip and the cylinder cover.

Question 19

Sealing strip tensioner

Answer 19

Applies constant tension to the sealing strip and holds the forward end of the strip in place.

Question 20

Sealing strip anchor and guide

Answer 20

Anchors the aft end of the sealing strip

Question 21

Shuttle assembly

Answer 21

Carries the forward motion of the pistons to the aircraft by means of a launch bar attached to the aircraft nose gear and connected to the nose gear launch shuttle spreader.

Question 22

Water break cylinders

Answer 22

The water brakes stop the forward motion of the shuttle and pistons at the end of the catapult power stroke.

The open end of each cylinder holds four rings choke ring, annulus ring, jet ring and the striker ring.

Question 23

Steam piston assembly

Answer 23

The pressurized steam in the launching engine cylinders drives the launching engine steam piston assemblies. They in turn drive the shuttle.

Component parts: steam piston, barrel, connector strip guide and tapered spear.