Steam Powered Catapults Flashcards
Through warm up
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.
Wet accumulator warm up
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 .
Steam smothering system
Provides a means of extinguishing a fire In the catapult trough or in the launch valve compartment.
Wet accumulator operation
Provides a volume of steam under pressure to the launch valve assembly.
Steam valve
Admits and shuts off the flow of steam to the launching engine cylinders during catapult operations.
Launch valve operation control assembly
Provided vertical movement needed for seating and unseating the steam valve plugs and rotational movement needed for opening and closing the steam valve
Hydraulic cylinder assembly
Connected to operation control assembly.actuated by pressurized hydraulic fluid to open and close the steam valve assembly .
Launch valve stroke timer electrical
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 .
Thrust exhaust unit
Anchors the aft end of the launching engine and connects the steam accumulator to the launch valve.
Launch valve control valve ( Lvcv)
Directs pressurized hydraulic fluid to the launch valve hydraulic cylinder to open or close the launch valve .
Butterfly exhaust valve
Provide the means to direct spent steam from the launching engine cylinders overboard after the launch valve closed at the completion if a launch.
Keeper valve
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.
Pressure breaking orifice elbow
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.
Launch valve hydraulic lock valve.
Provided to secure the valve during non operational periods.
Exhaust valve hydraulic lick valve panel
Provides a means of placing the exhaust valve in the open or closed position. Does not require a solenoid or lock positioner
Launch valve hydraulic lock valve panel
Provides the means of placing the launch valve in the open or closed position. Requires a lock positioner and solenoid assembly
Launching engine cylinders. Compressed spring used to hold the tension
Each catapult has two rows of launching engine cylinders.
Cylinder cover
The cylinder cover acts as clamps holding the slotted portion of the cylinder in position to prevent radial spreading when steam pressure is applied
Cylinder sealing strip
Prevents the loss of steam from the cylinders by sealing the space between the cylinder lip and the cylinder cover.
Sealing strip tensioner
Applies constant tension to the sealing strip and holds the forward end of the strip in place.
Sealing strip anchor and guide
Anchors the aft end of the sealing strip
Shuttle assembly
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.
Water break cylinders
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.
Steam piston assembly
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.
