| Beatrice Shilling’s RAE Restrictor | |
|---|---|
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Origin |
Beatrice Shilling |
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Type |
Fuel Flow Restrictor |
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Effects |
Induces momentary zero-gravity on fuel systems through bubbling |
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Downsides |
Increased pressure variances can cause stalling from clogged fuel lines |
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Activation |
Attachment to machinery |
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Section |
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| [Source] | |
Origin[]
Beatrice Shilling (8 March 1909 – 18 November 1990) was an English aeronautical engineer, motorcycle racer and sports car racer. In 1949, Shilling was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. During the Second World War Shilling designed the RAE Restrictor (which became known as Miss Shilling's orifice), a simple device that overcame the problem of the Rolls-Royce Merlin airplane engines losing power during negative-g maneuvers.
Early versions of the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine came equipped with dual-choke updraught SU carburetor. When an airplane equipped with such an engine performed a negative G force man oeuvre (pitching the nose hard down), fuel was forced up to the top of the carburetor’s float chamber rather than down into the engine, leading to loss of power. If the negative G continued, fuel collecting in the float chamber would force the float to the floor of the chamber. Since this float controlled the needle valve that regulated fuel intake, the carburetor would flood and drown the supercharger with an over-rich mixture. The consequent rich mixture cut-out would shut down the engine completely
Originally a brass thimble with a hole in the middle and later further simplified to a flat washer of very precise dimensions. This could be welded into the engine's fuel line without taking the aircraft out of service and limited maximum fuel flow to prevent flooding.
After the war, Shilling also worked on the Blue Streak missile, researched the effect of a wet runway upon braking, and helped design and build a bobsled for the Royal Air Force's Olympic team. As a motorcycle racer Shilling was one of only three women to receive the British Motorcycle Racing Club Gold Star for lapping the Brooklands circuit at over 100 miles per hour (160 km/h) on a motorcycle. In sports car racing, she scored several podium finishes at the Goodwood Circuit Members' Meetings.
Effects[]
Causes the momentary weightlessness of zero-gravity air maneuvers for however long the operator wants, usually until they power off the machinery. Works on industrial equipment fine but outpaces performance rapidly with vehicles. Devices will gain greater performance during use to process more material, move at a faster rate or waste less energy.
The loss of gravity on the fueling system causes a pressure differential which increases bubbling within any liquid or gas fuel. The resulting return to standard pressure will rupture the bubbles in a cavitation state, creating shockwaves that mangles apart the machine. Each usage increases the likelihood of mechanical failure from internal damage by causing total shutdown.