VOL. 204 No. 5307 OCTOBER 11, 1957 CONTENTS

LEADING ARTICLES-- Iron and Steel Institute. No. 11. CoNTINENTAL SECTION- The First Artificial Satellite ...... 513 (lllus.) ...... 523 CERN 600 MeV Synchro - Cyclotron Agricultural (and Other) Machinery Lloyd's Register artd the Marine (lllus.) ...... 538 Exhibitions ...... 514 Engineer ...... 53 2 Dutch Motor Road. (Ill us.)...... 540 Training of Engineers for the Steel Meaford " B " Power Station. (lllus.) 533 Opposed-Piston Compressor. (lllus.) ... 541 Industry ...... 514 Opening of Two Sewage Purification AMERICAN SECTION- Works ...... 515 Gas Turbine Ship " John Sergeant." ARTICLES Plastics-Coated Steel Sheet ...... 534 (Illus.) ...... 542 Cauldon Cement Works. (Illus.)...... 529 Computing Consultancy Service ...... 532 Present Status of Steam...... 51 5 LITERATURE ...... 528 Expanded Polystyrene ...... 534 Radio Valve Industry ...... 516 Fatigue Tests on Glass-Fibre-Rein- Self-Induced-Spray Cleaner for Gases. NEWS AND NOTES- forced Plastics. (lllus.)...... 522 (Illus.) ...... 536 British Patent Specifications. (Illu s.) ... 547 Catalogues and Brochures ...... 548 Gas Council's Annual Report ...... 532 Theory of Shaft Whirling. No. I. (Illus.) ...... 518 Forthcoming Engagements ...... 548 Improvement of the Grand Union Industrial and Labour Notes...... 537 Canal ...... 532 Two-Speed Torque Converter Trans­ Launches and Trial Trips ...... 548 Ince Power Station...... 515 mission. (Illus.) ...... 535 Personal and Business ...... 546 Institution of Production Engineers . . . 515 100 Years Ago...... 515 Technical Reports ...... 528

to go into action. It is even suggested that the satellite has been established at too THE FIRST ARTIFICIAL SATELLITE high a level in that resistance to its move­ • ment from a residual atmosphere at its height will be so slight that it may be many There is no question about it ! The By contrast the much heavier Russian years before it descends to lower altitudes Russians have sprung a very exciting satellite (supposing it to be confirmed that and provides in that way information surprise on the West. It had long been it does weigh 184lb) has been established about the distribution of atmospheric known that they were preparing to in a more or less polar orbit ( 65 deg. to pressure around the earth. Alternative establish at least one earth satellite as part the equatorial plane), lacking much of that estimates that the useful life will not exceed of their contribution to the Geophysical assistance. If reports about it are true, a few weeks or days illustrate the lack of Year ; and it had been reported that this there is, in fact, much less that is marginal precise knowledge about atmospheric satellite would be established on a polar about the Russian achievement. There density at great heights and some present orbit. But because the Americans, was more power to spare than the uncertainty about the mean height and believed to be at least as well advanced in Americans are planning to provide. eccentricity of the orbit. The present rocket technology, did not plan to estab­ To engineers, capable of appreciating perihelion is stated to be in the Northern lish a satellite before next year, the the complexity of the technical problems hemisphere. But this sense of disappoint­ announcement late last Friday from that have been solved, all else pales into ment is surely unjustified. If the Russians Moscow that a Russian satellite was insignificance against the achievement of can establish a satellite weighing 184 1b in already circling the earth took everyone setting up the satellite at all. Further a polar orbit some 500 miles above the by surprise. Even more surprising are information about the satellite itself, earth it is obviously practicable for them certain facts about the satellite. It is reported to be 23in in diameter, and about to establish a more fully instrumented reported to weigh about 184 lb, as com­ the rocket, presumably three-stage, which satellite in any preferred orbit up to (and pared with a mere 20 lb for the projected established it in its orbit will be eagerly possibly beyond) that height. There is no American satellite (though some commen­ awaited. There are already reports that doubt that the Russians plan to do so. tators seem suspicious that a decimal point the burnt-out last stage rocket has been It is to be hoped, however, that the world has been misplaced !) ; and it has been detected orbiting around the earth. The will be informed, next time, well before­ established in an orbit stated to be more discarded nose cone of the rocket should hand so that scientific stations the world than 500 miles above the surface of the also be orbiting about the earth. But over will be prepared. This will be all earth as compared with the American aim for scientists there are elements of dis­ the more necessary should the useful life to reach a mean height of about 300 miles. appointment. The scientific equipment of satellites established in orbits at 300 Congratulations are unquestionably due carried by the satellite is rudimentary. to 500 miles above the earth's surface to Russian scientists and engineers. A It consists apparently solely of two radio prove to be short. As we go to press, major scientific and engineering feat has transmitters whose frequencies are 20 and there are already unconfirmed reports that been performed. Its magnitude can be 40 megacycles, as compared with the 108 the satellite is losing height. It is under­ well appreciated when it is realised that megacycles which had been agreed upon standable that Russian scientists and the American project is marginal ; that by both Americans and Russians in con­ engineers should have wished to be sure of is, the three-stage rocket which will lift nection with the International Geophysica] the success of the first experiment before and accelerate a " payload " of only 20 lb Year. There are contradictory reports making an announcement about it. The into an orbit 300 miles above the earth's as to whether the satellite is capable of rulers of the U.S.S.R. relish a spectacular surface will have only just sufficient power transmitting information about its own failure even less than Western Govern­ to establish an orbit from which under the or the surrounding temperature or, indeed, ments ! But secrecy about a second firing drag of residual atmospheric pressure the any scientific infonnation at all. Further­ would seriously diminish the scientific satellite would not very rapidly descend. more, the satellite has been established in value of the experiment. Even so, in order to reach the required its orbit so many months earlier than any­ It has now been made obvious that velocity the three-stage rocket will project one in the West had expected that much Russian engineers are ahead of their the satellite in an easterly direction so that equipment on the ground (for example, American counterparts in the design of the rotational surface speed of the earth the J odrell Bank station to Professor rockets. There is, indeed, menacing will contribute to the final speed attained. Lovell's deep disappointment) is not ready evidence in the setting up of the satellite 514 THE ENGINEER Oct. 11 , 1957

that the Russian claim to have developed about £1,000,000 worth of agricultural Among the reasons advanced in support a successful inter-continental ballistic machinery made in this country was sold of the proposal was the necessity to pro!. missile is true. It may well be, indeed, that overseas ; now, the export value exceeds vide adequate accommodation and means elements of international politics have £66,000,000 a year. It is not surprising, of entertainment for overseas visitors. entered into the timing of the firing of this therefore, that at the Royal Show and at The idea of a permanent exhibition site first satellite rocket. The paucity of the Srnithfield Show the machinery stands in this country is not a new one. Other equipment within the satellite lends sup­ normally occupy about two-thirds of the sections of the engineering industry have port to that idea. For surely if suitably exhibition space. The manufacturers are also often thought about it. But the pro­ designed ins.truments for making a variety concerned because they feel by no m~ans posals for a European Common Market of scientific measurements had been avail­ confident that the various sites for the and for an eventual European Free Trade able the opportunity would have been Royal Show and the customarily crowded Area surely make it more important than taken to install them. There is then at conditions of the Smithfield Show really ever that some new consideration should least a suggestion that suitable instru­ afford the best facilities for an effective now be given to the matter. Engineers I ments have not yet been fully developed and commercially useful display of such who visit exhibitions abroad are among in Russia. Alternatively, of course, the those who realise that much might be • • Russians may be planning to establish a gained if this country had a site and build­ number of satellites each instrumentally ings which could conveniently accom­ Wle (fnginter • equipped to serve only one or no more • modate displays of the heaviest machinery than very few scientific purposes. It may 100 !ltats ~go and plant. Perhaps the Agricultural be, however, that in the field of instru­ (OCTOBER 9, 1857) Engineers Association has touched off mentation the Americans are as well ahead again a suggestion that will readily com­ " HIG H OR Low PRESSURE STEAM , of the Russians as the Russians seem to be •· A discussion recently took place at mand the support of other parts of the ahead of the Americans in rocket tech­ Peel's Arms Inn, Manchester, between Mr. engineering industry. The question that Robert Davies, of Blackburn, .and Mr. nology. If so, how unfortunate it is Edward Ingham, of Oldham, members of inevitably arises first, of course, is " Where that it is almost impossible to conceive the Operative Engineers' Association of could a permanent exhibition site be Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Cheshire, under of American instruments being installed whose auspices the meeting was called by established ? " That question has been in a Russian-fired satellite ! For surely printed circular. The room was crowded. asked time and again for more than a The subject of discussion was ' Whether in advancing into outer space the nations wHI 35 lb pressure per square inch or century ! We would not presume to should act in unity rather than in a spirit 1,000 lb pressure work the cheaper ? ' ... postulate a final answer, confident though ''Mr. Edward Tngham made a few pre­ of hostile competition. liminary observations as to how this dis­ we are that this country cou1d provide cussion had originated, and what were its within its borders an eminently suit­ AGRICULTURAL (AND OTHER) objects ; and also as to what were the character and tendencies of the Engineers' able " shop window " for its excellent MACHINERY EXHIBITIONS Association generally. He then said that engineering manufactures. Whatever even his short experience with high pressure The spectacular progress of mechanis~d steam convinced him that there was no faults it may have, London is still the farming in the post-war years has created comparison, in point of economy, between greatest city in the world and it is the high and low pressure steam. He then read a number of problems for that large section a tabulated statement of the coals consumed heart of the British Commonwealth. A of the engineering industry represented by at the firm he superintended for the last well-planned and resthetically pleasing three or four years, from which it appears tractor and agricultural machinery manu­ that, by raising their pressure only from exhibition site within it is not an impos­ facturers. One of these problems relates 26 lb to 50 lb, whilst, in 1854, with 132 sibility. Would it really be disadvant­ indicated horses' power, they consumed to exhibitions of farming machinery. It is 1500 tons of coal ; in 1856, with 200 indi­ ageous if, say, the east side of Hyde Park a matter which causes considerable con­ cated horses' power, they only consumed was transformed to provide such a site ? I 200 tons .... cern, for manufacturers are understand­ .. Mr. Davies said he was only a plain ably anxious to have the best possible working man, searching after truth on this TRAINING ENGINEERS FOR THE STEEL important subject, and if it could be satis­ INDUSTRY facilities for displaying and demonstrating factorily shown to him that he was in error their products to potential home and in the views he entertained, he should go As initially conceived, courses at col­ back to Black burn with feelings of pleasure. overseas purchasers. There are at present He was not alone in his views. In Mr. leges of advanced technology for the new in this country two exhibitions annually, Longridge·s reports he found that the most Diploma in Technology were to be of economical engines were not the compound, the greater portion of which is regularly using high steam. but the single cylinder the same standard as those for a degree, taken up by tractors and agricultural engines, using from 20 lb to 2 lb ; and but of differing content. Since then, Mr. Fairbairn himself, the other day, stated machinery and equipment of all kinds. that about 30 I b per square inch was the however, there has been a tendency in They are the Royal Show, in July, which most economical pressure. Mr. Davies some quarters to suggest that in practical then traced the history of steam from the is an itinerant event, and the Smithfield time of Hero of Alexandria, 130 years fact the difference in content will turn out Show, in December, which is held at Earls before the Christian Era, down to 1781 and to be small. In our view it will be unfor­ 1804, when Horn blower and Woolf intro­ Court, in London. Both these shows are duced the first compound or double tunate if there is no significant difference, now in their second century, both con­ cylinder engines ;, thence to 1811, when a as in those circumstances either the Dip. number of the proprietors of Cornish tinue to fulfil a useful function, but both engines established a system of inspection Tech. will never acquire a prestige as high retain much of the atmosphere of those to report the duty of their engines. . . . A as that attached to a degree, or, if it does, times when horses, cattle and other Jive­ miscellaneous discussion then ensued." there will be introduced an undesirable stock had a far more prominent place in sense of corn petition between universities British farming than they do now relative a large quantity of engineering products. awarding the degree and advanced tech­ to machinery. Agricultural machinery makers have bee~ nological colleges awarding the Dip. Tech. Stock raising is still an important con­ talking about this matter for many months. A university degree should be distinctive. stituent of this country's agriculture. But Recently, the subject was given fresh No other award should compete with it. it is not irrational to claim that, nowadays, impetus, for it was the principal theme of Our fears upon this point have recently next to the land itself, the farmer's the discussions at the annual conference been son1ewhat relieved by the setting up machinery and implements are of the of the Agricultural Engineers Association. at Loughborough College of a course higher importance. Furthermore, agri- At that conference the need was stressed which does turn out to be significantly • cultural machinery produced by British for the establishment of a permanent show different in content from those leading to manufacturers in all its great diversity is ground in the vicinity of London, a ground degrees and for which, very fittingly in one of this country's increasingly valuable which could be used also for exbjbitions our view, recognition for the award of the exports. Prior to the war, not more than other than those of agricultural machinery. Dip. Tech. is being sought. It is a sand- • Oct. 18, 1957 THE ENG INEER 559 •

wi1l therefore rise, the average radius of the orbit will decrease, and the time per circuit will decline from the initial value of ninety-six minutes. The arth's First Artificial atellite way in which these changes will occur is one of the important results to emerge from observation The first artificial satellite to be launched from the Earth rose to its orbit on October of the satellite, as it will provide inforrnation 4 1957. A sphere nearly 2ft in diameter and weighing just over 180 lb with its about atmospheric densities at its level- it is equipment on b~a.rd, the satellite w~s carried by a rocket that is reported to have because the properties of the extremely thin "flattened out znto the chosen orbzt at a speed of almost miles per second. The atmosphere at these high levels are unknown 5 that the life of the device cannot be predicted launching represents the most spectacular contribution yet made to the International accurately. In announcing the launch, the Geophysical Year. Russian news agency, Tass stated that calcula­ • tions indicated that the vehicle would burn out when it reached the denser layers of the atmo­ ERY little information on the Russian Nautical Almanac Office, is reported to have sphere at an altitude of " some dozens of kilo­ Vartificial satellite has so far been released calculated the orbit last week from the rather metres." and hardly anything is yet known of the rocket sparse data that was at that time available to him, Later (and larger) satellites, a number of which that lifted the device into !~s orbit_ o~ ~ctober 4. and the results were sufficiently accurate for is promised for the International Geophysical The satellite itself, dubbed Sputruk, IS reported optical study to be based on them by the Royal Year, are to have a variety of instrumentation to be a sphere 58cm in _diameter. Made ?f Observatory. Certain of the published Russian covering a wider field of physical measurements. alurrllnium alloy, the casm~ hous~ two radto figures have been substantially confirmed by this Great attention will be paid (according to one transmitters and other equtpment tn an at~o­ work. According to the account in Pravda, on Russian authority§) to recording solar and stellar sphere of nitrogen gas, the whole assembly weigh­ October 9, the plane of the orbit is inclined at an spectra, &c., and measuring the Earth's magnetic ing 83 · 6 kg. Four metal antennre are attached angle of 65 deg. to the equatorial plane, and the field. Satellites at the present stage of develop­ to the casing : 2 · 4m to 2 · 9m long, these rods trajectoryt passes over areas approximately ment will not return to the Earth but engineers folded back (as shown in our illustration) when between the north and south polar circles. The and scientists are said now to be hard at work the sphere was on its outward journey. Once plane of the orbit remains unchanged in orienta­ on the problem of organising a safe journey established on its orbit, the satellite opened out tion relative to the fixed stars, and as the Earth home. these antennre on their swivel joints. While their rotates on its own axis, the satellite's crossing­ power supply lasts, the transmitters send con­ over point shifts about 24 deg. along each line tinuously (at frequencies of 20 · 005 Mc/s and 40 ·002 Mc/s) signals lasting an average of Festiniog Railway O· 3 seconds ; the signal on one frequency is A REPORT received from the Festiniog Railway emitted during the pause on the other frequency. Company states that at the close of the summer The power is believed to be supplied by batteries, season the number of passenger journeys not from solar energy. Temperature within the originating on the railway exceeded 54,000, an casing is said to be controlled to some extent by increase of more than 15,000 on the previous forced circulation of the nitrogen, so regulating year, whilst traffic receipts at £3000 showed an the thermal " resistance '' between the casing and increase of some 70 per cent. Further progress the equipment carried. Sharp variations in was made in clearing the line as far as Tan-y­ temperature tend to arise, of course, because of Bwlch, and, although a test train has reached successive passages through sunlight and the this point, much track renewal will be needed Earth's shadow. before a regular passenger service is introduced. The satellite is visible from the earth's surface It is hoped, however, with the approval of the only when it is illuminated by the sun, while the inspecting officer of the Ministry of Transport, to earth's surface is in darkness. This is because, run regular trains to Tan-y-Bwlch next year. relative to the Earth's radius of 4000 miles, the For the first time since 1939 it is proposed to satellite is not high up and visibility only persists run a winter train service on Saturdays only for a short period just after sunset and before between Penrhyndeudraeth and Portmadoc. dawn. The situation is comparable with the On the motive power side it is reported that observation of a high mountain, whose snows the double engine "Taliesin" entered service for a short while will be illuminated by the setting and ran over 1000 miles during 1937, and the sun, when the low ground from which it is 0-4-0 saddle-tank engine " Prince" steamed over observed is already in darkness. 4000 miles. The performance of " Prince," It has been stated in Pravda that the signals which is capable of hauling five bogie carriages, from the satellite were varied in frequency and has been improved by the fitting of straight links timing by the instruments on board according to to the valve gear. It is proposed to rebuild a predetermined code,* so that readings could further locomotives as and when funds permit, be recorded at base for subsequent analysis. and the company has acquired an 0-6-0 saddle­ One type of instrument that may be carried­ tank locomotive from the Harrogate gasworks, going by accounts of Russian exploratory work This, the first official picture of the Russian artifiriaJ which is being modified to suit it to the I ft 11 i in with high-altitude rockets-is a sensor using satellite, shows the device supported in a stand before gauge of the Festiniog Railway. This locomotive piezo-electric plates to detect the number and attachment to the carrier rocket will probably prove a valuable stopgap in view energy of incident particles. Data on damping of the likely extension of the line to Tan-y­ may be obtained from measurement of signal of longitude at each appearance over it. t The Bwlch, and until the second Fairlie " Merddin level and angles of refraction, and information on angle of the trajectory to the Equator is not the Emrys " is overhauled. the ionised layers in the upper atmosphere may same as the angle of the orbital plane, since the In connection with the signalling, two miniature also emerge. former is affected by the Earth's rotation. When electric staff instruments have been reconditioned On the actual launching process the same crossing the Equator to the Northern Hemisphere, and will be used next year on the Portmadoc­ source has little to say. According to the the trajectory cuts at an angle of 71 · 5 deg. in a Boston Lodge-Minfford section. Permanent a~unt, the sphere was placed in the nose of a north-easterly direction, gradually turning east wiring circuits have been reconstructed as far as earner rocket and shielded by a protective cone. thereafter until it turns south at latitude 65 deg. N. Penrhyndeudraeth and a temporary circuit will So.on after firing, a programming device gradually and recrosses the Equator at an angle of 59 deg. be installed from this station to Tan-y-Bwlch in shifted the course of ascent from the vertical. in a south-easterly direction. The trajectory 1958. u At the end of the flight decided on," says the reaches latitude 65 deg. S. before veering north The society now has a membership of nearly Pr~-;da article, " the rocket had reached an agatn.• 1000 and its annual general meeting will take altitude of several hundred kilometres and moved The shape of the orbit is expected to change place at Portmadoc on April 26, 1958. For this parallel to the Earth's surface with a speed of with time, and the satellite is already reported to meeting a special train will be run from Padding­ some 8000m per second. After the engines be slowly descending. The apogee, initially at ton, calling at Birmingham, Wolverhampton and stopped the protective cone was jettisoned and about 1OOOkm in the Southern Hemisphere, is Shrewsbury, and it is hoped that members and the satellite detached itself from the rocket and expected to fall more quickly than the perigee, their friends will have the opportunity of travelling began to move independently." Probably a and the orbit will thus approach more nearly to on the Festiniog line as far as Tan-y-Bwlch by a three-stage rocket was used in much the same the form of a circle. More kinetic energy is train hauled by the double engine .. Taliesin. '' manner as the Americans plan to use one. The gained in falling than is lost to atmospheric drag, process of launching a satellite with such a so that the velocity gradually increases. The rocket was fully described in our issue of August horizontal speed of about 29,000km per hour RADIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS FROM STOCK .-We learn 17, 1956. Another Pravda report indicates that with which the jsatellite first settled into its orbit that the following radioactive compounds are now launch, guidance and control of the rocket were available from stock at Tracerlab, Inc., Technical accurate within a few dozen metres per second t That is, the path relative to the Earth's surface which, of Division, 1601 , Trapelo Road, Waltham 54, Massa­ course, is not stationary. chusetts, U.S.A. : 2 · 4 dichlorophenoxy acetic acid, of the calculated velocity, and within 1 deg. of t This explains the a{>parent change _in th~ height of the ring labelled, of specific activity 0 · 20 millicuries per the calculated direction of travel. satellite at particular pomts of observation, srnce, as already millimole ; !-naphthalene acetic acid {3 - C14, mentioned the orbit is an ellipse with the Earth's centre at one 1 The orbit is an ellipse with one focus at the focus. Depending on the position. of perigee, th~ height observed 1·25 me/mM ; !-naphthalene acetamide f3 - C •, centre of the Earth. Dr. D . H. Sadler, of H. M. at stations in this country will be dtfferent accordmg as. to whether 1·25 me/mM: neopentyl glvcoi- C14, 0·20 me /mM . the satellite is northbound or sout~boun~ . If thc:re 1s any pre­ bo:,::;:e authonbes have disputed tbe existence of a code, cession of the orbit the observed he1gbt will be subJect to another § E. Fyodorov, corresponding member of the U.S.S.R. variation. Acadc.lll)' fSciences.