The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-08-04
BY ISRAEL KLEIN
Science Editcr. NEA Service


A KRON, O., Aug. 4-Means and
L n methods Of handling the U. S.
Akron, Of getting it into and out Of
its dock, of landing and releasing it
will be as unique as is the huge YES
sells construction.
For no longer will a crew Of
nearly 400 men be required to
walk" the airship in and out Of its
berth, TO hold it steady and keep it
intact against any vagaries of wind
and weather until the ship is Sc
curely in its dock or left to rise into
the air.
Mechanical equipment has been
devised to take the place of most of
the ground crew.
This equipment consists first Of a
mobile stub mooring mast, which
will move ships of far greater
weight even than the 120-ton Ak
ron, in and out of the dock; second,
two demanding cars on tracks, re-
placing a major part of the crew
needed to steady the ship at the
sides; third, a huge caster-like taxi
wheel" under the stern of the ship,
on which the Akron will be able to
swing easily about on ground.
n
THE mobile stub mast is a devel-
l. opment of United States naval
engineers at Ilakehurst. One has
been in use for some time at that
base, but its motive power is a de-
tached tractor, making it's own han
ding quite difficult.
The new type of stub mast, al
ready in use here, has its own mo-
tive power and can be Unanswered
much more easily.
This mast is a triangular pyra-
mid of steel, rs feet high and weigh
ing lis tons. Under each corner
of this pyramid is a caterpillar trac-
tor arrangement on which the mast
moves.
The forward tractor steers the
mast, while the two in the rear drive
it. The two driving tractors are
synchronized by means of shafts
from powerful motor in the rear.
Because Of the weight, no person
could steer it manually. The steer
ing is done, therefore, through a
separate motor.
Thus every operation is electrical
The electric power is furnished from
a huge 240-horse power, eight-cylin-
der engine, which drives a 250-volt
generator and a smaller exciting
generator" for the lights, pumps and
steering motor.
THROUGH these motors, also.
Il the winch which hauls in or
lets out the cable leading through
the top of the mast to the airship's
main cable, is driven.
The mooring mast is designed to
hold the ship by the nose even in
its dock, rather than resting it on
cradles" like surface ship in dry
dock.
Since constant check must be
kept Of the heaviness or lightness
Of the airship while in the dock, in
order to keep it as near trim" as
possible, measuring device will be
used to calculate the weight of the
ship on the steel spindle" which
holds it to the mast, another to
tell how light it is at the mast, and
still another might be attached to
the taxi wheel at the stern as a
further check.
This is one Of the most impor-
tant aspects in the handling of an
airship in dock, for the ship in
creases and decreases in weight and
buoyancy with changes in the
weather, with the passage of day
and night, and with the movements
of persons on and off the ship.
TINE ship is kept comparatively
4 heavy during the day, while
men are working on it, SO that when
they leave, it will not snap up on
its side-handling cables and cause
damage to its structure. At night,
when no work is done on it, the ship
is kept slightly light.
To keep so great a ship as the
Akron steady, while it is being ma
neuvered in and out of it's dock, two
side cars sitting on solid floor of
heavy four Inch armour plate and
weighing thirteen tons each have
been devised. These are actually
rolling anchors for the Akron.
Each has a capstan and a drum
by which the handling cables from
the side of the ship are drawn in
and the ship held steady. These
side cars are strong enough to hold
the Akron steady in a 4-mile-an-
hour cross-wind
When both side cars are detached,
the ship is resting on the mast at
the nose and on the huge taxi wheel
at the stern.
=
THIS taxi wheel actually is a
l. huge rubber-tired caster, So
III IL rr1N-