Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-02

moisture is used as ballast water TO
counteract the loss of the gasoline
burned in the engines. obyiatlng the
necessity for valving the prectouz he
lium gas IS fuel II consumed. Theo-
reticsily, the Navy announced, It Is
possible to recover 1856 pounds OF water
for every 100 pounds Of gasoline
is more nearly equal.
Gas Load So Tons.
The normal gasoline supply, weigh
ing about $4,000 pounds, Is stored In
total of 10 aluminium tanks ranging
up to a maximum OF l20-galion size.
These tanks are located along the side
corridors connecting the engine rooms
and arranged so as to trim the airsh:p.
A complex system Of piping permits
fuel to be received at the bow or near
amidship and circulated at will to any
single tank or set of tanks. Fuel may
be shifted in flight from any tank to
any other tank Oil Is carried In eight
1,500-pound capacity tanks, one near
each engine room.
The water ballast is carried In ~
rubberized fabric storage bags, con-
nected by a system OF piping similar
to the gasoline system. Each bag also
has q quick discharge valve which may
The helium lifting gas Is contained
In IL cells. the largest Of which has
capacity OF $4,000 cubic feet, being "a
feet long and 1870 feet IN diameter. The
cells are Of gas-uroofed cotton fabric,
total Of $4,000 yards Of material
being required. The gas discharge
valves are each 80 inches in diameter
and are operated from the control car.
They can discharge gas at rate to
care for q rise of 1000 feet per minute.
Openings in the hull provide for equal
ization of internal pressure as the air.
ship rises or descends. Resilient wire
bulkheads separate the gas cells.
The outer cover of the Akron is COM
posed of cotton cloth, In panels "a feet
long and varying from II to "a feet in
width, with an eyelet lacing edge which
permits them to be laced into position
and changed when needed. The fabric
is given four coats Of acetate dope, the
last two coats containing aluminium
powder The weight Of the fabric is
only SIS ounces per square yard and
$4,000 yards are required.
Flying Electrical Plant.
The electrical plant and system are,
in miniature, reproduction OF those
found In the Nays surface veSsels.
They develop and distribute power for
radio, lighting, telephone, part OF the
cooking and for pumps, Wtnches, fans
and other equipment intermediate and
high frequency radio outfits are carried
and there is lightweight radio COM
pass.
The telephone switchboard. control
ling 10 telephones in various parts OF
the ship, Is In the control car. Three
conversations may be carried on stimuli
taneously over this system, or the oper-
q ~ NANnRaf fnFaA nhRnAR m
one line. He may sound all telephone
bells as an alarm, using Q code system.
The control car, beautifully stream
lined into the hull, is located beneath
the forward part of the ship and Is
divided into three parts. The forward
third Is the control station. with rudder
and elevator controls, gas and ballast
controls, instruments and the multitude
of other apparatus essential to func-
tioning Of the airship. The middle
third Is the navigating compartment
and the after part Is for access matches
and ladders into the hull.
An emergency control station Is To-
Gated in the lower I'm at the far end
of the ship. Above the control room
are the radio and astrological rooms,
quarters for the captain and part Of
the officers, and an ONCE space and
Photographic laboratory.
Living accommodations are concen-
trated amidships, on both sides of the
airplane hangar compartment. On the
port side iS>a crews toilet, wash room,
and seven rooms fitted with hunks and
lockers. On the starboard side are
the generator room, galley, crews mess.
chief petty ofncers' mess, officers' mess
and two sleeping rooms for officers.
In the galley there are q propane
gas stove and water heater, electrical
cookers for serving coffee and night
rations, storerooms and cold storage
space. The galley is flreproofed and
equipped to care for garbage until 1t
can be dumped overheard safely.