Hi! Andrew, I guess from the wording on your messages thatyou are looking
for a way to evaluate the take off weight at any given time ? However , not
wishing to get too involved , I just wish to make an observation about your
comment about the bungee - -- I think you will find that the bungee is only
used to assist the mechanism to retract to the stowed position , it is not
used as a form of suspension.
When the main wheel is in landing position it is 'over centre ' and the
suspension is entirely provided by the rubber block and shock absorber
pistons. All this is IMHO - there I knew I would find an oportunity to use
it !!!!!
Regards
Bob Harrison Builder 337 reg. no G-PTAG
e-mail:- ptag.dev@ukonline.co.uk
-----Original Message-----
From: andrew.robinson@barco.com [SMTP:andrew.robinson@barco.com]
Sent: 06 January 1999 14:24
Subject: RE: Instant Weight and Balance
> So all we need is one sensor on the mainwheel. Again the Europa
> provides us
> with an almost made-to-measure (sic) solution, the damper block. A
> measurement of the change in spacing of the plates with load gives a
> proportional (or at least calibrateable) reading of the load change.
>
> My question to the Europa borg collective is therefore what is the
> most cost
> effective way rugged way of measuring a distance of around half an
> inch (with
> over-run to allow us our bounces) ? A linear pot. or capacitor comes
> to mind
> (whether rotational or physically linear) but I have a feeling there
> must be
> out there somewhere some neat devices with digital output which would
> save us
> the trouble of re-inventing strain gauges and their circuitry.
>
>
The mono gear is sprung by the bungee cords, which should have a
known spring constant. So couldn't you just calibrate a scale on
the side of the monowheel? You know the weight of the pilot, so
just before getting in, look underneath the airplane at the
scale.
This wouldn't give an in-cockpit solution, but (if it works)
would
be rugged, cheap, and simple (3 of my biggest design
drivers...).
I could be wrong on this. If so, let me know.
Andrew
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