On Wed, 6 Jan 1999 Gramin@aol.com wrote:
> Weight and balance is probably one of the most neglected topics outside the
> qualifying exams. One rarely sees scales lying around at club airfields or
> pilots asking for weights of passengers and their baggage. Experience tends
> to be relied upon to avoid awkward parts of the envelope. How nice it would
> be if there was an instrument read-out or display on the panel.
SNIP
> 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.
SNIP
> 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.
Oone variable will be the effect of temperature on the rubber block -
another consequence of using rubber rather than proper coil springs - if
you elminate the rubber stuff a simple potentiometer linked to a
voltmeter could perhaps be linked to the moments equations for w & b
measurement. Talking the empty weight of the aircraft for a starting point.
Reminds me also , about the great muhammed ali , apparrently over - weight
at weighting time , went to toilet , re - weighed , bang on target .....
Happy building & flying ...
Bryan
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