◆ SpookStack

24 ™ 4IR COMMEKCE BULLETIN 1 , atern cells were intereommuntieating. The a cell material consisted of 9 film placed tween two lnyers of fabric. Nettings were provided to prevent all sharp edges from damaging the gas cells, it wag stated that the amount of gas leakage through thir fabric approximated 3 Ineximum = diffunion yate of about 1 Mter per Square meter per 24 ours. structure through the engine. Tests were made with the Prototype of the propellers used on the ship, They were texted ta loada SU percent in excesy of the thrust -to whieh the propellers would pe aubjecied at take-off, which was three timex Ereater than the thrust which would be imposed at cruising xpeed. They alsv surcessfully withstood the block tests. They were liinlied io 1,400 revolutions per minute in forward rotutlon and 1,120 revolutious per minute in reverse rotation, These revolutions were below the fluttering speeds of the blades, Electrical Power Plant and Installations The electrical power plant of the ship consisted of two 5U-horsepower Liesel-driven generators with ewitchboards and distribu- tion system, These Generators were inde. Reudent of the outside Propelling engines, he electric generators and principal nem- bers of the system Were located amldships on the port side of the keel, Current was Seperated for purposes of lighting, cooking, radio, and steering. There were two cir- cuits, one of 220 volts, the other of 24 volts. The ship's electric wiring was of copper apd wag installed in accordance with the rigid regplations foxerning the German Mining Societies, te lead to the stern light, which was on a 2%0-volt circuit, using a very heavy cable protected by a special fuse, extended from @ electrical power plant along the lower walkway and thence to the light. Wo electric Wiring extended sbove the equator except in the extrele nose of the ship, Ropes and Cables The main mooring steel cable was fixed to the ttp oF Doge end of the ship. The port and starDoard bow trail ropes were attached to the ship at frame 2445, These trail ropes Were about 413 feet in Jength. It is understood that in Jonding the ship, it was the practice to approach the grouud mast from leeward and drop the wire cable and the two trail rupes, The Main cable was then coupled to a mooring mast eable lead- ing through the top of tbe mast. By means of a winch, the cable was then reeled in, pulling the mooring cone on the sbip'’s nose into the correspondiug eup on top of the mast. The trail ropes were coupled ty ground ropes and led out to the sides to keep the ship headed into the wind and toward the mast and to prevent it from uverriding the mast structure. In the Btern, at frame 47, an after mooring cable Was in practice let out through a metal fair lead. t frame 2, a Bort and starboard Bpider was let out at lan ing. Besides those enumerated, the ship was Previded with other mooring or landing tackle, ror such use as circumstances warranted, Ballast Arrangements Water was generally used for ballast. The emergency ballast was contained in fabrie containers, four of which, of 500 kilograms of water, were suspended in the bow and an equal number dn the stern, To the right and left of the lower walkway were suspended a number of other ballast tanks, some of 2,500 Hters each and otbers of 2,000 liters ‘each. The ballast tanks could be emptied Partially or totally by the elevator men by means of contro! wires connected to a ballast etand in the control room, Several of the fuel tanks could also be used for ballast purposes. Gap Valves Fourteen automatic and an egual number of manually operated or Maneuvering valves were affixed to the cella. A single mancu- Yering valve Was affixed to cells numbered 1 and 2 and cells 15 and 38, Gas could be released from the cella by manual operation of the valve controis located in the contro] car, and hooked up with the valves by a series of wires and pulleys. This Mas do under the supervision of the captain or the watch officer in charge, ‘The #utomatle o1 emergency valves were provided to reduce the pressure of the as in the cells under certain circumstances. The cells were num- from stern to bow, from 1 to 16. The Maveuvering valves of cells nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, and 14 were connected to & master wheel in the control car which operated all of them as a unit and there aso were independent controls for the sep. arate Maheuvering valves so that the gas fb them could be released a5 desired. Cell Fullness or Preseure Indicator Electrically actuated ges fuilness or pres- Bure unite were connected ta the gas cells to indlcate visually by Bensitive meters in the contro! car the Pressure and hence thi relative fullness of the kas in the cells. These units were located {n the ebip’s axial corridor, or walkway. The accuracy or sen- sitivity of this system Wae Dot definitely established. An appreciable amount of gas might have been able to escape before such eécape would show on the visual Indicator unless that indicator Was kept under close observation, According to Witness Huge Eckener, & cel! could lose at least 200 to 800 cuble meters of gas before the indicator Would show such a loss. Such an amount fs only a very small proportion of a cell's Gaa Shafts Between every two cells a gas shaft was Brovided into which gas could be valved directly from the ce Is. The shafts ex- tended vertically from the lower walkway through the axia) walkway to the top of the ship for ventilation Purposes. On the top they came in contact w th the outside air under the Protection of Specially de- Bigned gas hoods or ventilators, Propulsion Four Daimler Benz Diesel engines, type LOF-6, each having a maximum rating of 1,160 horsepower, were used to propel the airship. They were contained In four out- side engine cars, or Fondolas, and were s6us- pended laterally on the ship’s bull by struts. ngine-room telegraphs Provided communi- cation between the contro room and the in- dividual engine cars. The fuel used by the engines was s Diesel oil, Propellers The four-bladed propellers attached tu each engine were of wood and 19 feet § inches in diameter. The blades were ar. Mmored with brass aheathing about 144 inches In width, on the leading edge, from about Radio Equipment The radio room was located above the after end of the control car. Its equipment provided for two-way radio telephone and