If you ever climbed a high mountain, or spent time above 10,000 ft above sea level, you notice that you will be finding it harder to "catch your breath". The same is for any engine, in particular aircraft, therefore it needs extra air rammed into the carburetor from a turbo system. First it has to be said that there are two turbo sources, there is an internal supercharger inside the engine casing, in which air is pressed in via an impeller. The second is the external turbo charger system pretty much like the one one in most modern vehicles, all have the same purpose, to "ram" air into the fuel system. This article will not be a engineering technical explanation, as I will stay on track with what was recovered, shown in highlighted green, and how and where it fits in the engine and turbo system with all of the accompanying accessories.
Starting with what was recovered concerning the turbo system:
Each engine has its own Turbosupercharger, all four of them were recovered. These were built by Allis - Chalmers Manufacturing Company
Type Designation B-22, Contract Drawing # WW-8456556. General Electric also made the turbo supercharger.
Turbocharger Intercooler, built by AiResearch Manufacturing Division
Outboard Intercooler
Contractor #15-7674. The outboard intercooler sits vertically tucked in tight inside the nacelle
Turbocharger Intercooler
AiResearch Manufacturing Division
Inboard Intercooler
Contractor #15-7674. Inboard coolers are designed slightly different due to the fact that they sit horizontally, as stated the landing gear take up room withing the nacelle and the intercooler is displaced to the rear of the wheel well.
As mentioned, the turbo system provides the fuel system more air (into the carburetor) from air that enters through ducting and small openings in the leading edge of the wings, the air travels down through filters that are open from take off till 8000 ft level, when they are then closed. The air enters into the top of the turbocharger and gets compressed, from there, the rammed air begins its way to the carburetor, but must first flow through the intercooler
Turbocharger Pressurtol
Part # G16A2CA1
Made by Minneapolis-Honeywell Company
Actuated by manifold pressure variations at the carburetor intake, the induction-system Pressurtol was the primary sensing device of the turbo supercharger control system.
Amplifier, Turbocharger Waste Gate Motor
Made by Minneapolis – Honeywell Company
The amplifiers supplied power to operate the waste gate in response to signals received from the other system control units. There was one amplifier for each engine, plus a spare that could be rapidly replaced if one failed. The amplifier received electrical signals from the system control units and amplified these signals to operate the waste-gate motor by energizing one of the motor windings.
The amplifiers were located in the radio section and one in the forward cabin.
Nacelle Junction Box
The nacelle junction box, located
within the engine nacelle, provided
interconnection for the Pressuretol,
governor, waste-gate-motor leads,
and the main junction box.
Waste-Gate Motor
Made by Minneapolis - Honeywell Company
Part # G303A-Y2CA1
Its function was the operating unit that moved the turbocharger waste gate of the exhaust to the open or closed position, in response to signals from the control system. This forced exhaust back into the turbo system or by-pass the system and back out into the open air.
WRENCH, US, 3/8” – 7/16” INCH, MADE IN U. S .A
THIS WRENCH “KEY” WAS DISCOVERED INSIDE THE TOP OF THE TURBOCHARGER WHILE CLEANING IT. THERE WAS NO CLEAR DAMAGE TO THE TURBO FOUND. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A FAILURE FOR THE TURBO. AT WORSE, THE TURBO WOULD HAVE MALFUNCTIONED, AND WOULD HAVE PUT THE ENGINE OFF-LINE, AND CAUSE POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO BOTH ENGINE AND TURBO. A POTENTIAL OF FIRE WAS ALSO PRESENT. OF WHICH THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE. IT IS WITH EXTREME LUCK THIS DID NOT GET MIXED WITH THE TURBO BUCKET WHICH SPINS AT 20,000 RPM.
