A Spitfire part?

• Apr 13, 2009

• #1

Marcogrifo

Airman 1st Class

285

4

Oct 1, 2006

Genoa, Italy

Hi all, hope this is the right place to post an inquiry.

This part was found near a site (in Italy, I think) where a Spitfire crashed during WWII; has anybody a clue about what can it be?
Thanks in advance.

Cheers

P.S.: I'm not the owner of that part, so I can't say more about it...

 

• Apr 13, 2009

• #2

C

Colin1

Senior Master Sergeant

3,523

15

Jan 2, 2009

United Kingdom

Given the mechanical action that you've demonstrated
and the metal pipe union above it, I'll take a guess and say cooling system, possibly even the thermostat assembly.

I'll have a dig around and see if I can find anything more scientific than my guess

 

• Apr 13, 2009

• Thread starter
• #3

Marcogrifo

Airman 1st Class

285

4

Oct 1, 2006

Genoa, Italy

Colin1 said:

Given the mechanical action that you've demonstrated
and the metal pipe union above it, I'll take a guess and say cooling system, possibly even the thermostat assembly.

I'll have a dig around and see if I can find anything more scientific than my guess

Click to expand...

Thank you, Colin.

 

• Apr 13, 2009

• #4

C

Colin1

Senior Master Sergeant

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Jan 2, 2009

United Kingdom

Actually
it looks more like a mechanical cam-driven pump of some sort, than a thermostat assembly

 

• Apr 14, 2009

• #5

S

spitfirefive

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Mar 11, 2007

Hello chaps,
the part in the posted photo's is a firing solenoid, the unit was mounted the bottom rear end of a .303" Browning, the lift arm is the manual bolt release for the gun.

Kind regards,
Dave

 

• Apr 14, 2009

• #6

C

Colin1

Senior Master Sergeant

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Jan 2, 2009

United Kingdom

spitfirefive said:

the part in the posted photos is a firing solenoid, the unit was mounted the bottom rear end of a .303" Browning, the lift arm is the manual bolt release for the gun

Click to expand...

Nice one Dave
I was looking in completely the wrong area

 

• Apr 14, 2009

• #7

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spitfirefive

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Mar 11, 2007

No problem sir, glad to be of help.
Kind regards,
Dave

 

• Apr 14, 2009

• #8

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Colin1

Senior Master Sergeant

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Jan 2, 2009

United Kingdom

Can I take it then that the pipe union was for pneumatic delivery, rather than hydraulic?

 

• Apr 14, 2009

• #9

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spitfirefive

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Mar 11, 2007

Hello Colin1,
that is correct sir, the weapons were pneumatically fired.
Kind regards,
Dave

 

• Apr 14, 2009

• #10

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Colin1

Senior Master Sergeant

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Jan 2, 2009

United Kingdom

Not the clearest shot in the world, but gives some idea of the location Dave was talking about

The installation from below and to the rear; to the left of the gun may be seen the harmonisation locking quadrant for raising or lowering the barrel; the braided cable running underneath the gun carried high pressure air to fire the weapon.

 

Attachments

• Browning install.jpg

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• Apr 14, 2009

• #11

Micdrow

“Archive”

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Aug 21, 2006

Wisconsin

Nice job there guys!!!

 

• Apr 14, 2009

• #12

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spitfirefive

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Mar 11, 2007

A closer view of the unit fitted to a replica .303" Browning mounted in a Spitfire MkV wing, minus air connection and gun mounting bolts.

Kind regards,
Dave

 

Last edited: May 27, 2009

• Apr 16, 2009

• Thread starter
• #13

Marcogrifo

Airman 1st Class

285

4

Oct 1, 2006

Genoa, Italy

WOW! Many Many Thanks guys!
Excellent job

BTW, I suspected that lever had to be operated by hand, but I didn't figure out it was related with armament.

Here what the owner of the part has found:

Cheers