Tony Kambic
Airman 1st Class
Yes, thanks for posting,
These 9-14501 Verstellgerate are interesting parts of the VDM Propeller system. The unit is basically a Bosch designed 24V reversable DC motor that is coupled to a limiting switch geartrain at one end, with a direct power-drive to the VDM Propeller system at the other end. Bosch must have worked closely with VDM on this and it was probably done under contract to VDM. The end with the stamped, "Warning Do not turn", is the connection to the prop-pitch indicator and is linked into the lightweight limit-stops geartrain. The drive end marked "Luftschraube" is the power-drive to the prop pitch changing mechanism. You see it has a special type nut with internal ferrule that retains the free-floating rigid shaft used on these units fitted to the DB 605 and DB 601 E/F. Earlier versions on the DB 601 A/N still used a flexible drivecable and did not have the special retaining nut because it used the screw-on cable fitting. The unit here with the retaining nuts on both ends should only have 1 nut, fitted at the Luftschraube end, the other nut at the gear drive end is incorrect and should be fitted on the other unit at the Luftschraube end, so that both units have a drive retaining nut at their Luftschraube end. The markings stamped at the geartrain endstop cover are E and A/B. The E is for adjusting the Endmoment electrical limit stop that defines how coarse towards the feathered position the motor will run before stopping, this depends on aircraft type. The A/B setting is the VDM system operating definition that is used to set-up the system for either Left or Right handed propeller rotation. The Gerate code sub-group like E or G-3 principally indicates minor revisions of production. However, some versions incorporated or deleted the electrical pitch indication system circuitry.
This unit is almost entirely linked to the later Bf 109 E, all Bf 109 F,G,K, most Bf 110 and most other aircraft fitted with DB 601, DB 605 after 1940.
Eng
