ROCKET ENGINE TESTING AT NII 88 GORODOMLYA ISLAND

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Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP80-00810A000100380009-3
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RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
S
Document Page Count: 
61
Document Creation Date: 
December 21, 2016
Document Release Date: 
February 6, 2009
Sequence Number: 
9
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
June 19, 1953
Content Type: 
REPORT
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PDF icon CIA-RDP80-00810A000100380009-3.pdf3.92 MB
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Approved For Release 2009/02/06: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000100380009-3 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY INFORMATION REPORT SECRET SECURITY INFORMAT;ON SUBJECT DATE OF INFO. PLACE ACQUIRED USSR (Kalinin Oblast) Rocket Engine Testing at NII 88, Gorodomlya Island This Document contains Information affecting the Na- tional Defense of the United States, within the mean- ing of Title 18, Sections 793 an4 794, of the U.S. Code, as amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited. REPORT DATE DISTR. NO. OF PAGES REQUIREMENT REFERENCES THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE. THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE. (FOR KEY SEE REVERSE) DESCRIPTION OF GASWI''HDRAWAL AND TURBINE EXPERIMENTS AT THEE 'ERIMENTAL AREA GORODOMLYA ISLAl p 1. In 1947, Sector 3'was orde.eed...to erect a small test itan (teat bed) J.:p~ge:.:. eEipitcity Of ;C two tone , note.:;Si etth.:on: ., The purpose was to perform tests with different mixture proportioins, propellants, temperatures, injection systems, coolants, and burning times. 2. The turbine performance was to be increased mote pages 9 - 19. 3. Sector 11 was ordered to erect the buildings for this project, but the area was ill-suited for building. Consideration had to be given to the street: condition, differences in elevation, etc. Changes and conversions, in design were necessary, since much of the equipment called for in the plans was not available and could not be procured. As aresult, the building was not started until the summer of 1948. SECRET STATE ARMY NAVY L AIR FBI AEC 031 e` x Approved For Release 2009/02/06: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000100380009-3 25X1 19 June 1953 Approved For Release 2009/02/06: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000100380009-3 SECRET -2-. 4. With respect to the test stand equipment eepages ]8 - 217 planned in the years 1947 and 1948, the main problem was the procurement of pressure liquid containers with suitable flow indicators. Ball pressure containers which had to be mounted on scales (similar to the ones in Peenemuende and Radarach) were counted upon at first, but neither the containers or the scales could be procured. A search of the Soviet norm catalogues for seam-p less drawn pipe brought about a good emergency solution of the problem of finding suitable pressure containers. After the required seamless pipe had arrived and'been inspected, and the static calculations had been completed, the construction of the test stand was begun. The construction of the pressure containers, which were actually suction chambers, will be described in detail later) Another difficulty encountered was in the procurement of apertures. Similarly, all high-pressure valves, which were paid by the Soviets to be ready and waiting in Moscow, had to be designed and construe ted at Gorodomlya. The story was the same in the cases of pneumatic valves, automatic (non-return) check valves, etc. To avoid these bottlenecks, a large number of A-4 apertures were incorporated into the preliminary de- signs. In addition, Dr. COERMAN:had to develop new pressure pick-ups for flow quantity measurement note pages 22 - 2 5. At the same time, Prof. BAUER issued directives to the construction depart- ment to have the test-head element, middle part, and Laval nozzle worked on simultaneously note pages 25 - 317. The gas withdrawal system was theoretically worked out by Dr. UMPFENBACH, Ing. POINTNER, and Dr. FERCHLAND. The main preliminary work for this system was completed in the spring and summer of 1947 in X'odlipki. 7. Two compressors were receiv ed in the latter part of December 1948. By another ro ect. order of the director, one The result of this was that "Was 25X1 of intentionally delaying the work of Sector 2. Further ill caused by the distribution of personnel. Sector 3 was under its task. Dr. UMPFENBACH took this matter up with,the Sovie KURGANEV, who, immediately transferred to Sector 3 the approp and 4. T 2 ctors 1 f S -feeling staffed for t head, Ing. riate personnel. ads of he , , rom e from other sectors, especially _t Interpreted +11, s action as a personal affron 25X1 The rest of the Germans, however, rel-t -ciiu u she ersonal gain. f t 25X1 s o p quarrel was mainly concerned with prospec The tasks from June 1947 to November 1948 were as follows: 25X1 a. To requisition all equipment necessary for the mechanical con- struction of the test stand, to advise in.its construction; and to make the appropriate drawings. A quick development was impos- sible because of the procurement difficulties. For example, if one ordered a brass pipe in January or February which was needed in SECRET Approved For Release 2009/02/06: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000100380009-3 Approved For Release 2009/02/06: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000100380009-3 October, one would not receive it. I -,~,he USSR, all orders for the c.eiming year had to be placed. by December 15 at the latest. This raw aot that sometimes a whole year had to pass e-fore receiving the needed material. The result was that evervane ordered much ,. more than was actua1,ly needed,, for trading purposes.. The next bask was to get up the ooniprer es ?;.'~:; his it ready ;for operation, iin~ 'a:rrixary 1949 eto .1' took over the e~:fiction of the cor pressu b Ld with the appropriate fo(Zad.ation for th0: cOW;pre . ssor On the first ?e: Mmm .r.ti Q , of ~t,h coutp t es or, it a was noted that the Whole comp'r'essor had r3 eeli di~.pped into hoar grease be 'sire leav-i.n -f ptory?.? o keep n L' Sector 3, vase :few tools it from rusting. S i:.nce :1_ were.. aura .fable, acid no. building wa>i a rai:l.able for the : lsassembl.y. I Insisted. that the P .r)maaroes,s'ar be tri ngpQrted to' he workshi p f o;r this -Oork. The disassembly was' necessary for cleri i4g purposes,, becau.ee it was found that all it pipes ahd. dhots were stopped up Witt: Brea e . The c t. ea.n Lng tuizd assem.bl.y of the compressor was J-*y` uj.s shed, in ;11948. It afJ - se?i'! up in ,I lr,?'~:4ac J..~.4 1.4~. The .flil--d . t o SJ [..e .n V setting it c ,: arras that steed. . ':re ie, t 1 h ` !.`,; . d no the con press62' 'I 4', rector h. ad' to . t 3e 'l ,pL fit e Compressor sand o o had: to ": he.. t c n,1 off the 'r ep the frame d i8 connected :fror.- Its nchor' 'Ir and, new holels. drilled into the i'ra e Izk the work sho ..A This misfit. occurred in spite, of. the. faot that the, frame 9 otor,,and eo7 pressor. Were; del.iv er(ad from the ' sa::e' work hop v : Ac 'xue.l)..y, erei .oe ,height- of the 4X1es of comjir?e~ so:r and motor was 18 m. in July 194,8;. the, acceptance was: ;made and the fir w test run of the, c9p:pressor was, performed.. From February to J-an.e 1.948, the first, hi'gli-pressa Re battery-o-(10 hottie). was' aet"upp1.?ta,~r,bed, anal tested with 44.10.0 PSI (300 at' test; pressure? At the; se e .time,, work " 4w the the aosemb.l of S krOff~d a St?ftor L/se e a Preliminary Work`, '02 'Container --leakage. test of the liquid container , t 25X1;; Approved For Release 2009/02/06: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000100380009-3 Approved For Release 2009/02/06: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000100380009-3 water (static preseure) (2 naulation slots plugged with glass wool and wires' up (,3) Complete ',degreasing of all built-in parts Bad nt `;steel o on tainers inside..with special _aa r. ,ah ,(lacq 1*res$ure test.at ..882 oo .PST EC ~,t a.n-.5. the steel eoXita 'A'dr . filled .with water Prelim nar 'Work B- and K-Stoff Containers {l) ,eakage test of the liquid container with water (.static pressure). . (2 )- Clean all built-in parts (3) Paint steel containers inside with varnish (4) Pressure test at 852.6 PSI (58 att.), steel containers filled with water Assembler and Testing of -t,~je 0.,, Container Great care was necessary when assembling to avoid leakage after the assembly. Bach email opening in the upper part `of the liquid, container, relative to .,the overflow container, could cause . leakage.. Aster the liquid pon.tainer was in- _oorporated. into the steel container. and. all open ea nections were bolted it was again pressure tested with 147.0 PSI - (1,0 atU). If the container did not show leakage during the test, it was released for installation. The same conditions ap- plied to the B-~ and, K-Stof'f containers. The construction of the. test stand was finished in De- cember i948r The mechanical and electrical 'completion of the test stand. was very dif f cult u An order was given to oor~plete the. test stand by February'.1., 1949. (That was ar. order , of a minister who had little technical understandi:zg The Germans expected to receive the apertures' from Moscow- s' Whethbr these apert'ares were going to be delivered according to drawings, or whether. others' had been , readied in. Moscow, nobody could tell because .,of' the order ' thatmouatings and lead-ins be put in without the apertures. Since the measurements of the apertures were unknown, mountingsand lead-ire were put in by , visual observation. When the apertures finally arrived. in May 1949* nothing matched. Because of an expected visit from the Armament Ministry, all the mountings and lead-ins had to be painted in differ- ent colors. (When the minister entered .the test ' area, it was explained, that everythi .g ...:was ' ready except fora few apertures which had to be mounted in between). The changes that had to be made because the measurements of the apertures were different those originally presumed Approved For Release 2009/02/06: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000100380009-3 1 Approved For Release 2009/02/06: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000100380009-3 25X1 SECRET -5 reauired nearly three times 7~~ ~ Q t ti:ae ?f anew 1 yiaic. Transition and Adautian for Gas Withdrawal the turbine was to be operated by gas 25X1 manufactured by injection of K--Stoff. The temperature could be controlled bg varying the amount of K_Stoff injected. According to theoretical calculations,.a pipe system nearly seven meters long had to be mounted to the cooling head in order to determine exactly the gas characteristics. 25X1 tneore'G10a.LLy", LV WUW =M.6ii vQ i&&%wA v&&c - ???- 25X1 temperature would be,constant only after a long' period. This theory was later proven incorrect. Further gas analyses at different cone n were made with nearly all gas with- drawal tests. 25X1 l0. Development of the Ignition gee* pages 41 - 43J The firing mechanism first developed by Ing. POINTIER and Dipl. Ing. KRETSCEMAR was badly designed and would probably have resulted in a lose of lives at later tests. 11. Description of the First Firing Mechanism (Zuendeiirichtung). ff ee pages 41 - 43J The mechanism consisted of: a. Acetylene. pressure tank, 29.4 PSI (2 atfi) Oxygen bottle with conventional reducing valve e. Butt (Handpieoe) This ignition system was only used for the first five tests, i.e., those tests made without.the Laval jet. After every- thing was ready for tae test the butt was ignited with-a match, much the same as with regular welding apparatus. From the assembly stand, it was then put through the pipe of the O2 Head and 'screwed in.;.. This method was very dap eroue and complicated. Only after Ing. VIEBACK, Ing. VIEBACH was at that time given a special assignment for the ignition s tem for Object I) refused to use the people working for the insertion of this in a closed system 25X1 was a new method worked out. 12. Operation of the B-Scoff Level Indicator zgee, pages 44 - 52j SECRET Approved For Release 2009/02/06: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000100380009-3 Approved For Release 2009/02/06: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000100380009-3 many bores which were mounted above to eembuetion unit.) Immediately. a large scale investigation was started to find the reason for the burning out and who miaht be'anilty Nothing could be establisbe d. d or the, ignition. failed during the. first run an this main stages were.switch.ed . in, the full flow `of .02 caused such a,._, strong cooling, action that the water was frozen in the middle part and the outlet nipple. In the second ran, the water pump was running; however, the water did not go throu for the above-.mentioned reasons,,' Therefore, pool- ,. ing did not take place. This caused the middle part and the cooling head. 25X1 25X1 15. The worst. explosion at the teat-stance'follawed next. After a new middle part and cooling head were provided the assembl took place in the same manner.` As in- tie previous ,nuous y ,until the starting of, ,the next test. Aftes t the ignition failed. Dice to the pprrevious. findifge, the water passages. and the pump run oon-' 25X1 ;about' 35 minutes, all work, for the new test was aoc?mpliihed there wss.a strong detonation when the fuse was i ted..; The 180 ourver and the connecting uao o of ed piper lew : apart and were .torts, into many pieoes. ~ he' reason for the explosion was the collection of highly explosive gages in-the pipes. The familiar word "sabotage was hinted' at more and mare by the Soviets. At a discussions Dr.. PEECHLAMOrecommended 25X1 that, the tests be run with the short, system. The next day, Dr.. U PENBACI3 designed a, preliminary outlet curve - with valve. Lee pages . 9 - 15J 16MAfter completion of the preliminary outlet ' curve and the preliminary outlet valve, the starting of a test was-no : longer a problem. After switching ofr the ignitiony it could be determined at the exit o the' open preliminary out- : valve whether ignition bad set in, If ignition had set i, sparks could be seen at the exit. After switching in of the main stage the preliminary outlet valve ,was slowly oloe d' by means of the control pressure water from container 48:"C ,see pages 53 - 567. 3.70A fast and 'safe development of ggas.withdrawal 'tests was insured by these changes. Hardly' any changes in regard to the test results could be noted between the long and.tbe short system under the same conditions.. Thie'wae confirmed later, when tests were run-with-different langths.of'gas withdrawal. pipes. About 40 tests. with gas analyses were`, run with this system, whi'oh was not.eubje?ted to any prinoi- pal changes. 18. Gas analyses were taken while using different lengths of. pipe systems. The gas was branched off right from the ddle of the gas, stream, f see pages 9- i ,and diverted to containers 1-3 at different temperatures and conoentra .tions via the valve blocks with valves 1-3.. 19. during the spring of 1951 Lsee page 627. SECRET Approved For Release 2009/02/06: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000100380009-3 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/02/06: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000100380009-3 mcm _8-- BATTERY 94 Y STOftAgc foot MATERIAL . PROPELLANT 8-ST. 18i MIXING PpOPELLATERANT ? PROPELLANT MTCRMEDIATE STORAGE PROPELLANT READY FOR USE KEROSENE CAVE AND pipe TyNffl&L LAVOA 'ORY FOR CEARCNERSiREGULATORS d4EO RIR CYLINDER FOR CONTROL OE F VICESA / , . CEN R CONTROL DEVICES LADORATDRY COMPRESSED AIR BRTTERY EACH 450 LITER UNDER 200 ATG PRE SSURE OOC ~~cQ Y ELEiTRi CO RESS" AIR OISTRION7IOM CONTROL WORKSHOP FOR OA PLANT STORAGE ROOM OIL I GREASE APARA PARTS B-STOFF TANK WORK. PRESS. 31 A'rO. COMBUSTION ROOM. WATER TANK 40DOLITCKS .MA1a+SD4 093F" It PLANT OAT S WORKINS PR[SSVRC SVATO iirLIT[R SECRET "COOLING FLUID T NN NW/AE PR-I~~ 8?SI OR MATER 5ea1ac 4OA{~I CODLII N SYSTEM N VRDRRNEATN THE CONTROL ROOM VOTE; S?STAPFDf @STAFF1SO ARE GERMAN CODE NAMES FOR PROPELLANT USED AT T[ir STAND AIR COMPRESSOR 200ATO MOTOR FOR COMPRESSOR,110 KW I FILLING STAT- ION FDA OXYGEN CYLINDERS 9 GP?l~,to P. Approved For Release 2009/02/06: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000100380009-3 Approved For Release 2009/02/06: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000100380009-3 SECRET -8a. Withdrawal Tests Continuation of Description of Tests and Their Results 1. Before switching over to the. gas. withdrawal system, two tests were run with cooling head "d" Jee sketches on pages 11 - lg. These were purely functional tests. be assembly was the same as that shown in the sketch on page 56,'except that the coolin head (Kuehikopf) was screwed on in place of the Laval jet (Lavalduese) The pressures on the 02, B-,and K-Stoff main stages were CIA, CB, Q and Pig and were measured on the oscillograph. The results of the test were unobjectionable, as had been expected< System with Gas Withdrawal P ipes. 2. The first gas withdrawal test installations were made from theoretical considerations Ls-ee sketches on pages it - i7. The system contained: 02 Head Element 1 B-Stoff Head Element 2 3/4 Middle Part 3 K-Stoff Head Element 4 Transition Piece 5 90 degree Curver, cooled 6 2 cooled pipes, each 2 meters long 7 180 degree Curver, uncooled 8 Short withdrawal pipe with temperature-measuring nipple, uncooled, 1 meter long 9 45 degree Curver, uncooled, 35 cm long 10 Jet (Duese) 40 mm (Entire length of pipe was about 7 meters.) The main difficulty in assembling was in the seal at the points where water passage sealers had to be built in. This assembly required naa y~iat deal of time. (Until December 1950 the test stand was equipped a K-container, and until December 1951 with only an 02 container.) 3. In the initial test experiments, test orders were given to the experi- menters just before they began the tests, I.e., the test program was discussed with all participating personnel and then accomplished. However, it was soon realized that this was impossible, and that detailed, written test orders had to be on hand. The following is a description of the first gas withdrawal test, noting all preliminary work in the mechanical field and, as far as is known, in the field of measuring technique. TIPST G Test Campaign No.-.... Test Order No........ Consecutive Trial No. System: As described above Test Characteristics 0scillograph: aA; aB; 4K; Pi; TTE SECRET Approved For Release 2009/02/06: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000100380009-3 Approved For Release 2009/02/06: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000100380009-3 _9_ (Temperature); PTE (Pressure before nozzle) Pbo 852.6 PSI (58 atii) Tank Pressure for B-Container. 123.4 PSI(22 atiz), Tank Pressure for K-Container 123x4- PST 22 atii Tank Pressure for 02 -Container 368,8 PSI(24 at i ~ Values to be read during test: (Not remembered by me) Preliminary Stage injection pressuress 02, B?-Stoff, K--S'tof'f Pi Main Stage inje:cti ?n -pressures: 02, B?*Stoff, K-Stoff, Pi Pump Pressure Preliminary Setting of Control chokess' (Assumed)-.02-4 turns Brl* turns K-?2 turns Quantities to be filled in: B,'Stoff -- 90kg R 715% ,alcohol K,.Stoff 160 kg.. 75% alcohol .02 - 100 kg. Quantities Tanked: Remainder of propellants in the feeder containers after test: Duration of burn;ng: 70 secs Temperature: 400 C Size of Shutter: B-Stoff (Depending on mixture desired) K--Stoff " n. 02 a !1' " Sequence of Switching erations: 02-. preliminary stage Firing (ignition) B - preliminary stage > 4 02 - main stage B-- " i " Signatures: Sector Leader (German) Dr 9 TJT PENBACH Test Researcher (German) Dr. PERCHLAND Test Stand Leader Mach (German) Ing, BRtTENNER Test Evaluation (German): Ingo PESTLE Preliminary Work Sector Leader (Soviet) Ing,,. MITSK'EVICH Proving Ground Leader(Soviet)., Ing. ioFFE Test Stand Leader. .Bled, ((der) D r o . NtAGN Pressure test gas withdrawal system at 2206 PSI (15.atu), Pill .up high pressure bottle batterry~,1764Q0 2940,,0 PSI(120-200 atu), Build in specified-diaphragms into the B,K,and 02 measuring tract (pressure test after incorporation). Cali- brate' measuring cell (Messdose , -B-.,K~-Stoff, 02 m Test connection to the oscillograph before incorporation of SECRET Approved For Release 2009/02/06: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000100380009-3 Approved For Release 2009/02/06: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000100380009-3 SECRET -10- 25X1 Thermo elements; open high pressure to the test stand t the distribution board; open valve 43 [see sketch on page 1-8f for control valve box; trial run oT pump with water thru rate of flow. Switching of all pneumatic valves for function (after clearance signal of the measuring group.). Set blubber-pressure to 441.0 PSI (30 atU), fill in B-Stoff, fill in K-Stoff, fill in 02. After completion of filling of B- and K-Stoff and pressure applied up to the pneumatic valves, the application. is done by applyin pressure to the B- and K-containers (about. 58?8 PSI, 4 ati ., and by opening of the control chokes and opening up of the forward-pressure valves, Commands of the est Stan4 ..M of : Open preliminary'* cooing valve I Open preliminary cooling valve II Tank pressures Attention oscillograph Switch on pump Close preliminary cooling valve I Flushing on Incorporate fuse cooling II off Preliminary ,, Additional inquiry whether everything is set for the test Oscillograph on (awaiting return command.) Preliminary setting of control chokes 02 preliminary stage Igniting B Preliminary stage K Preliminary stage(wai.ting about 5 seconds until flame develops) 02 Main-stage B Main stage These stages have to be switched in very K Main stage quick succession Combustion cut-off(at cut-off signal all pneumatic valves are closed. Flushing commences immediately). Exhaust (entlueften) feeder containers Cutoff pump Close Pb Cut-off flushing SEC raT Approved For Release 2009/02/06: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000100380009-3 Approved For Release 2009102106: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA0001 00380009-3 Sum b ine To increase the niamber? of. rota d-Ons additional zeg-- ments mere incor'poratech Result from 4,000 to-PACK, revolutions; iNspan decreased (_ tests at moss a Temerature was between 500 and 600 degrees according to - R'aaceurate information. The turbine with both pumps is drawn transposed The connection "a" is located opposite jet pipes. The distance between W" and "b" was about 1e5 m; the distance between Ud" and "eS4 was about 2 mm The preliinary outlet valve vas controlled by water through container "g" and valve "h"a Preliminary outlet valve "f" is kept undQr 1-2 ATO, shortly before beginning a testa `Iater emerges out of the bores of mushroomi'i; cooling it,Y Approved For Release 2009/02/06: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000100380009-3 Approved For Release 2009/02/06: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000100380009-3 SECRET Approved For Release 2009/02/06: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000100380009-3 Approved For Release 2009/02/06: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000100380009-3 SECRET -13- Approved For Release 2009/02/06: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000100380009-3 Approved For Release 2009/02/06: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000100380009-3 Approved For Release 2009/02/06: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000100380009-3 Approved For Release 2009/02/06: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000100380009-3 SECRET -15- Approved For Release 2009/02/06: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000100380009-3 Approved For Release 2009/02/06: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA000100380009-3 SECRET -16- Mechanical Test Stand Equip m entee sketch on page 18_7 ..Superstructure Construction: A. - 0 pontainer Room 2 fi4C-2_;X ! B- M aeuring Camber 2 x x 0. - Battery Doom 2.x 2, x.4 mm. D - Control Room 4x;,4:x.2 mm. P Propellant Room 2 x 2 x 6 mm. Color Markings: (aBlue 0 2 Purple - Propellant} '' sprit ) `Red - Petroleum (Kerosene) Yellow - Compressed Air Light Green - Water .Green -Motor for control: valve Brown - Level indicator The 02 room contains pressure .;eantro~.6 ` "e ver~r oo ?a,ia~ere 1 and 2, the air-intake valve 3, the air-outlet "valve 4, control valve with motor 5, intermediate valve 6,safety valve.7, overflow,valve 74, 75 , two level ' ndcators not, drawn in ii' (theyare parallel connected with the indicators in the control. room) ,- the fill-in valve 8, as well. as the. different feed bores, which are-_-descri.'ged in detail later. The measuring chamber contains all electricaldevices.needed at the test stand. (rectifier, voltage'regulator.,