Carbon-pile voltage regulators for aircraft

WITH the increase in size of modern military aircraft and the complexities of its equipment, it has been necessary to enlarge greatly its electric system. Up to the time of the beginning of the second World War in Europe, the Tirrell and step-type regulators were used universally to regulate the voltage of aircraft generators, alternators, and motor generator sets. With the coming of light-weight 30-volt 100- and 200-ampere generators, the field current required began to exceed the limitations of the Tirrell regulator. It became apparent that a high-field-current voltage regulator would have to be developed since the appreciable weight saving gained by designing generators with high field currents is so vital to modern aircraft.