APPENDIX I
GLOSSARY
A
AVERAGE VALUE OF AC-- The average of all the
instantaneous values of one-half cycle of ac.
AFTER STEERING CONTROL UNIT-- A rudder
B
command generator that electrically controls
rudder angle.
BATTERY-- A device for converting chemical energy
into electrical energy.
AIR-CORE TRANSFORMER-- A transformer
composed of two or more coils, which are
wound around a nonmetallic core.
BATTERY CAPACITY-- The amount of energy
available from a battery. Battery capacity is
expressed in ampere-hours.
AMMETER-- An instrument for measuring the
amount of electron flow in amperes.
BIMETALLIC ELEMENT-- Two strips of dissimilar
metals bonded together so a change of
AMPERE (A)-- The basic unit of electrical current.
temperature will be reflected in the bending of
1 volt across 1 ohm of resistance causes a
the element.
current flow of 1 ampere.
BURNISHING TOOL-- A tool used to clean and
AMPLIFIEIR, FLUID-- A fluidic element that
polish contacts on a relay.
enables a flow or pressure to be controlled by
one or more input signals that are of a lower
C
pressure or flow value than the fluid being
controlled.
CAPACITIVE REACTANCE-- The opposition to the
flow of an alternating current caused by the
ANODE-- A positive electrode of an electrochemical
capacitance of a circuit, expressed in ohms and
device (such as primary or secondary electric
identified by the symbol
cell) toward which the negative ions are drawn.
CATHODE-- The general term for any negative
APPARENT POWER-- That power apparently
electrode.
available for use in an ac circuit containing a
reactive element. It is the product of effective
voltage times effective current expressed in
CHARGE-- Represents electrical energy. A material
voltamperes. It must be multiplied by the power
having an excess of electrons is said to have
factor to obtain true power available.
negative charge. A material having an absence
of electrons is said to have a positive charge.
ARMATURE-- In a relay, the movable portion of the
CIRCUIT-- The complete path of an electric current.
AUTOMATIC BUS TRANSFER (ABT)
CIRCULAR MIL-- An area equal to that of a circle
SWITCH-- Normal and alternate power sources
with a diameter of 0.001 inch. It is used for
are provided to vital loads. These power
measuring the cross-sectional area of wires.
sources are supplied from separate switchboards
through separated cable runs. Upon loss of the
CONDUCTANCE-- The ability of a material to
normal power supply, the ABT automatically
conduct or carry an electric current. It is the
disconnects this source and switches the load to
reciprocal of the resistance of the material, and
the alternate source.
is expressed in mhos or siemens.
AI-1
