Boeing F4B-1 - Page 25

b. The CO2 bottle is installed through the door in the top of the wing. The
valve on the bottle should be disassembled and the knife inspected for corrosion
and hardness. The weight of CO2 in the bottle shall not exceed five pounds.
Connect the gas line to the valve and attach the pulley. Note the stamping
"REAR" on the pulley and install accordingly.
The valve cable must leave the top of the valve pulley and align with thefair-
lead. There should be no slack in this cable, a spring being provided for the purpose.
c. The emergency ha:rid pump is installed at the factory. The installation
can be checked through the openings in the left flotation bag container. Inspect
the shut-off valves on both bags to see that they are safetied open.
47. OPERATION: The flotation gear is operated by pulling the release
handle in the trailing edge of the upper wing as far out as it will go. While doing
this two distinct impulses should be felt, the first due to the releasing of the bag
container doors, and the second from the opening of the CO2 bottle valve.
In the event of failure in the CO2 system, air inflation equipment is provided.
A patch labeled "Flotation Valve and Pump" will be found on the upper surface
of the upper wing approximately 41 inches to the left of the centerline of the ship
and just aft the front spar. Symmetrically opposite will be found a removable
patch covering the valve and cock for the right hand bag. If needed, remove the
left patch, take out the pump and connect to the inflation valve with the hose
included. Both shut-off valves are wired .open so that both bags are inflated
simultaneously. The air supply may be regulated by breaking the safety wires
and adjusting the cocks.
Over-inflation due to a rise in temperature or other cause should be relieved
at the emergency inflation valves to prevent bursting the bags.
48. MAINTENANCE: The flotation gear should be tested monthly on air-
planes in regular service. To test, simply pull the release handle and note the
operation of the bags. Allow the bags to remain inflated for a time and check for
leaks, deterioration, etc. It is recommended that the flotation gear also be tested
before flight on new airplanes and airplanes which have been out of service for
more than one month. When releasing the flotation bags for test or other purposes,
arrangements should be made to catch the doors so that the lower wing will not
be damaged.
When repacking the bags care should be taken to lay new folds in them. This
may be difficult but will minimize fatigue of the bag material in the creases.
Extreme heat may cause the inner surfaces of the bags to stick together. In
such cases, the bags should be removed from the wings and a quarter pound of
powdered soapstone or graphite placed in each bag. Then carefully separate the
sides by inflating with air, the pressure not being allowed to exceed one pound per
square inch, while rotating the bag to thoroughly coat the inner surf ace with the
powder.
When the bags are to be out of service for a considerable time, they should
be removed from the wing, partially inflated, and stored in a cool, dark and dry
place.
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