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I was not familiar with this story; that prompted me to research it. I found it interesting that this aviation incident had a positive outcome, in the form of s
by Arjuna 10y ago
I was not familiar with this story; that prompted me to research it. I found it interesting that this aviation incident had a positive outcome, in the form of safety innovations: the Hoover Nozzle and the Hoover Ring. Wikipedia states:
"A perhaps-undesired recognition is the Hoover Nozzle used on jet fuel pumps. The Hoover Nozzle is designed with a flattened bell shape. The Hoover Nozzle cannot be inserted in the filler neck of a plane with the Hoover Ring installed, thus preventing the tank from accidentally being filled with jet fuel.
This system was given this name following an accident in which Hoover was seriously injured, when both engines on his Shrike Commander failed during takeoff. Investigators found that the plane had just been fueled by line personnel who mistook the piston-engine Shrike for a similar turboprop model, filling the tanks with jet fuel instead of avgas (aviation gasoline). There was enough avgas in the fuel system to taxi to the runway and take off, but then the jet fuel was drawn into the engines, causing them to stop.
Once Hoover recovered, he widely promoted the use of the new type of nozzle with the support and funding of the National Air Transportation Association, General Aviation Manufacturers Association and various other aviation groups (the nozzle is now required by Federal regulation on jet fuel pumps)." [1]
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Hoover#Hoover_Nozzle_and_Hoover_Ring https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Hoover#Hoover_Nozzle_and_H...
- eppeltert 10y agoIn general, this design principle is known as poka yoke: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poka-yoke https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poka-yoke
- pmarreck 10y agoThis is a great design concept to know the name of! Thanks!
- hilop 10y agoAnd the problem it solves is Murphy's Law: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murphy%27s_law https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murphy%27s_law
- Schwolop 10y agoIn terms of physical connectors, I've always referred to this as polarisation. The connector is polarised so that it can only be inserted in one orientation, generally by use of a slot and key.