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Supercharger?

Back in the 50s my late Dad was a member of the 750 club and had plans, never fulfilled, to build a special, although he did inflict his interest in Sevens on me!
Among his bits and pieces now cluttering up my workshop is the aircraft vacuum pump shown in the pics. He told me he planned to use it as a supercharger but I suspect it may have been wishful thinking. He was a pilot in the Fleet Air Arm so I can guess how he acquired it.
I don't know anything about superchargers, so can the collective wisdom tell me whether he was correct in his thinking? I don't have any use for it and would be happy to pass it on if anyone wants to make an offer for it (or swap it for parts for my AVK van project). Otherwise I'll put it on E bay under aircraft spares...

 photo pump1_zpsbpcvskoh.jpg

Pump2 photo pump2_zps0yhu9smn.jpg

Thanks
Alastair

Location: Port Isaac

Re: Supercharger?

HI Alastair,
Your Father was right it could be used as a Supercharger
and it appears to be a Vane type so should be of interest to some one looking for a low pressure supercharger.

Cheers Colin

Location: TINOPAI NZ

Re: Supercharger?

I've got one of these, I think I concluded it was the vacuum pump from a merlin engine, there's a plate on mine giving details (in fact I can see the plate saying b3 vac pump between the outlets) possibly a bit small for a seven, maybe supercharge a small bike.

www.spitfirespares.co.uk/power.html scroll to near the bottom, or buy all the rest of the page and you may have a merlin!

Location: Herefordshire

Re: Supercharger?

Thanks Colin - good to know he wasn't completely delusional! And thanks Mark; I'm pretty sure he said it came from a Mosquito which would be correct for a Merlin source.
Alastair

Location: Port Isaac

Re: Supercharger?

This type of small compressor is generally referred to as a 'cabin blower' and they can be used as superchargers. Before using it, I would check that it is on the VSCC list of eligible superchargers. If it is not, I would personally think twice about using it. Looking at its general condition it will need a thorough overhaul. If you are not bothered about VSCC eligibility, the way to go would seem to be the small Japanese Asin superchargers which are relatively inexpensive to buy secondhand.

Re: Supercharger?

Malcolm Parker
This type of small compressor is generally referred to as a 'cabin blower' and they can be used as superchargers. Before using it, I would check that it is on the VSCC list of eligible superchargers. If it is not, I would personally think twice about using it. Looking at its general condition it will need a thorough overhaul. If you are not bothered about VSCC eligibility, the way to go would seem to be the small Japanese Asin superchargers which are relatively inexpensive to buy secondhand.


Malcolm


I disagree!
This is a Vacuum Pump. It is designed to suck and has a vane type mechanism inside (I have two already).
A Cabin Blower is designed to blow (unsurprisingly). It works on a Roots principle with lobed rotors.

Anyone who wants to swap two vacuum pumps for one cabin blower will get a free bottle of malt whisky thrown in....

Charles

Re: Supercharger?

out of interest, can a vacuum pump not be made to blow?

Steve V.

Location: Polegate, East Sussex, United Kingdom

Re: Supercharger?

Stephen Voller
out of interest, can a vacuum pump not be made to blow?

Steve V.


Yes it can. You could use one of these to blow but lubrication would be a problem (you could overcome it) and even in a 7 you'd really need two to give any decent volume.

Charles

Re: Supercharger?

Thanks Charles.

Steve V.

Location: Polegate, East Sussex

Re: Supercharger?

Why not use it as a vacuum pump and get the best wipers around!

Bob

Location: St Tudy North Cornwall not far from Alastair

Re: Supercharger?

Charles P
Malcolm Parker
This type of small compressor is generally referred to as a 'cabin blower' and they can be used as superchargers. Before using it, I would check that it is on the VSCC list of eligible superchargers. If it is not, I would personally think twice about using it. Looking at its general condition it will need a thorough overhaul. If you are not bothered about VSCC eligibility, the way to go would seem to be the small Japanese Asin superchargers which are relatively inexpensive to buy secondhand.


Malcolm


I disagree!
This is a Vacuum Pump. It is designed to suck and has a vane type mechanism inside (I have two already).
A Cabin Blower is designed to blow (unsurprisingly). It works on a Roots principle with lobed rotors.

Anyone who wants to swap two vacuum pumps for one cabin blower will get a free bottle of malt whisky thrown in....

Charles

Have you heard of Foxwell superchargers Charles,I believe they were developed from an industrial vacuum pump.

Location: Channel Islands

Re: Supercharger?

Austin in the shed
Charles P
Malcolm Parker
This type of small compressor is generally referred to as a 'cabin blower' and they can be used as superchargers. Before using it, I would check that it is on the VSCC list of eligible superchargers. If it is not, I would personally think twice about using it. Looking at its general condition it will need a thorough overhaul. If you are not bothered about VSCC eligibility, the way to go would seem to be the small Japanese Asin superchargers which are relatively inexpensive to buy secondhand.


Malcolm


I disagree!
This is a Vacuum Pump. It is designed to suck and has a vane type mechanism inside (I have two already).
A Cabin Blower is designed to blow (unsurprisingly). It works on a Roots principle with lobed rotors.

Anyone who wants to swap two vacuum pumps for one cabin blower will get a free bottle of malt whisky thrown in....

Charles

Have you heard of Foxwell superchargers Charles,I believe they were developed from an industrial vacuum pump.


New to me Dave.
A quick Google gives me some info from bike sites.
I have no doubt it works and you could use a B3 vacuum pump as a blower. However the insides of the B3 vacuum pump don't inspire confidence.