Thrust SSC - Sponsors

Hellermann Electric

Hellermann Electric has total responsibility for meeting the exacting requirements of the interconnect wiring system on Thrust SSC. High specification components have been selected from our extensive range to achieve ultimate reliability, including high mechanical strength, chemical resistance and temperature requirements up to 260°C. Think of Hellermann for:

Our Limited Fire Hazard Products address four aspects of a fire situation:

Developing innovative products and providing technical solutions from concept to production is "what makes us tick". Our philosophy of listening and responding to customer needs has resulted in giving "creative service" - what customers want, but with some added value which they hadn't expected! This can range from better designs and problem solving to simply trying harder to please.

Hellermann products used consist of Silicone markers, Elastomeric and Fluorel heatshrink tubing, thermoset moulded parts and adhesives.

To enable the fabrication of the complete harness other products were sourced to complete the component package from sub-sponsors.

  1. Military style circular high density connectors from ITT Cannon
  2. High temperature PTFE wire from Axon, France
  3. Circular connector backshell adaptors from Polamco, Bath
  4. EMI/RFI woven screening braid from Metex, Banbury
  5. Power cabling from BICC Cable, Leigh

In liaising with Andy Day, and more recently Jeremy Bliss, on the Thrust Electrical Design Team, we designed the various harnesses covering:

  1. Ride and Handling
  2. Fire Protection
  3. Parachute
  4. Power Circuits
  5. Brakes
  6. Video

The most interesting of the harnesses is the ride handling. This is an umbilical cable connecting approximately 140 - 170 sensors, measuring temperature and strain to the PI Research computer, this being similar high technology to that used in Formula One racing cars.

Two branched harnesses were produced, the rear 8 metres long and the front 5 metres long. Some 290 26 AWG wires 1mm in diameter run from the front to the rear of the vehicle. To facilitate quick fault finding, each wire is fitted with a silicone marker at both ends. The wires are hand layed contra-helically in circular form, then covered with two layers of shielding braid and over jacketed with heatshrink tubing and moulded parts with epoxy adhesive, effecting a sealed system. Each individual branch is then fitted with a Silicone printed sleeve, for ease of identification and location, when installing in the vehicle.

Finished cable diameter over the jacket is only 23mm, keeping the cable weight to a minimum. Both harnesses enter the vehicle bulkhead via 6 mated pairs of 128 way connectors.

For more information, please contact:

Hellermann Electric
Pennycross Close
Plymouth
PL2 3NX
Devon

Tel: +44 (0)1752 701261
Fax: +44 (0)1752 790058

Our sister company, Staeng Ltd. is skilfully assembling the various wiring looms for Thrust SSC. Staeng specialise in the fabrication of aerospace-type electrical wiring harnesses serving customers from racing cars to military style systems.

Staeng Ltd, Specialist Harness Maker
Bridge Road
Goonhavern
Cornwall
TR4 9QL

Tel: +44 (0)1872 572071
Fax: +44 (0)1872 571335



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