What is this thing we found? 2

[Toxick]

Photos sent to me by co-worker. Encountered this "hatch" when vegetation was cleared at a former rocket mortor test facililty. From size of safety barrier mesh, looks like the hatch would be tight but accessible for a person. Anyone have any ideas what it might be? It would be good to have some ideas before exploring. FYI, they are confident it is not from the Dharma Initiative

 

[msquared48]

I assume you mean a rocket MOTOR, not mortor, test facility?

If there is an underground bunker, it could be an escape hatch, but I'm just guessing here. I'm a little concerned with what could be a ground wire leading down from the handle across the lid. If this is from the Vietnam era, this could be a trip wire... (just kidding).

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

[kelowna]

Fuel/water deposit?

 

[RWF7437]

Can you not contact the previous owner of the "rocket mortar" facility ?

 

[msquared48]

Good idea, with the ground it could be an access at least to an underground fuel tank. The lack of height above the ground though with the possibility of fuel contamination during the refueling process makes me think that this is not the refueling point, maybe only an access/inspection port.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

[Toxick]

Thanks all. Fuel UST seems like best bet.

 

[Ron]

Considering the significant nature of its latch system, it is likely a cover for a valve or control system. Probably not a personnel access cover.

Since there is a manufacturer's identification on the cover, I would suggest you contact them or at least "Google" the name...maybe that will tell you what it is.

 

[concretemasonry]

Where is it located?

Most liquid powered engines are/were powered by a fuel (RP1 or kerosene and liquid hydrogen) plus an oxidizers (usually liquid oxygen and rarely flox or floridated liquid oxygen the that was very unpredictable). The test facilities were usually upright towers and tank, but there were some below ground systems for unique tests of developing or proving engines. the liquid oxygen powered engine contained a great deal of power per pound, but the facilities had to be built to avoid the use of any asphalt pavement (a fuel). The liquid hydrogen was also very powerful and dangerous, requiring frequent purging of the tanks and traveling in pairs if there was a non-purged tank because it is easily ignited and burns at high temperatures with a colorless flame in the daytime. All of the liquid oxygen and hydrogen had to be in cryogenic piping The most common engine was the engines that powered the Saturn rockets. If it was a test site for liquid engines the shaft could lead to many different possibilities.

Solid propellant engines were tested with the flame pointing up and could not be controlled once started and usually did not have the ability to be started and stopped. they are still used and ejected once the fuel was used.

Some of the common test areas for liquid powered engines were the Santa Susana/Simi Valley of CA, Edwards AFB an area near Reno, NV Missouri and Huntsville AL. There were some test facilities for solid fuel engines near Sacramento, CA. You never knew what to expect because of the experiments and rapid changes.

If you find out about the type of engines tested and provide site location this may narrow the possibilities, but frequently land owners may be reluctant to offer information because of the potential pollution problems that never seem to go away. Some sites were on government property because of security concerns.

I worked in the industry as a facilities engineer for several years and it was the most education I ever got ranging from building design, wells, dams/holding ponds, roads and modifying test stands (including dynamic testing with all joints instrumented) when we could get access around the engines.

Dick

 

[bimr]

I believe what you are looking at is a Shand & Jurs Tank Gauge Hatch:

http://www.ljtechnologies.com/sj/sjgaugehatch.htm

Hard to make the name out on the picture, but it looks like the name Shand & Jurs Berkeley CA.

Typically used to measure the liquid level in a tank.

 

[msquared48]

Ok. Then is is a fancy dipstick. Typical government equipment - costs far more than you need.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

[ishvaaag]

Whatever the thing ... it seems some huge tank may be "lurking" below. So if your work ends with just such surface cleanup be careful enough to let know in writing those coming your worries about.