draws a straight line between each pair of are labelled O or I, after all surfaces have view), provides a fairly
es a fairly severe test.
co-ordinate points defining an unbroken
filament, or segment, on the image. In the
illustrations in this article, the original
plots have been retraced for clarity before
reproduction.
Realistic view
In the piping display (which is an
essential prerequisite calculation), certain
intersecting edges on the image plane are
deliberately subdivided and the new
segments shortened arbitrarily if they
overlap. Suppose the new segments so
produced have their shortened end points
generally labelled G for gap. Inter-
sections for which a split was not intro-
duced in the piping calculation (because
the distances from T are equal), and
which do not result from projecting
vertices of the object, are subdivided
without shortening and labelled G'. Let
I (for intersection) contain both G and
G' points on the image. Many of these
points I will lie within surfaces on the
image that result from projecting plane
surfaces in the object.
If any point I is found to lie within a
surface S, and if the equivalent projected
points in the object I' and S' show that
the distance TI' exceeds TS', I is said
to make a 'hole' in the surface S. The
point I is now labelled IH (for hole).
Other points in the image, resulting from
projecting vertices, are labelled O, unless
they make a hole in a surface, in which
case they are labelled OH. Four classes
of points arise: namely, O, I, OH and IH.
Only those segments whose end points
WIRING REGULATIONS
IEE AND METRIC SUPPLEMENT
Notes regarding the main changes of
technical substance introduced by the
March 1970 amendments to the IEE
Wiring Regulations and 'metric' supple-
ment (23rd March 1970 IEE News, p. 16)
Regulation 1(e): Joints in conductors
The amendments include the deletion of
Regulation l(e). This regulation, which has
hitherto required all electrical joints and
connections to be accessible for inspection
(with certain exceptions), has been found
inappropriate to Part I in the light of recent
developments in jointing techniques and
prefabricated wiring systems. The require-
ments of the regulations in this respect are
now expressed in Regulation B.73 of Part II
which has also been amended and specifies
the circumstances in which certain types of
joint may be inaccessible for inspection.
Regulation A.1-0Exemption (vii):
Excess-current protection of
flexible cords
This exemption has been modified so as to
allow the protection of 40/0076in flexible
cords by a 15 A fuse affording 'coarse' pro-
tection, or a 20 A fuse affording 'close'
protection, or a 20A miniature (m.c.b.) or
moulded-case (m.c.c.b.) circuit breaker. This
amendment is made in conjunction with the
issue of BS Code of Practice CP 1017:
'Distribution of electricity on construction
and building sites', which was published in
January 1970 and provides for the connection
of 40/00076in cords to ways in distribution
units protected by 20 A circuit breakers.
In metric terms, the exemption is modified
to admit the protection' of 10mm 2 cords by
a 20 A fuse affording 'close' protection, or a
20A m.c.b. or m.c.c.b.
Electronics & Power June 1970
been checked for holes, can actually be
seen. Other combinations are either
impossible or cannot be seen.
The program checks each end point (of
a complete segment) against each surface
until the unseen segments are eliminated.
Fig. 2 shows the same object that is
illustrated in Fig. 1, but the hidden lines
(segmented edges) have been removed.
This test case is not particularly easy,
because many edges are segmented.
Surfaces are considered to be 'opaque'
convex polygons. Convex 'windows' are
specified by subtraction of the inner
surface from the outer one; for example,
the surface 1, 2, 3, 4 minus the surface
5, 6, 7, 8 in Fig. 2 gives one end of the
cube. This specification permits the use
of weighted co-ordinates as a test for
determining whether points lie within a
convex polygonal surface. Tolerances
have to be introduced to allow for loss of
accuracy in solving the various equations
used. Re-entrant polygons have not been
considered.
Figs. 3 and 4 show a piping projection
and a view, respectively, of a rather
simplified model of a power station, in
which the unseen outline has been
removed by applying the method de-
scribed earlier. The circular chimneys
are represented in this rather experi-
mental program as 12-sided polygons
tapering upwards. The focal point G has
been chosen at the base of the chimneys,
and midway between them. This example,
involving a collection of objects that
overlap one another (in this particular
Regulation B.73
See the above note concerning Regulation
Ke).
Regulation B.91: Capacities of conduits
Regulation B.91 has been amended, and notes
have been added to its associated Tables
B.5, B.6, B.5M and B.6M to emphasise the
primary requirement of the regulation,
which is that the numbers of cables must be
selected by the designer of each particular
installation so as to ensure easy drawing in.
The values stated in the tables are maxima
for safety and relate only to the particular
type of conduit run on which the tests and
calculations carried out for the 14th edition
and for the metric supplement were based;
that is, a run incorporating not more than
two 90° bends of radius not less than that
of a BS31 normal bend. The values are
intended to be reduced where necessary;
for example, where the runs have more
bends or other restrictions than those assumed
as normal for the purposes of the regulations.
The need for care by the designer is
greater where metric solid-conductor cables
are to be drawn in. These cables are more
compact than their 'inch' counterparts and
more of them can therefore be drawn into
simple conduit runs, but they are also
stiffer and their drawing in is correspond-
ingly more affected by any additional bends or
restrictions.
Regulation C.25: Edison-screw
lampholders
This regulation has been revised to provide
for the use of Edison-screw lampholders in
circuits derived from a source of supply
having neither pole connected to earth.
The need for this use of Edison-screw lamp-
It is difficult, in displays of collections
of objects, to be absolutely certain that all
viewing positions will produce a correct
display. Several viewing positions have
been tried. Clearly, improvements in the
representations of objects—whether they
be structures or engineering components
—are needed, and these improvements
are envisaged as a later stage of develop-
ment.
Simple approach
There are many problems involved in
projecting objects in three dimensions.
The simple approach described in this
article does not deal with curved surfaces,
and needs to be extended in this area.
No attempt has been made either to
introduce sophisticated data input and
manipulation of objects, or to optimise
the program coding or storage.
The program is regarded as a first step
towards justifying a more sophisticated
program which would be used as a
design aid by engineers. The elimination
of the unseen outline produces a useful
display akin to an 'artist's impression',
especially if some perspective is present.
The ability to obtain a 'true' view from
any position should be more revealing
than the conventional 'isometric pro-
jection'.
The work described in this article was done at the
CEGB's London Computing Branch, and I am grateful
for the CEGB's kind permission to publish the results.
I would like to thank Miss M. E. Jones for her effort
in producing the program.
holders may arise particularly on construc-
tion and building sites where, in accordance
with the BS Code of Practice CP 1017 (1970),
110 V supplies are obtained from transformers
having the centre point of their secondary
windings earthed, and where noninterchange-
ability of 110 V and 240 V lamps needs to be
ensured.
Table 1M: P.V.C.-insulated cables to
BS6004
The amendments include corrections to the
values of current rating stated in the metric
supplement for three or four cables (3-phase8
a.c.) of conductor sizes 16, 25 and 35 mm
installed in conduit or trunking.
Tables 5M, 6M and 25M: Armoured
p.v.c.-insulated cables
These tables provide current ratings and
values of voltage drop for cables to BS6346,
published in November 1969.
Tables 11M, 12M, 28M and 29M:
Paper-insulated cables
These tables provide current ratings and
values of voltage drop for cables to BS6480;
Part 1 of which was published in November
1969.
Tables 13M to 16M: Mineral-insulated
cables
Amendments are made to take account of the
fact that the types and ranges of conductor
size specified for metric mineral-insulated
cables (m.i.c.) in BS6207: Pt. 1, issued in
October 1969, differ slightly from those
anticipated when the metric supplement was
published.
Some corrections to the values of voltage
drop for metric m.i.c.s are also included.
207