From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Issues with automatic carburettors and suggestions for improving their design for easier fault diagnosis.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 122\4\ scan0075 | |
| Date | 25th April 1935 | |
| To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} and Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} from E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} re Automatic Carburetters. With reference to the question of automatic carburetters which was discussed at the meeting held in Derby on the 16th, the American examples of this type of instrument that we have in Derby have not been entirely trouble free, so far as we are aware, and take some understanding to get the required results. An automatic carburetter has only a limited intelligence, and when anything goes wrong or trouble arises from unusual conditions, the operator has no means of intervening except to start pulling things to pieces. Personally I am of the opinion that any automatic device should be made as far as possible obvious in its operation, that is to say, automatic chokes, mixture controls, and slow running stops, should all show at a glance whether they are in the correct position corresponding to the temperature of the engine. With this provision the location of trouble should be greatly simplified, and it should be possible therewith to differentiate more easily between faults arising out of carburation and ignition etc. In our own development we are working along these lines. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} | ||