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).
Fire risks, throttle controls, and the testing of a new heated pipe design.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 75\2\ scan0235 | |
| Date | 1st August 1921 guessed | |
| Oy3 - G 12721 Sheet #2. Caswell has had gasoline pouring on the bare exhaust pipe on his Buick many times, but never had a fire. We could put a tray under the carburetter so that drips fell clear of the front silencer (which is jacketted in any case.) The fire risk of the present steering column switch is far greater than the risk of a hot exhaust pipe. Of course on the L.H. side, the main switch would be dangerous, but this could possibly be moved to the R.H. side, or eliminated altogether and a simple foot-operated starter switch substituted, without use of a relay except for the actuating box. If we are to drop the governor (as the proposed butterfly throttle suggests), it would seem possible to bring the controls to the L.H. side by means of a cross-spindle at the base of the dashboard, like most cars use. Finally, with regard to your new design of heated pipe, our aim is to try this out to (1) see whether we get pre-ignitions, or (2) gas temperatures in excess of 200°F.{Mr Friese}, which would be sailing pretty close to preignition or detonation on hills, (3) run the engine on dynamometer with cold water and note the effect of a cold engine on loading up and low speed distribution, and if all these things promised well, get it on the first car possible, taking a chance on the pipe showing up well under winter conditions. Meanwhile, we are continuing with the heated pipe, from hand to mouth, with slow-speed interchange from nozzles in the outlets of Nos. 1 and 6, as you suggested some time ago, and which we have tested on 4-EX and on 102-CE (our demonstration chassis). OY. M.{Mr Moon / Mr Moore} Olley | ||