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).
Rejection of a Lucas electrically operated petrol reserve tap and the development of a replacement.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 149\3\ scan0135 | |
| Date | 22th May 1940 | |
| File 1263 To Wv. from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/MHR.{M. H. Rigby} c. to Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. to Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/RC.{R. Childs} c. to Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/HH. RE ELECTRICALLY OPERATED PETROL RESERVE TAP. It appears that a Lucas reserve tap was obtained in the first place. It may have been fitted to a car, but the traces are now obscured. This part was tested and was rejected for two reasons:- (a) It had a ball valve which was liable to corrode and did not give a satisfactory seating. A disc valve was decided on, using a neoprene washer, and having the advantage that a smaller deflection was required. (b) The unit was made to fit smaller bore pipes than our own. The present unit is therefore entirely different to the original, the solenoid windings also having been changed. Why the Lucas people were not asked to do the development work seems to be a question that only J.E.Dixon can answer. No doubt they could be approached with a view to having the parts made out. fm/MHR.{M. H. Rigby} | ||