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).
Discussion about potential patent infringement regarding a semi-expanding carburetter and the S.U. patent.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 31\4\ Scan242 | |
| Date | 28th November 1932 | |
| X 1487 To DG. / WOR.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} } from E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} E.3/HP.28.11.32. c. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} By/NW.{N. Walker - Patents} re R.R. Semi-Expanding Carburetter and S.U. Patent. Referring to the above matter I went over to Birmingham on Saturday morning and discussed the whole matter very thoroughly with Mr Skinner. By tracing the development of the Rolls-Royce air valve from our first patent of 1905 up to the present time it is very clear that its principle of operation remains fundamentally the same, and that there is no infringement of the only patent at present held by the S.U. Co. Mr Skinner agreed that this is so and this clears up the position created by the letter of Messrs. Marks and Clark, who were acting in anadvisory capacity for S.U. and whom Mr Skinner agrees would be unaware of the information submitted with regard to the Rolls-Royce air valve. It was further agreed that the only feature we have borrowed from the S.U. design is the central guide, and that this is a feature which is not covered by the S.U. patent and was used on their carburetters many years prior to the acceptance of the existing S.U. patent. Mr Skinner agreed that any reference by Rolls-Royce to the S.U. patent would therefore be misleading and said he would be satisfied if we expressed our acknowledgment of the use of the central guide in the form of a letter as he is not interested by monetary considerations in the matter. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} | ||