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).
Condenser failures, attributing them to production issues and proposing solutions including an update to the production test specification.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 52\3\ Scan078 | |
| Date | 5th May 1923 | |
| To By. {R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Contd. -2- EFC {E. Fowler Clarke - Electrical Engineer} 2/T15.5.23. of partial failures, i.e. burning of the points, are occurring due to a similar cause. At any rate the matter is not wholly a question of design, because it is quite clear that even as regards production, our recommendations are not being adhered to as regards making the best of the available design. The side of the condenser case in question to which the tin foil strip is fixed to make contact was found to be very dirty and covered with a lot of white dust like French chalk. There is something definitely wrong here which requires at once rectifying, if we are to minimise the trouble of pitting at the platinum points. We know from experiments made that the capacity limits given are right and that the condenser, if properly connected, will keep the points right, but we consider that it is absolutely essential for condenser connections to the points to be as metallically sound as possible. Firstly, we would alter the design and have a solid metallic connection from points to foils. If, however, it is essential on other considerations to have pressure connections, then these must be scrupulously clean and the pressure must be sufficient. In view of the above we are adding another item No. 9, to the Specification of Production Test of this condenser and copies of this are attached so that they can be added to the sheets already in your possession. EFC. {E. Fowler Clarke - Electrical Engineer} | ||