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).
Investigation into a high-pressure petrol pump failure from chassis 3.CM.107 due to gummed valves.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 96\1\ scan0318 | |
| Date | 14th June 1938 | |
| 361 To By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} c. to OWH. c. to W/N. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/JBD.{John B. Dixon - Fuel Systems}7/JH.14.6.38. High Pressure Petrol Pump off Chassis 3.CM.107. We received the above pump today and confirm the findings in GWH{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux}'s memo. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/OWH.21/R.10.6.38. The pump had been fitted with brass plugs over the unions and in spite of the short time these have been on the pump they were very discoloured inside where they had been in contact with the liquid remaining in the pump. On examination it was found that the delivery valves on both units were gummed down on their seats and all the brass much discoloured, with the valves removed both sides functioned correctly. This is a clear case of failure being due to gum forming on the valves while standing and would affect any type of valved pump. There was nothing the matter with the electrical mechanism. Similar trouble was experienced with pumps which had been kept in stock when the rubber dust covers were fitted on the unions. These were replaced by brass nuts see Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/JBD.{John B. Dixon - Fuel Systems}1/JH.26.2.38. owing to the above trouble. We see that a previous complaint of noise from a HP. pump on this chassis was reported 1.3.38. and consequently the present pump must have been fitted then. We wish to investigate the history of this pump and find out what fuel was used. Will GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} please let me know when it would be convenient to come down this week to investigate this case. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/JBD.{John B. Dixon - Fuel Systems} | ||