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).
Implementation of the Bowden wire control for radiator shutters and issues found during testing.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 39\4\ Scan077 | |
| Date | 1st December 1925 | |
| To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from Hm.{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} Yd at 99 Hm{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs}10/W1.12.25. RADIATOR SHUTTERS. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}2/LG1.12.25. We think your memo might cause S. Dept. to be under a misapprehension as regards the Bowden wire control. It is true we use a Bowden cable, but not in the same way that Barkers and Paddon Bros. use this control. For instance, on the 20HP. we use a wire which has a practically straight pull, and for angles we use bell crank levers carried on sound bearings, whereas Barkers and Paddons use the Bowden cable round bends, and to overcome the friction very strong springs are engaged to pull back, and consequently the wire gets stretched and does not stop put. A further point which we consider important is the effective range for the control quadrant, which on a car we tested was insufficient to open the shutters more than 45°. On a test we made with shutters full open and removed, we found the worst difference in temperature 7° to 8° higher with the shutters and without them. Hm.{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} | ||