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).
Complaints of excessive heat in the vehicle's cowl and footwell, with proposed solutions.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 74\3\ scan0145 | |
| Date | 30th July 1925 guessed | |
| -2- (b) Complaints of passengers of general heat in the cowl, and principally of hot feet (when the complaints are analysed). We have seen a proposed English standardisation sheet for leather flaps in the pedal slots, but do not think that in this climate the leather would live long or adequately close the opening. Also, we find that the driver's complaint is that the accelerator pedal itself gets so hot by conduction as to burn his foot through the sole of the shoe. Our suggestions are seven: (1) A bakelite or fiber pedal pad for the accelerator pedal to replace F-5771. Print XA-2874 is enclosed showing this in Bakelite. In fiber, the pad would be a simple one piece pad of similar shape fixed by two bolts sunk into the fiber. This prevents conduction of heat to the driver's foot. A number of wood or fiber shoes for the existing pedals are fixed by drivers on their Rolls-Royce cars, and are even used on our test cars and demonstrators. In every case the relief is remarkable without any other change whatever. (2) A guard (sketch enclosed) has been fitted by us to one car to take the place of the flywheel guard, the idea being to prevent the hot blast from the fan through the pedal slots without obstructing the passage of air from the fan into the gearbox undersheet. This guard is very effective in stopping the blast of air. It had been hoped to obtain a down draft of cold air through the slots. This does not occur, but the air at the slots is quite still. It prevents splashing of water through the slots and may therefore take the place of the flywheel guard. (3) Modification of engine undersheets to allow all air from the fan to escape below the bonnet, followed by closing up entirely the opening between the lower edge of the dashboard and the front panel of the gearbox undersheet. Sketch enclosed shows sloping splash plates in front of the engine as used on a great number of new car designs in this country, the idea being to stop the mud from the front wheels | ||