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).
Proposal for modifications to the battery ignition system to exclude crankchamber gas.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 61b\2\ scan0021 | |
| Date | 11th January 1926 | |
| X8690 Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} EFC. BY/SS.{S. Smith} BY/RD. BY19/H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} 11.1.26. X8691 BATTERY IGNITION. MODIFICATIONS TO EXCLUDE CRANKCHAMBER GAS. Referring to EFC3/T, 8.1.26. and EFC2/T.8.1.26. copies of which Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} can refer to in his Department, it seems to me that the right way is to embody both schemes, that is, Items 1, 2, and 3 plus Item 4. as whilst Item 4. is in no sense dependant on 1, 2, & 3, and is in itself supposed to be a sufficient safe-guard, our experience in the past with platinum points is such as to make me feel inclined to double or treble the safeguards rather than take the risk of going what may be only half way. In standardizing the proposal I would therefore seriously suggest that we attempt to bring in all four items, that is, 1. Two gauze covered windows in the moulding. 2. A ventilation hole in the floor of the distributor. 3. A sliding sleeve on the drive shaft running in an oil well. These represent one complete proposal. To the foregoing I would seriously suggest adding the fourth one, which is an oil well at the bottom of the governor spindle, with the object of again forming an effective seal. The constant over-flow of oil from the ignition governor, through item 4, which returns to the crankcase via. the crankchamber appears to me to be the most dependable method of effectively sealing the parts against crankcase gas, but items 1, 2, & 3, have distinct advantages in regard to ventilation at least, hence my proposal to combine all four on one standardization sheet. In regard to EFC's proposal in EFC3/T.8.1.26, the suggestion that it might be applied retrospectively, I find that this will mean a new moulded cover. If the Experimental Dept. are of the opinion that it is worth while incurring this costly matter on approximately 2000 chassis, then I can take out a card and issue the necessary instructions. Contd. | ||