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).
Design modifications for radiators to facilitate chromium plating.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 154a\1\ scan0179 | |
| Date | 1st December 1929 | |
| HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} X442 R1/MM.12.29. C. to SG.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} WOR.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} HY.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} RADIATORS - CHROMIUM PLATING. We are sending you a design of a method of putting the radiator together after chromium plating. This is based on the scheme BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} lately described. We have however modified it so that it will be easier to carry out. We have also been able to cut out some work and weight. Our idea is based on making the side plates removable so that the ends of the tank can be treated in exactly the same way as the front and back. By removing the side plates one might consider the possibility of plating the tank in position, but we do not think that this is quite possible because the top row of tubes would get in the liquid, and we suppose that this is objectionable, though why it should be we hardly know, except perhaps they are difficult to clean. Regarding the metal to be used we should prefer the nickel silver plates as in the past, but possibly it may be tried a little thinner. The advantage of the nickel silver is that it is a much worse conductor of heat than brass. The reason for suggesting a little thinner is that you might be able to solder without transmitting so much heat. It will be remembered that the construction with angles etc makes such a sound job that one cannot help thinking that some of the metal might be thinner, even if the outside top and front plates maintained their present thickness so that they can be beautifully flat. You will remember that it was discussed that we might come to a loose shell put over the radiator proper. It may come to this, but I hope not, as it is false construction for the sake of the plating, and we should lose the cooling of the tank, and with our large engine we cannot afford any reduction in cooling capacity. If this new construction is thought hopeful it might be tried in conjunction with the new shape of tank to DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}'s latest modifications. It might also include the preparations for the thermostat fittings, and then if successful it would not have to be done a second time. We are also sending a modification which should make plating the tank after completing all soldering still more possible. It consists of cancelling the top row of tubes, and the water tank deeper - i.e. it will be less depth than at present with DA{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}/EV{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}'s latest shape, and | ||