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).
Letter from the Experimental Department rejecting a submitted fan drive design.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 135\1\ scan0048 | |
| Date | 11th December 1936 | |
| 1135 Experimental Department 11th December 1936. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Std.10/AP. Mr.Thos. T.Chilton, "Helenlea", 38 Alexandra Road, Parkstone, DORSET Dear Sir, We thank you for your letter of the 14th. November, and apologise for the delay in replying to same. We regret to say that we do not see our way to utilising the design of fan drive which you have submitted to us, as we definitely use our fan for cooling purposes throughout a large portion of the speed range, and in any case, have thermostatically controlled radiator shutters to minimise warming up time. Any attempt to declutch the fan at a given engine speed by means of a governor would be impracticable, since if the driver of the car chose to cruise at that speed, continual slip with consequent wear and overheating of the fan clutch would result. We thank you however, for permitting us to inspect your design, which we return herewith. Yours faithfully, FOR ROLLS-ROYCE LTD. | ||