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).
The application of synchronous motors for mileage and time measurement.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 165\4\ img062 | |
| Date | 20th May 1930 | |
| EFC2/AD20.5.30 contd. -2- There is the question of miles measurement in addition to that of speed measurement. You may know that it is now possible to obtain small self-starting and synchronising motors (called Warren motors) which will self-start and operate synchronously on an alternating voltage, in fact, apparatus is on the market for controlling the frequency of supply stations in such a way that these motors can be used as the basis of clocks called Synclocks which, to my mind, undoubtedly represent the clock of the future. It appears certain that the supply frequency will be properly controlled when the Grid System becomes universal --- it is understood that one or two of the London Power Cos. already do this so that all consumers have time available continuously by the use of synclocks. I have had a synclock now for some months though the Derby supply frequency is not yet properly controlled (slightlyfast) nevertheless it is quite a useful clock. I have little doubt, but I hope to be able to make sure of this point, that such a motor would run synchronously on an alternating current supply in which the voltage is in proportion to the frequency (alternator speed). It might lose a few revolutions at slow speed when the alternator is started off, but in the main it would perform the same number of revolutions (or a proportionalnumber according to design) as the alternator. | ||