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).
Amendment to Specification 301 for the 40/50 HP battery's sealing compound, including supplier feedback.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 54\2\ Scan049 | |
| Date | 18th November 1924 | |
| EFC. {E. Fowler Clarke - Electrical Engineer} from Wd. {Mr Wood / Mr Whitehead} X4617 Wd {Mr Wood / Mr Whitehead} 5/WJ18.11.24. 40/50 HP.Battery - Specification 301. With EFC {E. Fowler Clarke - Electrical Engineer} 1/T27.10.24 you sent me an amendment of Clause 12 of Specification 301 (your ref: EFC {E. Fowler Clarke - Electrical Engineer} 1/T8.3.24). This amendment was communicated to the Chloride Co. and to Peto & Radford. The Chloride Co. acknowledged receipt of our letter and stated they had substituted the new Clause 12 (Sealing Compound) for the one which originally appeared in the specification. Peto & Radford have now written to say that they duly instructed their Works to make the modification in the specification and that they have now had a reply (from their Works) as follows:- "The smallamount of sealing compound run all over "the tops of the cells makes no difference whatever in "taking the battery to pieces or to pull out a cell. A "knife has to be used in any case and to run through the "small extra amount of sealing is a matter of a few "seconds only. The sealing is run all over and to "prevent acid getting down between the cells. As we "supply batteries to Messrs.Rolls-Royce fully charged "possibly they do not realise the liability of acid "being spilt on first charge, firstly in filling and "adjusting to correct the gravity and more importantly "when acid is thrown up and bubbles out of the vents "as always happens to any battery on first charge. This "is bound to get down between the cells and perhaps "Messrs.R.R. have overlooked this. If Messrs.R.R. are "willing to risk the rotting of the wood boxes we are "quite willing to carry out your suggestion but wood "boxes rot quickly enough as it is and are one of the "weakest parts of the battery and we think it is a bad "move to do anything which will accelerate their getting "rotted." It appears to me that the foregoing remarks are superfluous and if you approve, I propose to write Peto & Radford and inform them that the amended Clause 12 (Sealing Compound) must be precisely complied with, except that the compound chosen should not melt and run down into the cells at 110°F. {Mr Friese} (not 100°F. {Mr Friese} as I think you have incorrectly put in your Clause). Wd. {Mr Wood / Mr Whitehead} Wd. {Mr Wood / Mr Whitehead} | ||