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).
Enquiries regarding Clayton Heaters, rheostats, and airflow measurement instruments.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 137\3\ scan0158 | |
| Date | 2nd March 1940 | |
| - 2 - Continued:- 3. Enquiries regarding the electric motor used on the Clayton Heaters elicited the information that these were made by Klaxons. It also appears that the original motors supplied by Klaxons for Rolls-Royce Clayton Heaters were of a special design known as the Rolls motor by the makers and run at an approximate speed of 2000 r.p.m. Rolls-Royce Ltd. however complained of the expense and a cheaper model was presented to them which was slightly more noisy. This it appears they agreed to accept and the original Rolls motor is now not made. Current consumption of the existing model appears to be in a region of 2 amps. 4. No particular information of interest regarding rheostats was obtained but it appears that Claytons have been thinking about a scheme which we have already got in hand namely, the deletion of the rheostat from the instrument board, and employing instead a three way switch giving alternative positions of full heat, moderate heat and off. 5. On the question of demisting and defrosting the air delivery was considered adequate and it would appear that satisfactory clearing of the screen could be obtained by modification to the ducting on the scuttle rail. 6. Enquiries were made as to Clayton's method of measuring air flows and it appears that they use both the anemometer and a product of Metropolitan Vickers called a "velometer". Their criticism of these instruments was that the anemometer, whilst being very useful and simple was at the same time thoroughly inaccurate, generally reading high, and results varied considerably with temperature. It could accordingly only be used for very general comparative results and small differences in air flow could not be measured with any reliability. The Velometer on the other hand was extremely sensitive but unfortunately it deteriorated with time, and required returning to the makers at set periods for re-calibration at a standing charge of 3 to 4 guineas. The original cost of the instrument was in the region of £20. 7. Mr. Blomeley also had in his possession a summarised list of the properties of a very considerable number of - continued - | ||