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 Air Ministry discussing the rate of erosion in low versus high voltage spark plug gaps.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 58\2\ Scan062 | |
| Date | 8th November 1933 | |
| 81812.a AIR MINISTRY, ADASTAL HOUSE, KINGSWAY, W.C.2. Your ref:- Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Wst.1/MA. 8th November, 1933. Dear Mr. West, In reply to your letter of the 24th ultimo re the rate of erosion with low voltage gaps, what I had in mind was the tendency of this type of gap to run hotter than the high voltage type which would, of course, assist erosion. This type of gap was introduced many years ago but was abandoned owing to the temperatures obtained with it. Although we have a large number of low voltage plugs in the Service now we have not yet been able to obtain any actual figures as to the comparative rate of erosion and so the matter is still open to debate. 2. As against the higher temperature, there is, of course, a much bigger sparking area and this will in all probability counteract any increased rate of erosion by higher working temperature alone. There is no doubt, however, in my mind that the increased lead contained in fuels, the increased temperature with low voltage form of electrodes and the capacity effect of the screen [handwritten insertion: screening] on the spark all tend to operate in one direction, and I think you will probably agree with this. Yours sincerely, E.L. Mayall Eubage H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} West, Esq., Messrs. Rolls-Royce, Ltd., DERBY. | ||