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).
Daily report on radiator and fan testing conducted at Brooklands to resolve overheating issues.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 155\1\ scan0285 | |
| Date | 8th June 1937 | |
| To Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} 1320 8. 6. 37. N/W Daily Report - Radiator. Tests at Brooklands - 7. 6. 37. & 8. 6. 37. We arrived at Cricklewood yesterday morning (Monday) and having collected 22-G-5 proceeded to Brooklands for further tests on fans. The day was hot - air temperature of 22-25°C. being experienced. While at Cricklewood two customers cars which were complaining of overheating were tested - one, fitted with a Mark 5 matrix was definitely silted up - the other - 3-AZ-210 - (this car has a Mark 6 matrix) but gave no trouble at high speeds but when idled dead slow from its running temperature of 80°C. it commenced to lose water, as steam, after approximately 17 minutes continuous idling. The steam valve had been correctly set by us. This car has had its calorstat spring removed and is being returned to the customer as being the best we can do without fitting a new fan. We have completed tests on the five blade Cadillac fan with three different speed ratio drives and also tests with and without calorstat spring fitted. These tests which took until lunch time today, indicate big gains as regards idling conditions with the higher speed fans but the two highest ones cause too much noise to be acceptable. The lowest of the three speed ratios seems to be acceptable from a noise standpoint and shows a definite gain in cooling ( it is a single belt drive) - it should suffice for all temperature conditions likely to be met in this country. We have returned to Cricklewood this afternoon and are changing the radiator matrix and proceeding with the matrix comparisons proposed as we have brought 6 matrix units to test and have only four days left this week - each unit takes at least one day to change and test. We shall therefore test the units which seem of most immediate value i.e. 1. Lightened construction Mark 6 which we are standardising shortly 2. American latest type of core (18 x 62) which Marstons expect to have in production shortly 3. Mark 6 matrix with reduced width to permit cool air entry. 4. Gallay matrix as alternative to Marston type. We may be able to test the other two ( Mark 5 for reduction of under bonnet air temperature and Marston - renovated Mark 5) under road conditions at Derby. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/STD. | ||