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).
Dissatisfaction with current anti-spill radiator caps and the testing of a superior American 'Camel' valve.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 149a\3\ scan0139 | |
| Date | 29th November 1934 | |
| To E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Std.8/KW.29.11.34. Anti-Spill Radiator Caps. We are dissatisfied with the present anti-spill valve in our radiator caps, which we have tested and found to leak seriously - in the tests in question the leakage amounted to 1 pint in a 100 miles run. We have also tested an American "Camel" valve (we are sending you a complete valve of this type and also a dismantled valve), and there was no appreciable loss in a similar run. The blow-off pressures of our valve and the Camel valve are respectively 2 lbs/sq.in. and 4.5 lbs/sq.in. The temperatures at which boiling occurs are respectively 103°C. and 107°C. with water, and 86°C. and 91°C. with alcohol anti-freeze. We think that a valve of the Camel type should be designed for our cars. This could be incorporated in the top tank as shown on accompanying sketch Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}1633. The main feature of the Camel valve is the large ratio of pressure operating area to valve area; i.e., allowing a small valve area with relatively high seat load. Such a valve would be very valuable on cars operating in the U.S.A., where alcohol anti-freeze is generally used, since it would very much reduce the loss of alcohol. The other feature of this valve which we consider advantageous is the fact that it is a one-way valve; i.e., does not admit air to the system, thus largely preventing corrosion. We do not think that the effect of the partial vacuum in the system caused by cooling would have any effect, in view of the fact that these valves are used on a large number of American cars. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/C.S.Steadman. | ||