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).
Issues and proposed modifications for Bentley petrol feed systems, referencing tests on a Phantom model.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 167\4\ img007 | |
| Date | 17th May 1934 | |
| 844523 To Mr/RM.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} from E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c.c. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Vor. Dy.{F R Danby} Ha/Wst: By/RD Bentley Petrol Feed. With regard to your remarks under the above heading in Ha/RM.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}14/MA.10.5.34, the recent Phantom tests in France with electric petrol pumps experimentally rigged up on the exhaust side of the engine do not bear much relation to the scheme we are at present using on the Bentley. Actually the Phantom thus equipped will not run in England as when I had this car two weeks ago it stopped due to vapour lock after running through the town and would only continue to run during the weekend with the shutters jacked fully open. The petrol pumps have in this instance been rigged up very close to the exhaust pipe and the car is equipped with a radiator matrix inducing a very high under bonnet temperature. With regard to the suggestion to combine the petrol pumps and filter with the tap in one unit, this has also been proposed independently by A/PSN and I think it merits serious consideration and should be a very suitable scheme for the SpectreCodename for Phantom III. It is important in carrying the petrol pipe outside of the frame to make sure that it is shielded from radiation arising from hot road surfaces. Another proposal put up by A/PSN. some time ago is to use a warning light in place of the present reserve system. The latter involves the use of a complicated petrol tap and two petrol pipes running from the front to the rear of the chassis, also further complication in the fuel tank. The former could be carried out in the petrol level indicator itself without the addition of any external alterations and possesses the advantage of remaining on all the time the engine is running on reserve, and thereby acting as a constant reminder of the situation. Another point is that with the former scheme the | ||