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).
The failure and dismantling of an Exide 6XR3/1 battery following a life test.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\L\July1924-September1924\ Scan88 | |
| Date | 14th August 1924 | |
| EFC. JB.57. X.4414E - RE FAILURE OF EXIDE 6XR3/1. BATTERY. This battery after having completed 11,326 miles on the road quite satisfactorily was put in the E.M.S. for a life test where it remained for 9 months, broken by a low rate discharge on 12.3.24 it was found that No.3. cell was apparently shorted as no voltage showed when on charge. This battery is now to be dismantled for examination, not having done badly on the whole. Re Dismantling of Exide 6XR3/1 Battery (89) The following are points noticed in the dismantling of the above battery. General. The sealing compound was only run over the cell tops and not down between the cells as in the case of the C.A.V.Willard 12XR2/7. The box was in a fairly sound condition. The sealing compound had not run into the cells through softening with heat. There were no signs of corrosion on the connecting links which were of solid lead throughout. Interior of Cell. Negative plates in good condition. Wood separators in good condition, and the ebonite separators worn thin and in holes probably due to the chafing of the plates - otherwise good. The cell cases are very thin and weak and are liable to crack. The plate supporting ribs in the cell bottom are also weak. The weight of the plates and the heat contracted, together have tended to bend them over, which allowed the plates to sink farther into the cell and consequently allowed less sediment room in the bottom. These should be made much thicker to prevent this occurring in other batteries. A large amount of sediment was found in the bottom. The age of this battery is 29 months. For previous reports on this battery refer to JA.6 14.5.23. The positive plates were in a fair condition, but the grids were very weak and broken, but the paste which was soft was intact and firm. This battery failed by short circuit and had more sediment room been allowed in the cell cases its life would have been much longer, because no sign of buckling was visible and the positive plates would have lasted longer if not disturbed in any way. EFC/CJ. | ||