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).
Reliability issues with dynamo, cut-out, and fuse components.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 180\M1\8\ img006 | |
| Date | 1st July 1921 | |
| To CJ. from R.{Sir Henry Royce} -2- R1/G1/7/21 Contd. cause trouble to the windings or commutator. The brush holders, although nicely made, have a rigid arm to keep the carbon on the commutator, such a rigid arm is not in my opinion the best practice, and may account for the brushes not giving entire satisfaction. Regarding the cut-out, I have only seen the experimental one, when I see the practical model suitable for fitting into the Lucas switchbox, I shall have a better chance of judging its reliability, but in addition to bearing the sparking breaking the circuit, there is the trouble of corrosion of the contacts that may take place. I mean such corrosion caused by the moist air near the sea. EFC. and HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} should feel they are responsible that the cutout is thoroughly efficient and reliable. As regards the fuses, either these have only shewn defective through the defective automatic switch, or no move whatever has yet been taken to reduce the risk of their failure. To carry two loaded spares does not meet want of reliability. My own impression is that the lengthening of the dynamo and the cutting-in at the earlier speed is not the real cause of the trouble, but it is the want of reliability of the various parts, and the curing of this want of reliability would, to a great measure, make the equipment passably satisfactory, i.e. the fitting of a thoroughly efficient and reliable switch and reliable fuses, and the removal of the smallest defects in the dynamo, the dissatisfaction would be reduced more than is realised. Only in exceptional cases would the longer dynamo be needed, especially as we are gearing cars so much lower than in the past, a cutout which acts badly and late would spoil the cutting-in of any dynamo. (Contd.) | ||