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).
Letter from Harrison to C. S. Steadman discussing car heater systems, bellows, oil coolers, and airplane cooling systems.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 149a\3\ scan0224 | |
| Date | 9th September 1938 | |
| HARRISON C. S. Steadman Derby, Derbyshire England September 9, 1938 Page 2 Have gone over your car heater print No. D-221 and question whether you will get an adequate supply of air with such a slow speed motor. We find that for satisfactory heating with a body which is reasonably tight – that is, in so far as door fits, etc., are concerned – approximately 200 BTU's/min are required. We have run various systems at different times using fresh warm air drawn from the rear of the car’s radiator. This type of system, however, has a very decided disadvantage in that all odors are passed into the body of the car, which is very unsatisfactory. The new cars here this year will have heating systems which are provided with an outside vent air connection, as we have found that by drawing fresh air into the car and heating it, this will assist in maintaining a positive pressure in the body and eliminate to a tremendous extent the fogging up of all windows. The heat is also more uniformly distributed through the body this year, which makes a more comfortable condition. Am interested in what you have to say about the water hammer effect caused by the bellows having an area considerably greater than that of the thermostat valve, as we have not run any tests here with stats having what we term a reverse balance. In connection with the life of the built-up bellows of the diaphragm type as compared to the hydraulically formed or rolled bellows, when this type of construction was originally instigated, there was an increase in life on our cycling machines of about 10 to 1. However, a tremendous amount of work has been done by the rolled and hydraulically formed manufacturers, with the result that the life on the cycling machine of both types of bellows is now about equal. It is unfortunate that you are continually troubled with the oil coolers, and am sorry you have not had an opportunity to put into production units of the brazed type which are entirely trouble-free. Upon the occasion of Mr. Royce’s visit here some time ago, he stated that work was being done by your organization on cooling systems for airplanes using water under pressure; have just read a notice in one of our American papers referring to an article describing such a system on the latest Rolls aerial engine, and if you can supply me with details without disclosing confidences, will appreciate very much indeed receiving such information as may be available. | ||