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).
Secret memorandum discussing design modifications to the petrol tank for the Spectre model.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 95\4\ scan0170 | |
| Date | 8th June 1935 | |
| X 351 To BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Copy to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} NHG. E/Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}1/MN.8.6.35. SECRET. RE SPECTRECodename for Phantom III PETROL TANK. It was agreed at the Conference with Sales that we might fit an outside petrol filler on the side of the body as standard on SpectreCodename for Phantom III. During the design of this feature we have struck serious difficulties due to the varying widths and shapes of the backs of the coachwork, and it is thought not a practical policy to go for this filler on the first SpectreCodename for Phantom III cars, but to delay its introduction until we are certain that we have a scheme which will prove satisfactory. On LeC 4540 herewith we show a modified shape of tank body which we will use for this new filler, and it is proposed that we should start off with this tank so that we shall be able to introduce the outside filler without any modification to the tank body. It will be seen that the present filler goes on to this tank without any modification. The shape of this tank body is made possible by the fact that Sales have agreed that we shall require no luggage grid on the chassis on any SpectreCodename for Phantom III car. The capacity of the tank is unaltered as also are the gauges of the material and the suspension. The base of the tank has been raised slightly so that we may fit a stone guard when we reduce the thickness of the metal and lighten the tank. We propose doing this experimentally as soon as possible. As there is only one pipe line from the tank we have shown a lightened fitting for the pipe connection to replace F 87260. We have made the tank flange for this the same diameter as that for the petrol gauge fitting. With respect to the end plates of the tank these have a very much wider trough around the edges because we understand that such a feature will enable a machine to be used for turning over the flange; as on this tank there is no restriction to the size of this feature we suggest that this improvement is worth having. Att: LeC.4540. E/Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} | ||