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).
Potential use of a Delco ignition system as a replacement for magnetos on an aero engine.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 163\7\ img002 | |
| Date | 13th April 1918 | |
| WET. X4284 R.{Sir Henry Royce} Temporarily at Cleveland, Ohio, April, 13th 1918. C O P Y Oy-15-FMF-13418. J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} from OY: copy R.{Sir Henry Royce} <3296 RE DELCO IGNITION FOR ROLLS-ROYCE ENGINE. In answer to your memo CJ9/E28218, the ignition fitted to the Liberty engine is manufactured by Delco, and has been developed by them (particularly by Mr.Kettering of the Delco Co) for use with aero engines. My personal opinion of the ignition, based on what little running I have seen of it, and from an examination of the parts, is that it is very good, and offers a very real possibility for escaping from the weight and complication of magnetos. The outfit on the Liberty engine weighs 40 lbs., which is a saving, I imagine, of 50 or 60 lbs. over our present ignition when one takes into consideration all the gearing which is necessary to drive four magnetos. On my last visit to Dayton I interviewed the Delco people and placed an order with them for four experimental ignition sets. Our idea is that two of these should be sent across to England for test at Derby, being shipped by successive boats, and two being retained here on which experiments can be made on the engine at Dayton. It is desirable to make tests with the engine at Dayton, so that the Delco people can ascertain that the electrical equipment is suitable to our engine, but immediately this... Contd. | ||