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).
Failures in 'F' type oil coolers on the Ph.III car and proposing solutions.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 131\5\ scan0088 | |
| Date | 20th June 1938 | |
| 1114 / To RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Std. c. By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Std.2/MH.{M. Huckerby}20.6.38. OIL COOLER FAILURES - PH.III. Although the latest type 'F' cooler which Messrs. Marstons are supplying for replacement purposes on Ph.III car, has not yet given trouble in service, we have failed two such coolers on an engine which we are using as a water pump test rig. While the vibration on this rig is excessive and no doubt contributory to these failures, examination has indicated that the solder bond between tubes and casing on these coolers is certainly not 100% sound. The defects in this soldering appear to be due to defective fit between the case and the tubes, too low a solder temperature when dipping and formation of air bubbles in solder due to spaces between tubes and casing not being filled with fluid before dipping. We have, of course, taken up these points with Messrs. Marstons and have also discussed them with Mr.Smith, our radiator shop foreman. The latter is of the opinion that the method which the works used to build the first twenty coolers would assist in overcoming these defects, and what information we have been able to obtain about these first coolers indicates that they were at least more reliable than the coolers which Messrs. Marstons made before the 'F' type cooler. Accordingly, since we cannot afford to neglect any possibility of increasing the reliability of the coolers in service, we would like Mr.Smith to visit Messrs. Marstons in company with Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Std. to discuss this production method and build one such cooler in this manner for test purposes. If the R.R. method cooler proves satisfactory on our test rig, we will arrange for the rest of the replacement coolers to be built in this manner. Wednesday and Friday are convenient dates for Messrs. Marstons and we would be glad if RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} would give permission for Mr.Smith's visit and advise us as soon as possible. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Std. | ||