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 Joseph Lucas Limited regarding the effect of suppressors on engine power and ignition performance.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 63\3\ scan0031 | |
| Date | 15th June 1934 | |
| CONTINUATION JOSEPH LUCAS LIMITED PAGE 2. DATE 15.6.34. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} West, Esq., Messrs.Rolls-Royce Limited. reports from drivers of the suppressors affecting the power, but have never been able, on careful examination, to substantiate these, and definite tests which have been made under extreme conditions, have given entirely negative results. I believe that there are probably certain conditions of carburation, and possibly also of turbulence, under which any appreciable reduction in spark energy, such as must, of course, occur when a suppressor is fitted, will affect the performance, and we have had occasional instances where, quite apart from any suppressors, the ignition performance has been improved by increasing the energy content of the spark. These cases have, however, always responded much better to treatment from the point of view of turbulence, plug position, or carburation, than to treatment from the electrical angle. At all events, we can say definitely that we do not, in the case of any normal engine, expect to experience ignition trouble as the result of fitting suppressors in the plug leads. Yours faithfully, FOR JOSEPH LUCAS LIMITED. R Watson | ||