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).
Materials for petrol joints on the 20 HP carburetter, proposing cork or leather as superior alternatives to fibre.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 5\4\ 04-page095 | |
| Date | 2nd February 1923 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to CJ. c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} X 4228 HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}3/LG6.2.23. PETROL JOINTS X.4228. X.4266 On the 20 HP. carburetter we have a whole lot of petrol joints which have to be made tight by fibre washers. Fibre, as we have known for some time, is not a good material for making petrol joints. It is possible to obtain soft fibre which is alright when it is first tightened up, but under pressure and petrol it becomes hard and brittle. We have had no end of trouble to make the joint tight in the glass window in the carburetter. We are now using aglomerated cork washers in place of the fibre and find that they are excellent for making petrol-tight joints. We would like to use them on other petrol joints, but owing to the design it is impossible. To use the cork washers it is necessary for the washer to be registered on the outside dia. so as to prevent it squeezing out and bursting when it is compressed. We remember you pointing out at one time in connection with the drain plug on the petrol tank, that the washer should be spigotted so that it could not burst under pressure. After trying lead, copper, fibre, bakelite linen, leather and cork, we have come to the conclusion that either cork or leather make the best petrol joint. We should like to know whether you approve of the details of the drain plugs etc. on the carburetter being modified so that it is possible to use either of these materials. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||