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).
Resolving engine water boiling issues by improving the fan belt drive and pulley system.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 77\4\ scan0210 | |
| Date | 24th May 1922 guessed | |
| contd:- -2- away from the radiator for its best efficiency. I think however that in all cases it is agreed that the water boiling can always be traced to the inefficient driving of the fan caused by the rapid stretching of new belts. As regards the water circulation and the separating of the steam from the water this is a more serious matter and more difficult. We have made several attempts to improve this on the 40/50 but nothing really efficient has been found. Mr. Hives should go in for a thorough investigation of the engine on the test plate fitted with its own radiator and fan drive, and we will send a list of experiments which we hope will result in some progress being made. It is certain that the engine is running the greater part of its time about 3000 revs. which is of course enormous, which means the fan should be going at about 3700. It is evident that the fan never goes anything like this speed and therefore it would be better with a considerably larger pulley. It would have a better chance of driving it, and give the belt a somewhat longer life. We are endeavouring to arrange for a spring to tighten the belt, but we at present give facility for adjustment though we fear the removing of a link which would be probably necessary in the case of a new belt, would be neglected until too late. We think it advisable to see the makers of the belt and see whether they can make a better job of the belt at an increased cost, or whether they would recommend a larger size of belt, which they run the belts and lubricate them before delivery and so get the initial stretch taken out of them, and contd:- | ||