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).
Issues with the reserve petrol supply system and proposed solutions.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\T\2January1929-June1929\ Scan066 | |
| Date | 24th January 1929 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to BJ. SS.{S. Smith} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} L. c. to DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} EY. 'SS{S. Smith}' RESERVE PETROL SUPPLY. Y7460 At the present time, with the vacuum pump, it is very difficult to get the reserve petrol out of the tank once the engine has run dry of petrol. It may be necessary to turn the engine with the starter motor for over a minute before sufficient petrol is obtained to start the engine. This we consider is too long a time. Although modifications are in hand to increase the efficiency of the vacuum pump, we doubt whether the reserve 2-level device is now necessary. In the first place, when luggage boxes are fitted it is impossible to get at the 2-level tap. We think the scheme on 18-EX which demands cases being removed from the trunk to get at this tap is hardly practicable. On cars with long bodies and wheels at the back, it is not always convenient to get at the tap. We shall have a petrol level indicator reading on the instrument board so that there will be no excuse for running out of petrol. Whatever faults there are with this gauge it will always tend to shew less petrol than what is actually in the tank. We know of no condition under which it will shew more petrol. We always have the risk that if the 2-level tap is not set in the right position, there will be no reserve when one is relying on it. It is general practice now, since the contd :- | ||