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).
Autovac tests conducted on three different self-draining floats.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\U\May1930-July1930\ Scan004 | |
| Date | 30th April 1932 | |
| AUTOVAC TESTS. SELF DRAINING FLOATS. Three floats were received from the Test Dept., as follows :- (1) With the soldered joint at the bottom, and three 1/16" holes drilled in the joint. (2) With the soldered joint at the top, and one 1/16" hole drilled in the joint. (3) Standard float that had failed on 12-34, due to faulty soldering. The three floats were tested in the above order in a special laboratory Autovac, loaned by the Autovac people. This consisted of the top and bottom chamber being made of glass, so that the action of the float could be seen. The Autovac was rigged up on a 20 HP. engine, with the delivery and drain pipes in a tin of petrol; by this means the rate of delivery could be varied without regard to the speed of the engine. The suction was operated in the normal way, from the induction pipe. (1) With the soldered joint at the bottom, and three 1/16" holes drilled in the joint. The Autovac was run for three hours and then stopped with the normal amount of petrol in the float chamber i.e. the suction valve having just closed after delivering the right quantity of petrol. The float was then in the normal position, the petrol being about half way up the sides. It was then left in this condition over night, and on the following morning it was seen that the float had sunk but not to its fullest extent, and on starting up the engine, the petrol was immediately | ||