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).
Installation instructions and operational details for the AUTOPULSE fuel pump unit.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 41\1\ Scan007 | |
| Date | 23th September 1925 guessed | |
| (19) In "MULTIPLE" INSTALLATIONS, each unit functions entirely independent of the others; but each automatically delivers its proportion of the fuel at all times. (20) "SERIES" INSTALLATIONS of the AUTOPULSE UNIT will permit liquids to be raised to any height desired. (See Special Applications). (21) The LIFE of the AUTOPULSE unit is long and the FACTOR OF SAFETY IN OPERATION is high; but BOTH OF THESE IMPORTANT FEATURES CAN BE MULTIPLIED to any extent desired by the plural use of the unit independent of the capacity required. (22) No waste life, no waste power, pumps only the fuel required; but this it will do to the FULL EXTENT OF ITS CAPACITY, INSTANTLY, upon demand. It has a reserve, over the rated capacity, sufficient to overcome possible air or valve leakage and gradual deterioration during its life. INSTALLATION The AUTOPULSE can be installed by an unskilled person with ordinary hand tools and stock fittings upon any type of engine having a carburetor with a float valve and a battery, either "dry" or "storage" of suitable voltage. (See note page 5). It may be inserted into the fuel supply pipe at any convenient location, preferably at the same level and near the carburetor, with the opening "C" to the carburetor and "T" to the supply tank. Its upright position is as shown in the illustrations. The AUTOPULSE should not be installed in proximity to exhaust pipes or manifolds. Select a location as cool and as accessible as is practical. The AUTOPULSE, when pumping fuel, CANNOT BE HEARD by the driver of an automobile, if mounted upon the carburetor, engine or chassis frame. It can be heard when installed upon the dash. For this reason, principally, dash installation is not recommended. The dash acts as a sounding board and magnifies the sound and every stroke can be heard quite clearly. When pumping air or a mixture of fuel and air, it CAN BE HEARD upon a reasonably quiet machine. It is not an objectionable noise, but sufficient to give a warning of the condition mentioned. When the AUTOPULSE is used to REPLACE THE VACUUM FEED SYSTEM, the tank should be entirely disconnected from the carburetor or suction line. The AUTOPULSE will supplement the AIR PRESSURE or GRAVITY feed systems. In both cases it is inserted into the delivery line near the carburetor. In gravity feed systems it acts as a "booster" and will deliver fuel upon grades, irrespective of the height of the fuel in the supply tank. The SUPPLY TANK MUST BE VENTED in the case of PRESSURE FEED SYSTEMS. This is usually done by removing the filler pipe gasket. The air pressure system can be used as an emergency supply by closing the "vent" and allowing the air pressure to build up. The AUTOPULSE does not need to be disconnected, if out of commission electrically; the valves will resist the flow only about 15" gasoline head. The MOUNTING OF THE AUTOPULSE UNIT UPON THE CARBURETOR is recommended for new and suitably designed equipment. The opening at "T" is threaded for 1/8" pipe standard. The casting is strengthened at "C" and threaded for 1/4" pipe standard, the latter in order that the "fitting" may also be used as a supporting bracket. Vehicle producers should specify 1/4" standard thread upon the pipe connection which is usually bolted to the carburetor. When this arrangement is made and clearances permit, the fitting may be screwed into the pump to the correct position for upright mounting and the AUTOPULSE may then be bolted to the carburetor bowl, as shown in the illustration upon the cover. In replacement installations, the size and design of connection varies and the equipment may not have sufficient supporting strength; therefore, the mounting of the AUTOPULSE upon the carburetor cannot be generally recommended. It should, however, be located as near the carburetor as is practical and at the same or within three or four inches of the level of the carburetor fuel connection. (See last paragraph of Technical Explanation). COUPLINGS FOR CARBURETOR MOUNTING of the AUTOPULSE UNIT, having a 1/8" pipe thread externally and a 1/2"-20 thread and a seat internally for attaching to a 5/16" "flared tube" connection, are carried in stock. In the cover illustration showing the AUTOPULSE attached to the carburetor, this coupling is used. The coupling is first seated, "gasoline-tight" upon the carburetor connection, and the combination is screwed into the AUTOPULSE "gasoline-tight" and in the proper position for upright mounting. A large proportion of the carburetors in use are fitted with the 5/16" "flared tube" connections and it is carried as a standard part by nearly all carburetor manufacturers. Caution: A 1/8" pipe thread connection should not be used between the AUTOPULSE and the carburetor for support of the AUTOPULSE. MOUNTING BRACKETS are available (See illustration) for unit mounting, one for attaching to the vertical and another to the edge of horizontal surfaces. Both are reversible and suitable for installation upon either side of the engine or vehicle frame. The AUTOPULSE unit is assembled with the bracket by screwing the tapered or piped threaded stud into the "C" outlet of the pump until the joint is "gasoline-tight" and in a position for upright mounting. The internally threaded boss is provided for a one-eighth-inch pipe fitting and for tube connection to the carburetor. If its position is not convenient for connection, a half turn of the bracket in the pump will change its position and direction. BRACKETS ARE NOT FURNISHED UNLESS SPECIFIED with the single unit. THE WIRE CONNECTION is made upon the battery terminal of the ignition coil or upon the ignition switch or anywhere upon the wire connecting these two points, upon vehicles having "battery ignition." Other installations should have a separate switch to control BATTERY current to the pump. The return circuit is "grounded" and is connected to the battery through the pipes and engine. When the engine circuit is not "grounded" the AUTOPULSE should be insulated from the engine in its mounting and a short section of gasoline hose (rubber) inserted between the pump and the carburetor and, possibly, the pump and the tank. A separate wire will then be used to make the return circuit from the base of the AUTOPULSE to the battery. This insulated circuit (not "grounded") is sometimes encountered in Marine Installations. Electrical connections should be well and positively made. Note: The voltage rating marked upon the base casting of the AUTOPULSE should correspond with the ignition voltage when connection is made to the ignition switch. If battery ignition is not used, a separate switch should be provided to control the AUTOPULSE and the circuit made so that the AUTOPULSE current will flow through the ammeter. A pump marked (6V) can be used upon a battery of any voltage, if a tap is taken off at 3 cells (storage type) from the "grounded" side of the battery or at 6 cells in the case of the (12V) marking. Either style will operate upon any voltage from 2 or 3 to several times their rating. The capacity will reduce with the reduction of voltage (See Capacity, paragraph 2) and sparking will increase with an increase of voltage and become excessive at more than 50% greater than the marking. The FUEL PIPE recommendations are as follows: For UNIT installation, full capacity, 5/16" tubing. For UNIT installations, where the capacity requirement is less than 6 gallons per hour, 1/4" tubing is satisfactory. For DUPLEX installations, capacity delivery, 5/16" tubing will usually suffice. Image captions: Interior view (actual size) "Vertical surface type" of unit mounting bracket Brackets for unit mounting (Full size) | ||