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).
Extract concerning the supply and specifications of extruded copper radiator tubes.
Identifier | ExFiles\Box 149a\3\ scan0004 | |
Date | 30th January 1920 | |
X.3678 Extract from Srnl/G30.1.20. X.3678. RE RADIATOR TUBES. X.3893. We are forwarding to you a batch of 24,000 radiator tubes, (8 mm) these being sufficient to build up four radiators half of the tubes are cut 4 1/2" long, and the other half 5" long. The tubes are made of commercially pure copper and are not drawn as in our English practice, but extruded. The extruded type of tube is a comparatively new process employed solely by the United States Cartridge Co. Tubes can be extruded in either brass, bronze or copper, and the sample tubes we are sending to you are extruded in one operation from a blank 5/8" diameter by 3/8" thick, this blank forming one tube 10 1/2" long. The opinion on this side is one with which we are inclined to agree, viz: that a copper tube is preferable to brass on account of its better heat conducting and cooling properties, and it is not so likely to be affected by the anti-freezing mixtures used in the radiators here. You will notice the tubes we have sent have been made with hexagonal ends. We can quite easily obtain them with round ends if necessary, but we think that as the tubes are now made with copper, that there is little or no likelihood of them cracking along the corners of the hexagon as was the case when they were made with a much less ductile material. (Contd) | ||