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).
The performance issues of a side filler for a petrol tank on the 4 EX Car, specifically its slow filling rate at American gasoline stations, and potential modifications.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 42\4\ Scan111 | |
| Date | 10th February 1921 | |
| X 3889 To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to CJ c. to Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}6/LG10.2.21. X.3889 - SIDE FILLER FOR PETROL TANK. The side filler which was fixed to the petrol tank on 4 EX Car would not allow the petrol to pass through quickly enough when the car was filled at the American gasoline stations. Practically every time the car was filled, a lot of petrol was spilt over the floor. To suit American conditions the side filler should pass at least 12-gallons of petrol per minute. We find that a tank with a side filler similar to that on 4 EX Car passes about 1.5 gallons per minute. If we double the size of the vent we can pass 4.5 gallons per minute. If we make the vent 5 times the size, we could pass 9.0 gallons per minute. The maximum amount of petrol which will pass through the side filler with gauze removed and free vent is 12 gallons per minute. We also had trouble with petrol leaking from the joint which fixes the filter. We believe it is going to be difficult to make a petrol-tight joint there which can easily be dismantled to get at the filter and to be replaced without leaking. It is very much more difficult to make a joint to stand petrol under pressure than it is air. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||