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).
Oil frothing tests comparing Castor oil unfavourably with mineral oils.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\Q\2-July1927-September1927\ 32 | |
| Date | 22th July 1927 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. to BJ. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to RG.{Mr Rowledge} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Lp.{Mr Lappin} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} absent. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}2/LG22.7.27. ORIGINAL X2465 X-1583 OIL FROTHING. Our tests have demonstrated that Castrol and Castor oil are very much worse for frothing than mineral oils; of the latter we have actually tried P4. and triple Shell. We added 10% of P4. to Castrol and could get no froth. We found that Castrol oil that has been used has little tendency to froth. With the optimum conditions for frothing i.e. a large quantity of fresh Castrol and 1900 eng.revs., the phenomenon occurs at surprisingly low temperatures. We have observed froth accumulating in the Horeley tank at outlet oil temperatures of from 70 - 75° C. All methods of leading the oil into the tank were tried without success. It appears to us that in some cases it will be difficult to work to a maximum oil outlet temperature of 70°C without detracting from the performance of the machine owing to the drag of the necessary oil coolers. We are taking up the question of the lubricant with Messrs. Wakefield, as if a small modification to the oil solves the problem, it would appear to be worth considering as a solution to the difficulty. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||