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).
Radiator overheating and boiling issues, and potential modifications to improve cooling efficiency.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 149a\3\ scan0089 | |
| Date | 1st June 1931 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Copy to wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} E.DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} E.P.PN.{Mr Northey} y4607 re Radiators. Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}10/E5. 6.31. X.766. X.7250. X.5250. X.4607. Referring to the question of modifications to radiators to reduce the risk of overheating and water boiling, I have been following with great interest the recent memos. on this subject and in particular Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}8/ KT.19.5.31. to you on this matter. As complaints do not reach you personally, you perhaps do not appreciate the trouble and expense in which Company has been involved during the last few years arising out of overheating and boiling. It has been a very serious item and is unfortunately a "hardy annual" and this in spite of much work that has been done to improve and overcome the troubles from which we have suffered. Directly the hot weather arrives or owners have their cars in use under strenuous conditions on the Continent these troubles arise, and I am alarmed to notice that there is already a complaint from America in regard to this point on one of the Phantom II's. As the result of my visit to America I felt very much concerned about what would happen in this respect as with the wonderful roads they have now and the terrific heat I saw that we should be up against very serious difficulties if we delivered cars to them with only the same margin of radiator efficiency as on our cars in the past. This was one of the reasons why I cabled saying that - wished Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} to go out there with a car and I was particularly anxious that he should get over there whilst the hot weather was on so that the matter would be brought into evidence and steps taken to overcome it, but unfortunately due to other troubles he did not get out there until the hot weather was over. With all this before me I feel strongly that we ought to avail ourselves of every possible chance of increasing our efficiency, and the problem before us at the moment seems to be whether we adopt the large hexagon USA tubes or the small ones. I have gone very carefully into the figures set | ||