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).
Letter from Joseph Lucas Limited discussing the theory of ignition and the effect of suppressors.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 63\3\ scan0030 | |
| Date | 15th June 1934 | |
| 86183. HEAD OFFICES & WORKS: GREAT KING ST.{Capt. P. R. Strong}, BIRMINGHAM. CONTRACTORS TO THE ADMIRALTY, WAR OFFICE, AIR MINISTRY, INDIA OFFICE, G.P.O. AND LEADING RAILWAYS. "KING OF THE ROAD" LAMPS, HORNS, "MOTORALITIES" MOTOR-CYCLEALITIES, "MOTORALITIES" MAGNETOS, BATTERIES, ELECTRIC LIGHTING & STARTING SYSTEMS. Codes: A.B.C. 5TH & 6TH EDITNS & BENTLEY'S 1ST & 2ND JOSEPH LUCAS LIMITED GREAT KING STREET BIRMINGHAM 19 TELEPHONE: NORTHERN 5201 (12 LINES) TELEGRAMS & CABLES:"LUCAS, BIRMINGHAM" SERVICE DEPOTS BELFAST 3/5, CALVIN STREET. BIRMINGHAM, 18 GREAT HAMPTON STREET. BRIGHTON OLD SHOREHAM RD HOVE. BRISTOL 345, BATH ROAD. CARDIFF 54a, PENARTH ROAD. COVENTRY PRIORY STREET. DUBLIN PORTLAND STREET NORTH, NORTH CIRCULAR ROAD. EDINBURGH, II 32, STEVENSON RD, GORGIE. GLASGOW 227/229, ST GEORGE'S ROAD. LEEDS 64, ROSEVILLE ROAD. SERVICE DEPOTS LIVERPOOL, 13 450/456, EDGE LANE. LONDON DORDRECHT ROAD, ACTON VALE, W.3. LONDON 759, HIGH ROAD, LEYTON, E.10 LONDON 319 REGENT ST, W.1. SHOWROOMS & OFFICES LONDON 155, MERTON ROAD, WANDSWORTH, S.W.18. MANCHESTER 291/293, DEANSGATE. SUPPLY DEPOT MANCHESTER TALBOT RD STRETFORD. NEWCASTLE on TYNE, 2 64/66, ST MARY'S PLACE. WHEN REPLYING PLEASE REFER TO EAW/EE 15th June, 1934. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} West, Esq., Messrs.Rolls-Royce Limited, DERBY. Dear Mr.West, I am much obliged by your letter of the 14th. dealing with the question of suppressors, and the theory of ignition. In the first place, I think it is generally agreed, that given satisfactory carburation, the electrostatic energy stored in the sparking plug itself is sufficient to ignite the charge, so that the fact that the suppressor eliminates the ordinary capacity spark from the cable and distributor, or at all events very much modifies its characteristics, cannot be taken as evidence that the capacity spark does not itself produce ignition. At the same time I think it is a fact that even if the capacity spark could be entirely eliminated by, for example, fitting a suppressor at the very point of the plug itself, ignition again, with a good mixture, would occur at a very early stage of the inductance component. As regards deleterious effect of fitting suppressors, on the ignition performance, we have carried out a number of tests, but have never been able to find any deleterious effect due to suppressors of the resistance values normally employed. Certainly anything of the order of 10,000 or 20,000 ohms has no effect on a normal engine under normal carburation conditions. We have had various - continued - | ||