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).
500-hour bench endurance test for the new type Peregrine ignition distributor.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 61b\2\ scan0175 | |
| Date | 30th September 1932 | |
| X6119 To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Wat. c. SS.{S. Smith} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. Dy.{F R Danby} Hdy.{William Hardy} NEW TYPE PEREGRINE IGNITION DISTRIBUTOR. We have now completed a 500 hrs. bench endurance test on the new type Peregrine double breaker distributor. The test was run in conjunction with a Delco-Remy ignition coil, this coil being representative of a type which it is intended shall be used with this distributor, i.e. R.R. coil with outside primary winding. The contact breaker point gaps were each set approx. .020" and were shunted by a .23 microfarad condenser. For 300 hrs. the test was run with 9,000 volt test gaps, but for the last 200 hrs, 12,000 volt gaps were used satisfactorily, without any suspicion of flashing over inside the distributor head. This shows a distinct improvement in the surface insulation of the distributor head. It has been found impossible with the present standard distributor head to run with spark test gaps having a breakdown voltage of more than 10,000. We are very pleased with this improvement in the insulation of the distributor head, and we think it will improve the ignition conditions starting from cold on damp mornings, as well as allowing very high voltages when required on the sparking plugs under 'pick up' conditions. The ventilation of the distributor we think could be improved, and we have previously suggested the fitting of moulded vanes to the mushroom type of h.t. rotor in order to give a forced ventilation action. On the present standard distributor, there is an additional hole in the aluminium casting which helps to circulate the air. The results of the test showed that contact wear was practically negligible, and the surfaces of the ignition points were excellent, there being practically no oxidisation and very slight pitting. | ||