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).
Liberty engines, discussing service issues with magnetos, battery ignition, and the development of components like starting switches and voltage regulators.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 163\7\ img004 | |
| Date | 23th September 1918 guessed | |
| OY9-F23918-2 on the Liberty engines in service, but believe these have been more aimed at defective manufacture, such as weak magnetos, etc., rather than any defects in design. From conversation with Commander Briggs, I believe that up to the present it has been generally found that the battery ignition accounts for a slight drop in power - not more than one or two per cent. 5. I notice that Delco's have included a starting switch. I have not had time to investigate this, but believe it is really a trembler or master vibrator. It was evident from the early attempts at starting the Liberty engine which I saw at Dayton, that something of this nature was required, and I urged it strongly upon Colonel Vincent. He replied, that he did not believe it was good for any engine to start it on the switch, and that no trouble had been experienced with the single spark coil. Since that time, however, I think accidents must have occurred, since shortly afterwards I heard from Delco's that a trembler was being designed. 6. The voltage regulator on the generator is a comparatively new device. The early Liberty engines were fitted with a simple cutout, a voltage regulator not being considered necessary, since the engine was intended to run largely at a constant speed. Since then it has been found preferable to adopt a regulator of the same type as used on a car. 7. We are retaining one set of ignition in this country with the idea that it may be possible to make tests on the demonstration engine in the intervals of its use by the British War Mission. 8. I trust that it will be possible for you to make experimental | ||