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 John Marston Ltd. regarding leaking oil coolers and the results of pressure testing experiments.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 131\1\ scan0251 | |
| Date | 3rd December 1936 | |
| IMPERIAL CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES LIMITED. FROM JOHN MARSTON LIMITED, WOLVERHAMPTON. TELEPHONE: 21481 (4 Lines) TELEGRAMS: SUNBEAM, WOLVERHAMPTON. CODES: A.B.C. 5TH & 6TH EDITIONS; BENTLEY'S. Reply to be addressed to John Marston Limited for the attention of PHAM/IE Handwritten note: 1280 111/4 3rd December, 1936. Messrs. Rolls-Royce Ltd., D E R B Y. Dear Sirs, For the attention of Mr. Steadman. We should like to draw your attention to the three Oil coolers Nos. E.51, 28 and 89 which have sprung a leak in service and which have been returned to us for repair. All three coolers leaked at the joint between the tube block and the side plates, the solder having cracked. The side plates, especially in the case of cooler No. E.51, have assumed a permanently bulged shape. This deformation has undoubtedly caused the solder to crack and the leak. It would seem therefore that the side plates are too weak to withstand the stresses of pressure and temperature to which they are subjected in service. To confirm this we have carried out a few experiments, the results of which will be of interest to you. An ordinary sound Oil cooler of existing design was pumped up with a hydraulic pump, the pressure being raised fairly rapidly. At 420 lbs. per square inch the side plates had bulged very considerably and caused the solder joint to fracture. Although the top was distorted slightly no other leak appeared. | ||