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).
Ignition, lighting, battery, and chassis fuel feed systems.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 183\M22\ img005 | |
| Date | 30th January 1919 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} -3- E1/G30119 Contd. It should be made certain that the high tension rotor contact on the distributor is late, and the tail sufficiently long to avoid the danger of firing the engine in the reverse direction of rotation. The ignition switch should be on the instrument board, and a klaxon on the steering wheel, in the case of the new models, with change speed gear in the centre of the car. Regarding the moulding work to be done for R.R. battery ignition parts made at the Works, someone ought to go to the Silvertown company to make the necessary arrangements for obtaining supplies of moulds. (5) LIGHTING SYSTEM The most desirable system of lighting to adopt is the type having constant voltage regulation. It is not possible to obtain this in England it is understood at the present time, for the 40/50 chassis, and unfortunately the Bijur set is only six volts. Mr. Royce will be quite willing to fit a 12 volt Bijur lighting set to the car, and suggests that we endeavour to obtain 12 volt constant voltage regulators, and perhaps make our own dynamos, which scheme could probably be carried out with very little delay. (6) STARTING AND LIGHTING BATTERY Mr. Royce will write to the Tudor people to see if they can make a battery equal to the Willard, but with non-flam celluloid cases. Regarding the position of this battery, there seems to be only one possible alternative to the footboard position, and that is, underneath the front seats. This latter position will not work, however, unless the battery is made to a specially flat shape. Mr. Royce considers that for English practice, the batteries should undoubtedly be on the footboard. (7) CHASSIS FUEL FEED SYSTEM Consideration of the vacuum feed system shows that there are sufficient advantages to be gained by its use to justify experimenting with it. Mr. Royce proposes to overcome the chief objection to it, namely, that of sucking from the induction pipe, by using a small engine driven pump to create the vacuum. This would make the system very reliable, and enable it to operate without doubt, for example, on French roads where there are very long stretches of full throttle heavy consumption work. The vacuum pump can be a simple one with inlet ports uncovered by the piston, and an exhaust valve in the head. The Autovac system uses a gravity operated drain valve from the suction tank to the service tank. Mr. Royce disapproved of this, and propose to positively operate this valve from the float | ||