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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).
List of suggestions for the design of Goshawk and other battery ignition systems to avoid energy loss.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 54\5\  Scan218
Date  13th November 1922
  
To EFC. {E. Fowler Clarke - Electrical Engineer} from R. {Sir Henry Royce}
c. GJ. Wor. {Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} PN. {Mr Northey}
c. BV. Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} EP. {G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}

X3485

R1/M13.11.22.

X.3485. GOSHAWK AND OTHER BATTERY IGNITIONS X4079

The phenomenon found in the Goshawk suggests
additional care and tests of materials, and also shows that the
following points should be observed in the design of the ignition
apparatus. Every effort should be made to avoid losses that
are likely to occur in the circuits, and with regard to H.T.
losses the phenomenon makes the following suggestions :-

(1) Take all L.T. wires and earthed metal work as
far away from the H.T. winding of the coil and H.T. wires, as
is practically possible.

(2) Use materials of low inductive capacity such as
air (ventilated) paraffin wax, rubber, ebonite, for surrounding
the H.T. coil, and all other H.T. parts.

(3) Be sure that such materials as are adopted have
low dielectric losses up to 100° centigrade.

(4) Since the cause of the failure is due to the loss
of energy weakening the spark either in electromotive force or
quantity, the insulation of the H.T. winding of the coil,
the terminals, wires, rotor, distributor, and plugs, should be
of the highest value and maintain this value as far as possible
up to the maximum working temperature.

(5) Provide energy in the circuit sufficient to allow
for unavoidable practical losses.

(6) The material used for insulation between the layers
of the secondary winding should as near as possible have the
virtues suggested in paras 2, 3, & 4.

Contd.
  
  


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