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).
Vapour lock issues in aero engines versus motor-cars and potential preventative measures.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 27\2\ Scan006 | |
| Date | 18th January 1933 | |
| To Fl. From Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Rg.{Mr Rowledge} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to Lr.{Mr Ellor} Replying to F.4/JL.17.1.33. We have not had any definite trouble with vapour locks on aero engine installation. We know the trouble quite well because we have experienced it on motor-cars. The reason we get it on motor-cars is because we get much more heat under the bonnet and the petrol pipes inside the frame suffer from exhaust heat. One reason we may not get it on aero engines is that we have very little suction lift on the petrol pump. All hawker machines are practically run on gravity. We believe the best prevention, after taking the necessary precautions with the installation to ensure that the petrol is not overheated, is to see that the fuel has no very light constituents which will vapourise at low temperatures. A tremendous amount of information is available as regards the work in connection with this which has been done in U.S.A. We do not consider it necessary to send anyone to the meeting in London especially as you will be there. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||