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).
Failures in distributor rotors and proposed remedies.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 61b\2\ scan0348 | |
| Date | 6th July 1936 | |
| Hd{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy}/SB.{Mr Bull/Mr Bannister} C.E. c. Hd{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy}/Exp c. Hd{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy}/Wst. 86119 BY.1/G.6.7.36. RE: DISTRIBUTOR ROTORS. Referring to Hd{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy}/SB.{Mr Bull/Mr Bannister}9/HR.3.7.36. we notice that we have had two more failures due to a spark passing from the high tension blade through the insulation to the spindle carrying the rotor, and that one of these was Flight Lieut. Staniland. We have produced two distinct schemes to overcome this, in each case the idea was to produce an air gap beneath the rotor high tension arm, and the moulding. Our first attempt in this direction, although it was better than the standard had the defect of ionising the air, and getting the corrosion attack on the high tension blade. In March 1936 we, however, remedied this, and issued to the Experimental Department a scheme which whilst it is interchangeable with the present standard rotor, should entirely overcome all the defects. We are asking the Experimental Department to look into this matter, and see whether the experience they have had will justify putting this on standard, personally we believe it will. We have definitely traced this failure in one or two instances to small pieces of metal in the moulding powder, possibly they have been detached from the knurled inserts for fixing the screws. BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} BM BY/RD We know nothing of this? | ||