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).
Technical memorandum discussing the necessity and methods for controlling radiator temperature, such as fitting louvres or shutters.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 39\4\ Scan026 | |
| Date | 2nd June 1919 | |
| to CJ. from R.{Sir Henry Royce} c. to BN.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} c. to EH. X.3499 X.3565 RE LOUVRES ON THE FRONT OF THE RADIATOR- CJ6/D20.5.19. Technically we concluded that the only way to meet the demands of the lower grade petrol in the cold weather was to fit shutters to the radiators. I had not thought of adopting anything at any time, until we had first satisfied ourselves experimentally that the additional complication was justified, and unavoidable, and we had experimentally made and tested the apparatus before we asked Sales' approval of the demand, the cost, and the appearance. As regards the necessity for some control over the temperature of the engine and cooling water, my own observations, even in the south of England in Winter are, that if the present grades of petrol are to be used, it is an absolute necessity to provide for a control of the temperature so as to permit the whole of the engine, induction pipes, and cylinders, being maintained at a considerably higher temperature than would naturally exist with a standard car intended to be satisfactory for ordinary high Summer temperature at home and abroad. It appeared to me when studying the matter that the louvres controlling the draught through the radiator were the only really satisfactory means of dealing with the situation. It is possible, however, that by stopping off for the Winter months, a certain portion of the radiator, such as can be done fairly easily between the radiator and the fan, and by passing the water or part of the water past the radiator, a sufficiently perfect arrangement can be obtained for ordinary fuels and Contd... | ||