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).
Letter to Short Bros. regarding the suitability of a water pump, suggesting an alternative from a Phantom II tank engine.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 149a\1\ scan0235 | |
| Date | 22th June 1938 | |
| 1269 Experimental Dept. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Std.2/MH.{M. Huckerby} 22nd. June 1938. Messrs. Short Bros. (Rochester & Bedford) Ltd., Aeronautical Engineers, Seaplane Works, Rochester, KENT. Your ref. S12230/SGH{Sir Stanley Hooker}/PCB. For the attention of Mr.S.G.Hart. Dear Sirs, Referring to your letter of 15th. inst. (addressed to Messrs. Bentley Motors Ltd.) which has been passed to the writer, we regret that the water pump fitted to our Bentley car is not suitable for your purpose. However, we have drawings of a pump which was designed and built for a Phantom II tank engine and which might be suitable - we attach herewith blue prints showing the layout of this pump. Complete test figures for the pump are not available, but the ones which we have indicate that the pump will pump 88 gallons/min. at 3400 pump r.p.m. with water temperature at inlet to pump of 75°C. From curves of water pump flow against temperature for other pumps, we estimate that the above pump should easily give the figure of 2000 gallons per hour against a 5 ft. head as requested by yourselves. We have no figures available for the weight of this pump, but the largest pieces, i.e. casing and cover were made in aluminium. Unfortunately, there is also no experience of any quantity available as to the freedom from trouble in service of this pump, but since the bearings and gland arrangement are those of our present standard pumps, we do not anticipate trouble in this direction - in this connection it was found necessary to adopt the thrust plug shown on LeC.4340 on this pump. In service the bearing lubricator would need to be charged with grease periodically. | ||