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).
Demand for exhaust heaters, problems with existing butterfly valve designs, and an experimental alternative.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 137\1\ scan0026 | |
| Date | 1st November 1920 | |
| W.R. 285A (100 T) (S.H 159. 11-8-20) G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} 2300 X3506 To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to CJ. c. to Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. to EWT. for R.R. Inc. HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}3/LG4.11.20. X.3506. EXHAUST HEATERS. X.4005. We have been frequently asked by America and also occasionally asked by Sales Dept. whether we could recommend an Exhaust Heater. We have previously reported on Exhaust Heaters supplied from America and Sales pointing out their deficiencies. We should anticipate that quite a number of customers will demand exhaust heaters, especially in very cold countries, It does not seem reasonable to expect passengers to sit and freeze in a car without an attempt to make use of the heat which is available from the exhaust. Our opinion is that the weakness in all exhaust heaters we have seen is the valve; these are always of the butterfly type operated by means of either a rod or wires. The chief trouble with the valves comes about due to the fact that the exhaust pressure is intermittent and that if there is any slack or wear on the valve it causes a rattle. On one of our experimental cars we have taken a pipe from the exhaust and run it round inside the body and then let it exhaust at the rear of the car. For a valve we have used an ordinary screw steam cock. Contd. | ||