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).
Ignition plug performance, pre-ignition issues, and potential solutions for Goshawk and aero engines.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\J\January1923\ Scan27 | |
| Date | 19th January 1923 | |
| (3548) To B.J. from R.{Sir Henry Royce} c. to CJ. LHS.{Lord Herbert Scott} c. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} R9/M19.1.23. IGNITION PLUGS. X.4091. X.4560. [crossed out] The last Goshawk which came here, with miniature plugs seems so superior in performance to other Goshawks, that we fear we have been having a large number of pre-ignitions in our experience with the Goshawks. This has been rather confirmed by the failure of valves both with Goshawk and aero engines. It would seem therefore that we must make every endeavour to fit a plug which is not prone to give pre-ignitions of the type liable to destroy the valves as this valve destruction is spoiling our reputation in the air service, and would do so with the cars. From my own experience if we could obtain plugs with a porcelain material equal to the old 4 pointer Bosch, we believe that we could design a plug which would give satisfaction. We should much prefer a plug which failed by sooting up or over-oiling, than one that was prone to pre-ignitions like the present detachable K.L.G. This matter reminds me of the wonderful reliability of the French porcelain in the little plug known as the "Mercury", which however from its form was useless, as it caused pre-ignitions. If the same quality of porcelain could be obtained in slightly simpler form we could produce a satisfactory plug. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||