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).
Issue of exhaust fumes entering the car body and proposed solutions.
Identifier | ExFiles\Box 181\M13\M13.1\ img015 | |
Date | 29th March 1924 | |
'R' Classed ORIGINAL TO Mr. HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} R2/M29.3.24. Copy to Mr. EH. Mr. OV. Mr. HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} RG.{Mr Rowledge}C. PM. FUMES IN CARS. X3958 Unburnt petrol, or roasted lubricating oil smoke half burnt, has carbon monoxide, which has no smell, but will give headache. We have long been troubled with these which were assumed to come from the breather, but are now reported by HM.{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} to come from the exhaust. We must thank HM.{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} for his very definite conclusions, with which I agree. My own experience just lately has been with a Goshawk. I usually use an open car for health's sake, generally drive myself for experience sake. During the time I have not driven much, and have used the back of a covered car, and on one or two occasions I noticed the smell of unburnt gas in the body from the exhaust outlet, and was surprised, as it seemed new experience to me. I never for a moment thought that it came from anywhere else. This trouble has been confused with heated air coming up through the pedal slots, but is quite another phenomenon, and has no connection with the hot air which can be kept quite free from petrol or smoke fumes by ventilating the crankchamber into the carburetter intake. Therefore the front floorboards etc must be AIRTIGHT and heat insulated for hot air, and the back of the car sides and floor and under seats AIRTIGHT to prevent fumes entering the carriage body from the exhaust carried along by the car. All exhaust openings should throw the exhaust clear of the car (including the cutout) or down on to the road. HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} will test how best to arrange this, and the value of a stream lined form of body. I also assume Mr. Stevenson has had an explanation sent to him. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||