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 from Katalite Corporation regarding developments in counteracting detonation with 'Katalite', including test results.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 74\3\ scan0367 | |
| Date | 21th February 1924 | |
| KATALITE CORPORATION 255 Broadway, New York. February 21, 1924. Mr. M.{Mr Moon / Mr Moore} Olley, Rolls-Royce of America, Inc., Springfield, Mass. Dear Mr. Olley:- At our last exhange of letters you stated that you would like to have me keep you posted on any further developments of interest, particularly the possibility of counteracting detonation by the use of Katalite, thus rendering possible the use of higher compression ratios. I. Tests I wish to inform you that the Locomobile Company of America, after very thorough and exhaustive road and dynamometer tests extending over a period of more than nine months, have adopted Katalite as standard equipment. I am sending you enclosed a copy of a letter written by Mr. D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} Roos, Vice-President and Chief Engineer of the Locomobile Company, to Mr. Herbert Chase of "Automotive Industries", but, of course, I must ask you to consider this letter as strictly confidential. I am also enclosing four test sheets of the Locomobile Company. II. Power and Mixture Ratio These do not show any increase in the maximum power but show very clearly that the present maximum power can be obtained with an appreciably leaner mixture if a catalysed cylinder head is substituted. Sheet #1 shows horsepower and torque curves obtained with both the standard and the catalysed cylinder heads at a carburetor setting of 24 notches and with the catalysed head at 21 notches. Both sets of curves practically duplicate each other. Sheet #2 shows horsepower and torque curves obtained with the same head not catalysed at a carburetor setting of 21 notches. It will be noted that these curves are considerably lower than any of the others shown. III. Fuel Consumption Full and Part Throttle. Sheet #3 shows fuel consumption with standard and catalysed cylinder heads at carburetor settings that developed equal power at full throttle. | ||