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).
Features of the non-trembler battery electrical and ignition system for the 'Goshawk II'.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 54\5\ Scan159 | |
| Date | 29th August 1921 | |
| X.3485 To Mr. Walker from R. {Sir Henry Royce} c. to CJ. c. to EFC. {E. Fowler Clarke - Electrical Engineer} c. to Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} RS {Sir Henry Royce's Secretary} /G29.8.21. X.3485. RE CATALOGUE AND INSTRUCTION BOOK FOR THE X.4403. ELECTRICAL AND IGNITION SYSTEM FOR "GOSHAWK II" The chief features of our non-trembler battery ignition are - (1) That an efficient governor is used to advance the ignition so that the best results would be obtained from the engine with a normal mixture from a speed of 300 to 3000 revs. without altering the control, i.e. after running the engine very fast, dropping back to slow speed through traffic or cross roads, the ignition is automatically retarded so that the engine gets away far better than with a fixed control depending upon hand adjustment. The R.R. governor (though extremely simple) works with greater accuracy owing to the absence of pressure on the bearing, due to centrifugal force or to the reaction from the governor springs. The design has been arrived at after careful study of other types of governor in which the springing is less satisfactory and the pressure on the bearings creates considerable friction at high speed and the relative movements and springing result in a poor control of the ignition mechanisms at the lower speeds. The R-R governor is in perfect balance in all positions and speed, and does not create a couple. (2) The low tension ignition mechanism is fitted with platinum contacts, but is also arranged that the rocker and screw can be replaced with a spare one in case of neglect resulting in a failure of this rather susceptible part of the mechanism. (3) The condenser is of ample capacity, and has the excellent technical feature of being fitted as close to the contact maker as possible. (4) The high tension distributor is fitted with electrodes of a very superior alloy so as to be free from oxidisation troubles. It is of the jump spark pattern, and so will remain in order indefinitely, and has the advantage of providing a spark gap in front of the plug, and so demanding less perfect insulation of the ignition plug. (4) It is fitted with a R-R special feature of a trailing edge to the rotor, so that the engine can generally | ||