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).
Visit to inspect the cold chamber at Messrs. Lucas Ltd. and a suggestion for its use.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 151\3\ scan0296 | |
| Date | 18th April 1934 | |
| COLD CHAMBER AT MESSRS. LUCAS LTD. Wst. and myself visited the Works of Messrs. Lucas Ltd. yesterday in order to inspect their recently installed cold chamber and to determine to what extent a similar plant would be of use to this firm. Lucas' Chamber is large enough to contain two cars, and is approximately 32' x 12' x 12' high. The heat is extracted by three independent Methyl Chloride refrigerators driven by 3 HP. electric motors. By means of an automatic thermostatic control the temperature in the chamber may be maintained at any of three levels, namely -1°F. {Mr Friese} , -6°F. {Mr Friese} , -15°F. {Mr Friese} The plant requires some 24 hours to refrigerate down to the lowest temperature. To lower the temperature to -1°F. {Mr Friese} , the chamber, with the car in it, is left working overnight and is ready for tests the next morning. The chamber is provided with a pit, a battery charging board and ship's lighting (to obviate insulation troubles due to condensed moisture). The whole plant, including the cork insulated walls of the chamber, was installed by Messrs. J. {Mr Johnson W.M.} & E. {Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Hall of Dartford, Kent, at a cost of between £800 and £1000. It is suggested that a similar chamber would be useful to this firm for cold starting tests on cars and aero engines and for measuring power losses in gearboxes etc. due to oil viscosity at low temperatures. Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} /F.Ll. Smith. | ||