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).
Cooling system alterations, refuting the effectiveness of reducing matrix height and widening the bonnet, and requesting a new radiator design for a Bentley car.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 94\3\ scan0108 | |
| Date | 29th October 1936 | |
| 360 To E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Std.19/JH.29.10.36. Referring to your E.2/HP.27.10.36. we would point out that the statement in the last paragraph is inaccurate. The effect of reducing the matrix height by 1" would be to lower the critical air temperature to approximately 3°C, whereas reference to report Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Std.3/JH.19.9.36. indicates that the maximum improvement which can be made by such a drastic alteration as removing the bonnet complete only raises the critical air temperature by 4°C. Also it is difficult to see how the 2" wider bonnet at rear will effect the air flow, since only the outer edge of the dash is extended and no alteration is made to the outlets from under the bonnet. We strongly depreciate any move to reduce the matrix frontal area, in view of our present cooling difficulties. With regard to saving weight and cost on Bentley radiators, we should like to know when we can have a design for a Bentley matrix of 52 m.m. Mk.{R. E. B. Meade-King} VI lightened construction with a reduced frontal area (as requested in Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Std.2/JH.29.9.36.) as we should like to put such a radiator on our next 15,000 miles Bentley car. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Std. | ||