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 Wilcox-Rich discussing sodium-cooled valves and coolant mixtures.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 174\2\ img294 | |
| Date | 5th December 1938 | |
| COPY WILCOX-RICH - Division of Eaton Manufacturing Co. 9771 French Road, Detroit, Mich. December 5, 1938. Mr. W.A. Robotham, Rolls-Royce Ltd., Derby, England. Dear Mr. Robotham, Since I last wrote you, our Mr. J.O. Eaton, Jr.{Mr James Royce} has been sent to England to handle the hydraulic lifters and no doubt by this time he will have been in touch with you. With regard to the sodium-cooled valve, it is our belief that the best type of sodium-cooled valve is the one with the large cavity which permits the maximum amount of cooling to take place. One of the difficulties, we believe, with the side-valve-engine is the tendency for the sodium to remain frozen in the stem end, particularly where water-cooled with very good Guide cooling. With this thought in mind, our Metallurgist has developed a mixture of sodium and mercury which is fluid at normal room temperature (70° F.{Mr Friese}) which would permit the coolant to perform its function at a much lower temperature than the sodium. We still like to have the maximum stem diameter possible in order to increase the cooling area, and also a well-designed Guide boss to bring the cooling water up as close to the head of the valve as is permissible without undue restriction to the flow of gases. The copper-cooled valve we have had little or no experience with we have never felt this had a great deal of merit, and, consequently, have not done much work on it. If there is any further information we can give you, please advise. With kind regards, I am, Sincerely yours, WILCOX-RICH, Division of Eaton Manufacturing Company. (V.C. Young) Engineer. | ||