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 S. Smith & Sons regarding an investigation into a thermostat bellows that failed to fully open.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 156\2\ scan0078 | |
| Date | 27th April 1938 | |
| FILE 1328 CONTRACTORS TO ADMIRALTY, WAR OFFICE & AIR MINISTRY BY APPOINTMENT TO HIS MAJESTY THE KING TELEPHONE: GLADSTONE 3333 (20 LINES) TELEGRAMS: SPEEDOFAC, PHONE, LONDON. S. SMITH & SONS (Motor Accessories) Ltd CABLES: SPEEDOFAC, LONDON. CODES: MARCONI, COMMERCIAL, BENTLEY'S. BRANCHES AT PARIS MILAN SYDNEY WELLINGTON AGENCIES AND SERVICE STATIONS THROUGHOUT THE BRITISH EMPIRE AND IN ALL THE PRINCIPAL COUNTRIES SHOWROOMS & DEPOTS GT PORTLAND ST LONDON, W.1. LIVERY ST BIRMINGHAM 14A JACKSONS ROW DEANSGATE MANCHESTER 21, DRURY STREET GLASGOW DUBLIN & BELFAST CRICKLEWOOD WORKS LONDON, N.W.2 Please quote our reference: S.10 Your ref: Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Std. 9/AP. 27th April, 1938. Messrs. Rolls-Royce Ltd., DERBY. Dear Sirs, For the attention of Mr. C. S. Steadman. With further reference to your letter of the 6th inst. and our reply of the 9th inst. we have now examined the bellows which was removed from Thermostat, code X.30065/5, handed to the writer during his last visit to your Works. This bellows had not lost any of its characteristics and on further investigation we were able to ascertain that in order to obtain the higher setting, namely, 78/80°C. which you required our Experimental Department instead of altering the filling of our standard Thermostat had expanded the bellows by employing extra turns on the valve and so obtaining a higher temperature setting. This is the reason why the valve did not go to its normal full open position when punctured. There are two ways of overcoming this difficulty, either by finding an exact liquid which with less turns on the valve will give your desired setting, but as this may offer difficulties the easiest and safest method is to employ more convolutions in the bellows. Two samples are being made at the moment - one to be punctured and the other for test - both these will be sent on to you at an early date. Yours faithfully, For S. SMITH & SONS (MOTOR ACCESSORIES) LIMITED. THERMOSTATIC CONTROL DEPARTMENT. To avoid delay all envelopes should be addressed to the firm. | ||