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).
Failures of a dynamo commutator and starter switch, with suggestions for improvements.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 47\4\ Scan006 | |
| Date | 19th July 1923 guessed | |
| - 4 - Inspection of this dynamo reveals the fact that the commutator is in a very bad blackened condition, and one or two segments are particularly badly burnt, rather showing that the conductors have broken or have a bad connection to the commutator, and it certainly appears that the solder has melted out at this point, evidently due to overheating. It is also remarkable the amount the brushes appear to have worn, and one brush has practically worn out, and is in the stage where the contact with the commutator is doubtful. We have asked Mr. Brock to give us a report on this dynamo and have it put right at the earliest possible moment and handed to us for sending back to London. EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} STARTER SWITCH FAILURES. We have experienced considerable trouble with the contact burning. This Mr. Brock has demonstrated to us is due to the absence of oil in the starter switch, and action has been taken to make sure that the supply of oil to the switch is being put in and as far as possible maintained. Could you arrange that the importance of this point is added to the lubrication list in our Instruction book. Another serious point which is taking place is that the switches are sticking in, which is very serious, as the motor races away and cannot be stopped until the connection to the starter motor or the battery is actually taken off, which is rather a job, as tools have to be obtained for this purpose. We have had cases on test where this fault has taken place, which Mr. Brock reports may have been due to the absence of oil, but which having been corrected by him have again gone wrong on test, even although we are definite that oil has been used, and there is no sign of the contacts having burnt. I feel that some alteration to this switch is necessary as at present they seem very unreliable and consideration should be given not only for future action, but possibly retrospectively. The following points occur to me as features for consideration :- (a). That the actuating shaft lever for the switch should be fixed so that in case the switch does stick, it can | ||