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).
Overheating issues and differences between Mk.V and Mk.VI radiator matrices.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 94\3\ scan0171 | |
| Date | 16th April 1937 | |
| W/N. from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Std. 340. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Std.18/AP.16.4.37 PH.III. RADIATOR MATRICES. We have received your memo Br/G.1/M.14.4.37 and regret that we have not replied before. The writer has been away this week and only returned to the Works today. With regard to the difference between Mk.V. and Mk.VI. matrices - attached sketch shows the visible difference - they can easily be distinguished by looking at them. We do not think that there is any doubt that the matrices supplied to you by RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} are latest production Mk.VI. ones, but you will thus be able to confirm this. With regard to your flow test of the matrix on the car about which you had the complaint of boiling in traffic - we have been carrying out some flow tests on radiators here, including the two which have already been returned to us and we have found that although quite a considerable number of the waterways may be blocked the flow from the bottom tank outlet may be unaffected, as compared with a matrix with clear waterways. This means that although a portion of the matrix is lost as regards cooling, the flow test does not indicate any defect. Actually one of the matrices which you returned to us (that off 3.AZ.62) was so badly blocked that the water flow was halved. We presume that you ensured a constant head of water over the matrix throughout your tests. In view of the fact that we believe this overheating trouble to be confined to Mk.V. matrices, this complaint on a Mk.VI. core is extremely important - providing you are satisfied that it is the matrix which is at fault i.e. that the shutters, water pump and fan are all functioning correctly. We should like the matrix in question returned to us immediately marked for the attention of Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Std and would also like to know the chassis number. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Std. | ||